The following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” – a list of failed or troubled projects from around the world.
Organization: BC Hydro - British Columbia, Canada
Project type : Hydro-electric power generator and associated dam
Project name : Site C dam
Date : Jun 2023
Cost : $16B CAD and climbing
Synopsis :
Today's large scale civil engineering projects aren't just about engineering. They typically involve a significant public relations component as well. On...
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Aguwani-Sultanganj bridge collapse
The following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” – a list of failed or troubled projects from around the world.
Organization: Bihar State Road Construction Corporation - Bihar state India
Project type : Bridge construction
Project name : Aguwani-Sultanganj bridge
Date : Jun 2023
Cost : $208M USD
Synopsis :
Humans have been building bridges for millennia and there are of course inherent risks. Today those risks are well understood and modern engineering helps...
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Loblaws
Following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” – a list of failed and troubled projects from around the world.
Loblaws – Canada
Project type : Business intelligence system
Date : Jul 2019
Cost : Unknown
Synopsis :
Although it is a bit unfair to call this one a catastrophe, I've decided to list the following story because it touches on an aspect of Project Management that gets little air time; the art of post-project benefits realization.
Projects are investment...
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Australian Stock Exchange
The following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” – a list of failed or troubled projects from around the world.
Organization: Australian Stock Exchange (ASX Ltd)
Project type : Stock trading system (using blockchain)
Project name : CHESS Replacement (Clearing House Electronic Subregister System)
Date : Nov 2022
Cost : Aus $250 million (plus a similar amount spent by future users of the system as they worked to integrate their systems with the new product and prepared ...
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Scottish Ferries Fiasco
The following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” – a list of failed or troubled projects from around the world.
Organization: CalMac Ferries Ltd
Project type : Construction of two new ferries
Date : Sep 2022
Cost : £340 million
Synopsis :
The services provided by state owned ferry operator CalMac Ferries Ltd sustain communities on 22 of Scotland’s islands. To ensure they continue to meet stakeholder needs CalMac’s fleet renewal program ordered two new boats in 20...
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Quibi
The following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” – a list of failed or troubled projects from around the world.
Quibi – USA
Project type : Video streaming service
Date : Dec 2020
Cost : $1B estimated loss (potentially some cost recovery through subsequent sale of assets)
Synopsis :
A video-streaming start-up backed by Hollywood and Silicon Valley elites. With access to a vast amount of money and an open door to the world's top talent, Quibi looked...
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Panorama
The following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” – a list of failed or troubled projects from around the world.
Organization:
Project type : Integrated Public Health Information System
Project name : Panorama
Date : Apr 2020
Cost : $115M
Synopsis :
Audit reports can be a gold mine of information that reveal insights into the status of a project. One such report that caught my eye this week covers an IT system developed in Canada to help identify, manage and tra...
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Super-League Soccer
The following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” – a list of failed or troubled projects from around the world.
Organization: Super League
Project type : Establishment of a new professional sports league
Project name : Super League
Date : Apr 2021
Cost : Unknown
Synopsis :
The public announcement of a new project can be a significant milestone. It’s an opportunity to draw media attention and generate some buzz about an upcoming product. When done well it leaves...
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F-35 Lightning II
The following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” – a list of failed or troubled projects from around the world.
Organization: US Military
Project type : Development of a multi-role fighter aircraft and associated systems
Project name : F-35 Lightning II
Date : Jan 2021
Cost : $1.7T
Synopsis :
When procuring defense systems one of the key strategic decisions needing to be made comes down to 'quantity' versus 'quality'. Should you buy a smaller number of super h...
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The Dyson Electric Car
The following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” – a list of failed or troubled projects from around the world.
Organization: Dyson Ltd – UK
Project type : Development of an electric car
Project name : The Dyson
Date : Oct 2019
Cost : £500M
Synopsis :
The future of transportation is here to see and it is of course electric! As a result, the development of electric cars has been a growth area for the past ten years and the pace of change continues to grow.
That...
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