I worked for IBMGS elsewhere as a Unix Sysadmin...
I've only seen a disaster like your description at Lucent. The problem
is IBM and EDS guarantee to control the IS cost structure and put in
place controlls over things like upgrading without testing software...
and wild developers changing on-line computer systems every day
breaking the business systems... But they also strangle innovation
with a bureaucracy from hell run by non-techie finance types.
One can only imagine then what implementing that type of
model on a scale like that of the Federal Government will come out
looking like. Even if it's 'just' the DOD/DON LANs at this stage,
that's still a pretty massive scale. The truly scary part of it is
that when the reps of NMCI are asked questions during user's
meettings, they rarely have any kind of answers or a long term plan.
It's interesting hearing of Admirals losing their cool and cussing
the reps out during these meetings.
Jeff
--
Collector of Classic Microcomputers and Video Game Systems:
Home of the TRS-80 Model 2000 FAQ File
http://www.geocities.com/siliconvalley/lakes/6757