There were reports of several minor Y2K glitches but these were managed locally with limited effect on the public. Ironically, the primary issue that national Y2K coordinators have had to face has been second-guessing by those not directly involved in the Y2K effort. Some asked if too much money was spent to address the problem. These critics point to the The primary issue that national Y2K coordinators have had to face has been second-guessing by those not directly involved in the Y2K effort. From this, they conclude less could have been spent to achieve the same results.
Analysis reveals more plausible explanations.
Countries that are more dependent on computers recognized the importance of the task and spent more per computer. In some countries Y2K costs were much more public, and many lower-spending countries started the process later. Over time, Y2K remediation became faster and cheaper, permitting those who started later to accomplish the same results at a lower cost. The Y2K experience offered a unique opportunity to learn how the global economy operates and how to develop and maintain networks in real-time. These strategic lessons reflect on the problems that lay at the intersection of business, government and technology.