Following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” – a list of failed and troubled projects from around the world.
Build-a-Bear Workshop – USA & Canada
Project type : Sales promotion
Date : Jul 2018
Cost : Undeclared repetitional damage
Synopsis :
It's easy to get caught up in the excitement of an idea and in doing so miss important issues that lie just below the surface. In a marketing campaign gone awry, US based 'Build-a-Bear Workshop' gained world-wide attentio...
More
Failed Project
British Columbia – First time home buyers loan program
The following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” – a list of failed or troubled projects from around the world.
BC Provincial Government – Canada
Project name : British Columbia Home Owner Mortgage and Equity Partnership program
Project type : Government backed loan program to help first time buyers enter the real estate market
Date : Cancelled Dec 2018
Cost : Unknown
Synopsis :
Between 2002 and 2017 residential property prices in the city of Vancouver, Canada w...
More
A380 – Take two
The following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” – a list of failed or troubled projects from around the world.
Airbus SAS – France
Project name : A380
Project type : Commercial aircraft development
Date : Feb 2019
Cost : Undeclared, but certainly in the billions of dollars in lost opportunity and other costs.
Synopsis :
An old Danish proverb (sometimes incorrectly attributed to Yogi Berra) quips that "It is difficult to make predictions, especially about the fu...
More
Pink Uniforms
Following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” – a list of failed and troubled projects from around the world.
US Department of Defense – USA
Project type : Military aid
Date : Jun 2017 Cost : $28M
Synopsis :
The United States spends a significant amount of aid money supporting the military of allied countries. With the aim of stabilizing nations and ensuring global security, money is poured into training, equipment and consulting services. A significant amount of t...
More
International Donor Agencies – Africa
Following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” – a list of failed and troubled projects from around the world.
International Donor Agencies – Africa
Project type : Boreholes and wells (developing community water sources)
Date : Jul 2016 Cost : $360M
Synopsis :
One of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) is to increase access to clean water and sanitation facilities for communities that currently lack such facilities. In many rural areas of sub Saharan Africa...
More
Jacques Cartier Champlain Bridge Corporation
Following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” – a list of failed and troubled projects from around the world.
Jacques Cartier Champlain Bridge Corporation – Canada
Project type : Highway overpass construction
Date : Oct 2016 Cost : $11M CAD
Synopsis :
Taxpayers often feel that their hard earned dollars aren't being respected by the government officials charged with spending those dollars. In a story that feeds into that narrative, the city of Montreal has recently co...
More
Flint Michigan – Water
The following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” – a list of failed or troubled projects from around the world.
Organization: Flint Michigan Municipality
Project type : Municipal water supply
Date : Apr 2014 to May 2016 (ongoing at time of writing)
Cost : Unknown for now, but potentially in the billions.
Synopsis :
In the most powerful nation on earth you would assume that if you're in a major city, it would be safe to drink the tap water. If you're in Flint Michig...
More
Tram trouble
The following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” – a list of failed or troubled projects from around the world.
Organization: City of Edinburgh Council
Project type : Public transit - Tram Network
Date : September 2003 - May 2014
Cost : £1 Billion (including anticipated loan interest) versus an original estimate of £375M (based on a much larger scope than was actually built)
Synopsis :
What started out as a noble idea in 2003 was later described as the “hell on whe...
More
TSA Body Scanners
The following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” – a list of failed or troubled projects from around the world.
Organization: Transportation Security Administration
Project type : Security system
Project name : Unknown
Date : August 2015
Cost : $160M
Synopsis :
Clearly security at major public venues is a top concern in the current global environment and airports are often at the leading edge of the fight. In the USA, the Transportation Security Administration (TS...
More
Los Angeles Unified School District
The following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” – a list of failed or troubled projects from around the world.
Los Angeles Unified School District - USA
Project type : e-Enabled learning tools
Project name : Instructional Technology Initiative
Date : Apr 2015 Cost : $1.3B
Synopsis :
Bringing equal opportunity to students from all economic backgrounds is a noble and justifiable goal, but having a noble goal doesn't make a project any easier. The Los Angeles Unifie...
More