How to Cause Information Technology Disasters

Informatics Training for CDC Public Health Advisors

How to Cause Information Technology Disasters
Instructor: William A. Yasnoff, MD, PhD

Teaching method(s): Lecture/discussion

Topics to be covered:

Risks of Information Technology

Types of Disasters

Effective Disaster Strategies: Management

Effective Disaster Strategies: Technical

Paradigm for Disaster Avoidance

Learning objectives:

By the end of this session, students will:

Understand the sources of risk in the development of new information systems

Describe at least four management strategies for creating disasters

Describe at least four technical strategies for creating disasters

Utilize an effective paradigm to minimize likelihood of information technology disasters

Handouts:

Instructional Materials

Johnston DC: I.R.S. Admits Lag in Modernization; Urges Contract Plan. NY Times 1/31/97, p. A1.

Oz E: When Professional Standards are Lax: The CONFIRM Failure and its Lessons. Communications of the ACM 1994;37(10):29-36.

References & suggested readings

Ennals R. Executive Guide to Preventing Information Technology Disasters. Berlin: Springer-Verlag, 1995.