West Jet – Canada

Following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” - a list of failed and troubled projects from around the world. West Jet - Canada Project type : New passenger Reservations System Date : Jan 2007 Cost : $34M USD Updated: 2 Dec 2009 Synopsis : Efforts to implement a new customized reservations system cancelled amid delays and quality concerns. Update 2 Dec 2009 - Following the cancellation of the original project in 2007, Westjet moved their reservations systems to t...
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Canadian Payments Association

Following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” - a list of failed and troubled projects from around the world. Canadian Payments Association – Canada Project : Truncation and Electronic Cheque Presentment (TECP)| Date : Jan 2009 Cost : $undisclosed, but web search indicates project to have been a $300M initiative Synopsis : The TCEP system was a system designed to simplify the clearing of checks by scanning and transmitting check data between banks rather than transf...
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Marine One

The following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” - a list of failed and troubled projects from around the world. US Navy Project name : Marine One Date : Jun 2009 Cost :$13B Synopsis : To allow for rapid and safe transport of the President and other VIP's, the US Government maintains a fleet of VIP transport helicopters. The current fleet of Sea King and Blackhawk helicopters was first deployed in the 1970's. Following the 9/11 attacks, the US Government decided tha...
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Veterans Affiars – USA

Following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” - a list of failed and troubled projects from around the world. Veterans Affairs - USA Project : Replacement Scheduling Application (RSA) Date : Aug 2009 Cost :$41M Synopsis : After seven years of development the Veterans Affairs (VA) Replacement Scheduling Application (RSA) is scrapped. As a component of the larger HealtheVet system, the Replacement Scheduling Application was to allow veterans to request and view medical...
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Qantas

The following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” - a list of failed and troubled projects from around the world. Qantas - Australian airline Project name : Jetsmart Date : Feb 2008 Cost :$40M Synopsis : "Jetsmart" engineering parts management system is renamed "Dumbjet" by aircraft engineers because the system is so difficult to use. Failure to engage the engineers who would be the eventual users of the system into the requirements and design processes resulted in a...
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Dept. Homeland Security

Following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” - a list of failed and troubled projects from around the world. Department of Homeland Security - Emerge2 Project - USA Date : Sep 2006     Cost :  $20M Synopsis : Plans for the Emerge2 system (Electronically Managing Enterprise Resources for Government Efficiency and Effectiveness ) are scuttled after it becomes clear the project has headed off in the wrong direction.  Original plan called for the development of an Enterp...
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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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Waste Management Inc – USA

Following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” - a list of failed and troubled projects from around the world. Waste Management Inc - USA Project : Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system implementation Date : Mar 2008 Cost :$100M USD Synopsis : Enterprise Resource Planning system implementation fails to meet needs. Waste Management claim vendor used a dummy prototype for pre-sale demo while asserting that the solution was an out-of-the-box solution that would requi...
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