A Bridgerton Ball takes a Fall

The following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” – a list of failed or troubled projects from around the world. Project type :  Social ballProject name : Bridgerton night Date : Sep 2024Cost : Unknown Synopsis : A hit television show like Netflix's Bridgerton is about escapism. A glimpse of the sumptuous side of Georgian England and the grace of the Regency period. After 3 seasons the show has built up a considerable following and unleashed a yearning am...
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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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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 the target ...
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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 growth and...
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Iowa Caucus

The following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” – a list of failed or troubled projects from around the world. Democratic Party of Iowa – USA Project type : Election vote tally system Date : Feb 2020 Cost : A major embarrassment Synopsis : Looking for a way to embarrass yourself on election night - There's an app for that! With the world watching, the first tentative steps towards America's November 2020 Presidential election were taken in the school hall...
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London City – Garden Bridge

The following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” – a list of failed or troubled projects from around the world. Garden Bridge Trust – UK Project type : Bridge design & construction Date : Apr 2017 Cost : £53M (including £43M of public funds) Synopsis : New York has its 'High Line', Seoul has its 'Sky Garden', Paris has its 'Promenade Plantée' and London nearly had it's 'Garden Bridge'. Elevated, elongated city parks are a draw for both tourists and locals alike...
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Lidl Stiftung & Co. KG

The following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” – a list of failed or troubled projects from around the world. Organization: Lidl Stiftung & Co. KG - Germany Project name : eLWIS (apparently pronounced “Elvis” in German) Project type : Merchandise management system - Grocery stores Date : Aug 2018 Cost : €500m Synopsis : When it comes to selling the basic commodities of life you have to be lean and efficient. The grocery industry runs on thin margins and relies on givin...
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Customs and Border Protection

The following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” – a list of failed or troubled projects from around the world. Department of Homeland Security – USA Project type : Staff recruitment Date : Apr 2019 Cost : $23M to hire 22 new staff Synopsis : In 2016, as part of the USA's renewed focus on border security, the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) was charged with increasing the number of border agents who secure the nation's points of entry. The goal was to increase enfo...
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Boeing 737-MAX

The following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” – a list of failed or troubled projects from around the world. Organization : Boeing Commercial Airplanes Project name : 737-MAX Project type : Commercial aircraft design Date : Apr 2019 Cost : 346 lives lost Synopsis : Designing and building today's commercial aircraft must be among the most complex projects in the modern age. The two leading players in the industry are America's Boeing Commercial Airplanes and Europe's Airb...
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Fyre Festival

The following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” – a list of failed or troubled projects from around the world. Project name : Fyre FestivalProject type : Music festivalDate : Apr 2017Cost : Undeclared Synopsis : The execution of a large-scale music festival can be a complex Project Management challenge. The bigger the event, and the higher the expectations, the more challenging it becomes. Throw in a remote location, a lack ...
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