If this wasn't so sad it would be funny...

Subject:	Re: Y2K Skeptics In Disarray, 2Q Spending on IT Outsourcing Booms
Date:	1999/08/10
Author:	cory hamasaki <kiyoinc@ibm.XOUT.net>
	Posting History

Thanks Gen,   before the pollies jump in, I'll get their yip-yap out of the way,   <pollyspeak> It's just numbers, who knows, where's the proof, what about JAE, my thorax is itchy, is it time to molt, is that the QUEEN over there? </pollyspeak>   It was clear that the remediation failed last year.  Since then, there has been a fumbling around, and the effort has been applied to spin-doctoring the story.  Now that we're counting down the days, the effort (aka money) is being applied to contingencies and do or die repairs and testing of the most critical systems.   New term:  "Most Critical" - more critical than mission critical.   As the clock runs out, the dollars are being allocated and the DeeCee consulting business is cranking up.   On Tue, 10 Aug 1999 02:37:56, genroberts@aol.com (Genroberts) wrote:   > http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/990809/va_input_1.html > > 2Q Spending on IT Outsourcing Booms, Y2K Skeptics In Disarray > > VIENNA, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 9, 1999--At more than $51.4 billion, IT > outsourcing contract activity in 2Q 1999 rose more than three times above the > 1Q level of $15.2 billion, and more than four times the 2Q 1998 total of $12.3 > billion, according to a study released by INPUT (http://www.input.com) today.   In the last few weeks, I've heard about several consulting jobs and bid teams; I haven't followed these up and don't know if Y2K is involved or not.  My guess is that I'm seeing the trickle down of the contracting activity.   > However, even when IDIQ federal contracts with indefinite values are excluded > (GSA's Millenia project), total commercial sector contract activity of $24 > billion rose 162% over 1Q and 232% over 4Q 1998's total value of $7.3 billion.   New Term: IDIQ - Indefinite delivery-indefinite quantity.  This is fed-speak for "Here is your hunting license.  If you have an IDIQ contract, you cruise the halls of the DOT, FBI, or where-ever, knock on doors, and say, "You need any IT work done?"  If the answer is yes, you whip out your IDIQ number, get their contracting officer's name, and before they know what's happening, -meep- -meep-, you're unloading a pallet of Compaq Prolinea's and billing them for your secretary as a "senior systems technology manager."   > Excluding the large federal Millenia project, Tech Data took a 34% share of 2Q > total contract values, Nortel, 28%, followed by EDS with 25% and CSC with 13%.   Tech Data is a box mover.  If it fits in a 2x3 foot box, Tech Data will sell it to the feds.  Nortel does mostly TELCO stuff (No Y2K problems at TELCO's, said the Pollies.  Uh-huh.)  EDS and CSC are in the business of renting "senior systems technology managers."   > remains robust. Also, EDS, CSC, IBM Global and other top vendors report huge > pipelines of business yet to be finalized.'' Even if San Diego County were to   IBM Global is the consulting arm of IBM and they put talent on the floor.   So lets put it graphicly:         * = US$ 1 Billion   1Q1998 *************** 2Q1998 ************ 3Q1998 UNKNOWN 4Q1998 UNKNOWN 1Q1999 ************************    (estimate) 2Q1999 **************************************************** 3Q1999   The 1Q1999 estimate is based on the commercial percentages.   Clearly something is going on.  This matches my experience in the DeeCee area.  Even if you don't do Fed-biz, there should be a vaccuum cleaner effect.  As these contracts suck the talent off the street, there will be a reverse feed of the money.    Every one of your cow-orkers who takes a Fed-biz job frees up between $50K and $150K, all for you.  You deserve it.   cory hamasaki http://www.kiyoinc.com/current.html 143 Days, 3,449 Hours. 

-- a (a@a.a), August 10, 1999

Answers

The new terminology I've seen in SEC filings is "Mission Vital". A mission vital system is one which must be running for the enterprise to function and which is not capable of short term fixes if it breaks. To be distinguished from mission critical, which can shut down the enterprise, but which can be fixed quickly. (Don't ask me how they know repair times.)

So is the game now to get the mission vital stuff ready and FOF the rest?

-- Puddintame (achillesg@hotmail.com), August 10, 1999.

Response to Hamasaki: Pollies scramble to define new term: "MOST Critical"

In his trenchant essay 'Politics & the English Language,' George Orwell noted how acronyms are favored by totalitarian organizations and societies. At least if the worst happens, we won't have to bother any longer with all these stupid acronyms, and the nitwits who coin them.

-- Spidey (in@jam.com), August 10, 1999.