A logistics approach to managing the millennium information systems problem

The prevailing discipline in dealing with the Year 2000 computer problem tends to be logistics, which is the main focus of this paper. However, the Year 2000 computing problem is considered a multi‐disciplinary problem, as it concerns fields of information systems, maintenance, decision making and crisis and risk management. The millennium problem is increasingly critical yet still it seems there is no systematic and unified approach that considers multiple criteria. The paper analyzes the process of formulating and evaluating an appropriate strategy using multiple criteria decision making (MCDM), based on the analytical hierarchy process (AHP), in order to deal with the millennium problem. The proposed methodology is developed to systematize the decision process. The model used was constructed to provide a generic framework for the formulation of an appropriate millennium problem‐solving strategy. The methodology is described and important issues of consistency and resource allocation, using the knapsack method, are tested.