Summary: Although the Year 2000 (Y2K) crisis is over, it led to the development of initiatives, processes, methodologies, and experiences that can help resolve ongoing management challenges. First, Y2K underscored the value of sustained and effective bipartisan oversight by the Senate and the House of Representatives. Second, leadership, commitment, and coordination by the federal government, including periodic reporting and oversight of agency efforts, were major reasons for the government's Y2K success. Third, the President's Council on Year 2000 Conversion and individual agencies formed working partnerships with other agencies, states, other countries, and the private sector. Fourth, communication within agencies, with partners, and with the public was vital to coordinating efforts and ensuring an appropriate public response. Finally, the federal government implemented initiatives that helped ensure that necessary staff and financial resources would be available to agencies. Specific management practices that contributed to Y2K success included top- level management attention, risk analysis, project management, development of complete information systems inventories and strengthened configuration management, independent reviews by internal auditors and independent contractors, improved testing methods and procedures, and business continuity and contingency planning. The priority both the legislative and executive branches gave to the Y2K challenge and the persistence they both showed were crucial to its successful outcome.
