The following entry is a part of the Pattern Library. The Pattern Library records the common patterns of events that have the potential to lead to project failure
Name : Left shifting
Scope : Event pattern (sets pattern of events for complete project)
In brief :
Key strategic, architectural and organizational decisions are ignored in favour of diving into the hard core development activities.
Description :
Some project decisions are more significant than others. A decision's rel...
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Author: admin
Gravitation
The following entry is a part of the Pattern Library. The Pattern Library records the common patterns of events that have the potential to lead to project failure.
Name : Gravitation
Type : Behavioral pattern (patterns that influence the actions or conduct of an individual or team)
In brief :
People stay within their comfort zone while ignoring other aspects of the work needing to be done.
Outline :
We all have our comfort zones and the things we like to do. These preferences draw u...
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Techcentric Myopia
The following entry is a part of the Pattern Library. The Pattern Library records the common patterns of events that have the potential to lead to project failure.
Name : Techcentric Myopia
Scope : Macro pattern (sets pattern of events for complete project)
Outline :
Technology solutions are built to serve a purpose for their users. Some projects loose sight of that goal and allow the technology itself to become the central purpose. Such projects place significant focus on the techno...
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Commitment Failure
The following entry is a part of the Pattern Library. The Pattern Library records the common patterns of events that have the potential to lead to project failure.
Name : Commitment Failure
In brief :
The organization or team make firm, but unachievable, schedule, scope and budget commitments.
Description:
The schedule, scope and budget commitments a team makes are amongst the most important decisions made in a project. Commitment failures occur when the team or organization mak...
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Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) – USA
Following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” - a list of failed and troubled projects from around the world.
Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) - USA
Project type : New payroll system
Date : Jan 2007 Cost :$95 USD
Synopsis :
New payroll system goes seriously wrong. Some teachers are paid $10,000 for one month’s work while others receive just 20¢ for the same job. Some school board employees are forced to take bank loans to cover their daily expenses while...
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Centrica PLC – UK
Following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” - a list of failed and troubled projects from around the world.
Centrica PLC – UK
Project name : Jupiter
Date : Feb 2007 Cost :$6340M USD
Synopsis :
Efforts to combine billing systems for electrical and gas supply into a single system dissolve into a shambles. Level of manual intervention required to handle billings exceeds ability of staff to keep up with the system. Additional 2,500 recruited to try to restore order. ...
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Social Insurance Agency – Japan
Following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” - a list of failed and troubled projects from around the world.
Social Insurance Agency – Japan
Date : Jun 2007 Cost :Undisclosed
Synopsis :
Japanese government admits they can no longer identify the true owners of 50,000,000 pension accounts. Social Insurance Agency Director General Kiyoshi Murase himself stands outside government buildings handing out fliers apologizing for the mistakes.
Contributing factors as report...
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Lufthansa Systems – Germany
Following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” - a list of failed and troubled projects from around the world.
Lufthansa Systems – Germany
Project name : FACE (Future Airline Core Environment)
Date : Sep 2007 Cost : Undisclosed
Synopsis :
New airline passenger reservation system cancelled after 2 years of work. Little information provided, but press release quotes problems with supplier performance.
Contributing factors as reported in the press:
Press release note...
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Service Personnel and Veterans Agency – UK
Following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” - a list of failed and troubled projects from around the world.
Service Personnel and Veterans Agency (SPVA) – UK
Project name : JPA (Joint Payroll Administration)
Date : Oct 2007 Cost :$100 Project (but cost due to failures not disclosed)
Synopsis :
New system to unify Army, Navy and Air Force payrolls results in a deluge of complaints about missing pay, incorrect pay and bungled allowances. Although system apparently wo...
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New South Wales Government – Australia
Following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” - a list of failed and troubled projects from around the world.
New South Wales Government - Australia
Project name : TCARD
Date : Nov 2007 Project Cost : $370M AUD Writeoff Cost : $95M AUD (estimated)
Synopsis :
Smart card transit project to allow single ticket across train, ferry and bus transit cancelled after years of delays and cost overruns. Project originally intended for delivery in time for Sydney Olympics (Jul...
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