Make use of four-digit dates. One of the best things an organization can do today is to implement processes that make use of four-digit dates wherever possible. This will take away any confusion for calculations in the future. Any new spreadsheet being created, any new database work, etc., should all be done in full four-digit format. It is also possible for new standardized forms to make use of data validations so that people can not use two-digit dates.

Train staff. By preparing your IT staff and helpdesk/customer support people to recognize date-related problems, your organization will be more nimble in responding to Year 2000 issues. This should be done today; do not wait until the year 2000 for implementation.

Replace systems. Microsoft realizes that replacing systems is easier said than done. It is often a painful decision to make. Replacement will, however, be one of the most commonly-used changes in business process and technology to fix this problem. Microsoft advocates the use of a Modified Rapid Replacement Strategy. (See Question #20) Microsoft’s current and future technologies can be an important component in an organization’s overall Year 2000 solution set.