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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Failed private sector project
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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Teddy bear madness
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 attention by attrac...
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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 future”. Unfor...
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Volkswagen
The following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” – a list of failed or troubled projects from around the world.
Organization: Volkswagen Group (VW)
Project type : Vehicle emissions system
Project name : Unknown
Date : September 2015
Cost : Potential costs in the region of $18B
Synopsis :
Arguably one of the most expensive scandals in modern corporate history, the revelation that Volkswagen cheated government emission testing has shaken people's confidence in a once solid bra...
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Target Canada
The following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” – a list of failed or troubled projects from around the world.
Target - Canada
Project type : Retail store opening
Project name : Unknown
Date : Jan 2015 Cost : In the region of $7B
Synopsis :
Drawn by lower prices, it is common for Canadian families to cross over into the USA to grab their shopping. One favourite destination has always been the US retailer known as "Target". Famous for their large red and white bulls eye log...
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Christmas Blunderland
The following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” – a list of failed or troubled projects from around the world.
Christmas Blunderland - UK
Project type : An assortment of Christmas themed entertainment parks
Date : Nov-Dec - 2008, 2013 and 2014 Cost : Unknown
Synopsis :
One definition of success is "meeting or exceeding expectations". Satisfy expectations of the customer or stakeholders and the project is viewed as a success. Fall short of expectations and no matter how go...
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IBM
The following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” – a list of failed or troubled projects from around the world.
IBM (International Business Machines) - USA
Project type : Organizational performance improvement and strategic realignment
Project name : Roadmap 2015
Date : 2010-2014 Cost : Unknown
Synopsis :
Most of the projects noted in the catalogue were aimed at producing some form of product or tangible deliverable. IBM’s “Roadmap 2015” initiative is a little different; it...
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Sinking of the RMS Tayleur
Following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” - a list of failed and troubled projects from around the world.
White Star Line
Project name : RMS Tayleur
Project type : Passenger ship
Date : 1854 (filed under historical failures)
Cost : Unknown
Synopsis :
The sinking of the White Star Line's Titanic on her first voyage is one of the world's classic disaster stories. What few people know is that the Titanic was not the first passenger liner sailing under the White St...
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Avon Products
The following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” - a list of failed or troubled projects from around the world.
Avon Products - Canada
Project type : Product sales and ordering system
Project name : The "Promise" project
Date : Dec 2013 Cost : $100 to $125M
Synopsis :
Ding-dong - Avon calling. According to reports, a significant number of the Avon sales team in Canada will no longer be pressing any doorbells. One of the world's most established direct sales compan...
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