Question

My first programming job in 1977 was to convert a set of application systems from one...

My first programming job in 1977 was to convert a set of application systems from one version of COBOL to another version of COBOL for the government of Prince Edward Island. The testing approach was to first run a set of test data through the old system and then run it through the new system to insure that the results from the two matched. If they matched, then the last 3 months of production data were run through both to ensure they, too, matched.

Things went well untill I began to convert the gas tax system that kept records on everyone authorized to purchase gasoline without paying tax. The test data ran fine, but the results using the production data were peculiar. the old and new systems matched, but rather than listing several thousand records, the report listed only 50. I checked the production data file and found it listed only 50 records, not the thousands that were supposed to be there.

the system worked by copying the existing gas tax records file into a new file and making changes in the new file. The old file was then copied to tape backup. There was a bug in the program such that if there were no changes to the file, a new file was created, but no records were copied into it.

I checked the tape backups and found one with the full set of data that was scheduled to be overwritten 3 days after i discovered the problem. The government was only 3 days away from losing all gas tax records.

Question

What might have happend if this bug hadn't been caught and all gas tax records were lost?

Homework Answers

Answer #1

If all the gas records were lost then the government would definitely lose the record and government would have to do the specific survey again in the island. If gas tax records were lost there was possibility of no tax payments from most of the taxpayers which would have drastically reduced the overall revenue generated for the government and put an implication on you for not managing the program properly.
This would have also created a problem of supplying gasoline to the citizens as there are no records for gasoline tax records. If there is any contract between you and the government then you would also be held responsible for creating a faulty software as it is a cause of loss for the records.

Know the answer?
Your Answer:

Post as a guest

Your Name:

What's your source?

Earn Coins

Coins can be redeemed for fabulous gifts.

Not the answer you're looking for?
Ask your own homework help question
Similar Questions
We have been using the same set of data (Data Set One) in the notes to...
We have been using the same set of data (Data Set One) in the notes to illustrate production and costs. I have provided Data Set One in both tables below. When costs were calculated in the notes, fixed costs were $200. By using the term fixed costs economists are only referring to the fact that a firm must pay this expense no matter how much output it produces or sells. An example of a fixed cost could be the rent...
This case assignment draws from the Business Information Systems and the Systems Acquisition and Development modules...
This case assignment draws from the Business Information Systems and the Systems Acquisition and Development modules (Chapters 5 to 8). Its purpose is to provide you with experience in analyzing organizational information systems, making recommendations to improve these systems, and formulating a plan to execute on your recommendations. 1. Recommend one of your alternatives that is the best solution to the main issue and justify your recommendation. Your justification should be based on the key decision criteria and you must...
Background You are a manager in the audit division at Miller Yates Howarth (MYH), an accounting...
Background You are a manager in the audit division at Miller Yates Howarth (MYH), an accounting firm with offices throughout the major regional centres of NSW and Queensland. Although a medium sized firm by national standards, MYH is the second largest regional accounting firm in Australia. Most of MYH’s audit clients are in the agriculture, mining, manufacturing and property industries. All of those industries are currently under pressure, either from a downturn in commodity prices or fierce competition from overseas...
You are a manager in the audit division at Miller Yates Howarth (MYH), an accounting firm...
You are a manager in the audit division at Miller Yates Howarth (MYH), an accounting firm with offices throughout the major regional centres of NSW and Queensland. Although a medium sized firm by national standards, MYH is the second largest regional accounting firm in Australia. Most of MYH’s audit clients are in the agriculture, mining, manufacturing and property industries. All of those industries are currently under pressure, either from a downturn in commodity prices or fierce competition from overseas competitors....
1. By convention, how are configuration files separated from regular files? (NOTE: A practical effect of...
1. By convention, how are configuration files separated from regular files? (NOTE: A practical effect of the separation is that they are not displayed by the default version of the ls command)                         a. the prefix "rc" (rc.filename)               c. the extension .cfig                         b. a dot (.) at the beginning                    d. by having the SUID bit set 2. The IP address which is reserved for local loopback (equivalent to "localhost") is:                         a. 255.255.255.0                                   c. 192.168.70.1...
Wal-Mart Online Wal-Mart is one of the largest companies in America. It is definitely the largest...
Wal-Mart Online Wal-Mart is one of the largest companies in America. It is definitely the largest retailer, both in terms of the number of stores (8,970 worldwide in 2011) and the level of sales ($419 billion from the 2011 Annual Report). By pushing suppliers to continually reduce costs, Wal-Mart is known for pursuing low prices and the stores often attract customers solely in-terested in lower prices. With Wal-Mart’s expansion into groceries, the company has be-come the largest retail grocer in...
There are two reflective essays from MED students during their third year internal medicine clerkship. One...
There are two reflective essays from MED students during their third year internal medicine clerkship. One student sees each connection to a patient as like the individual brush strokes of an artist and the other sees gratitude in a patient with an incurable illness and is moved to gratitude in her own life. (WORD COUNT 500) Reflect on both essays and then choose one and describe how the student grew from the experience. Then explain what you learned as a...
I'm currently stuck on Level 3 for the following assignment. When passing my program through testing...
I'm currently stuck on Level 3 for the following assignment. When passing my program through testing associated with the assignment it is failing one part of testing.   Below is the test that fails: Failed test 4: differences in output arguments: -c input data: a b c -c expected stdout: b observed stdout: a b expected stderr: observed stderr: ./test: invalid option -- 'c' Unsure where I have gone wrong. MUST BE WRITTEN IN C++ Task Level 1: Basic operation Complete...
Review the Robatelli's Pizzeria Case Study. Develop another internal controls system, but this time, in the...
Review the Robatelli's Pizzeria Case Study. Develop another internal controls system, but this time, in the purchases and fixed assets business areas. Prepare a 12- to 16-slide presentation describing the purchases and fixed assets business areas. Be sure to incorporate speaker notes as well as appropriate visuals, graphics, fonts, etc. Include any associated risk in these areas. Describe specific internal controls that include authorization of transactions, segregation of duties, adequate records and documentation, security of assets, and independent checks and...
Heinz Children’s Health is a small pediatric practice serving the health- care needs of children in...
Heinz Children’s Health is a small pediatric practice serving the health- care needs of children in a small, rural community. Twenty-five years ago, Dr. Helen Heinz founded the practice, which now includes two physician assistants, two registered nurses, a home health nurse, an office manager, and a receptionist. The practice has always used paper records, but when Dr. Heinz learns that, under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is offeringsignificant...
ADVERTISEMENT
Need Online Homework Help?

Get Answers For Free
Most questions answered within 1 hours.

Ask a Question
ADVERTISEMENT