Following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” - a list of failed and troubled projects from around the world.
US Army - USA
Project type : Design and deploy new uniforms
Project name : Universal Camouflage Pattern (UCP)
Date : Jun 2012 Cost :$5B
Synopsis :
After several years of use the US Army elects to ditch its Universal Camouflage Pattern uniforms because they make troops easier to see rather than less easy to see. Designed to be a standard uniform that would pr...
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Why projects fail
Department of Homeland Security – Cook Country
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 - USA
Project type : Integrated security system
Project name : Project Shield
Date : Jan 2012 Cost :$45M
Synopsis :
A project aimed at providing live camera links from police cars and other fixed locations to a central command location fails to achieve the desired results. Equipment failures, poor planning and poor training me...
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The Fast Forward Freeze-Out
The following entry is a part of the Pattern Library. The library records samples of the common patterns of behaviour that set the context within which the chances of project failure are increased.
Name : The Fast Forward Freeze Out
In brief :
A sponsor accelerates progress in the planning of a project by freezing out the stakeholders. Failure to engage and understand stakeholder requirements however results in products being produced that fail to meet the needs of the stakeholders....
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BC Ferries
Following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” - a list of failed and troubled projects from around the world.
BC Ferries - Government of British Columbia - Canada
Project : Fast ferries
Project type : Design, build, deploy high speed ferries
Date : Jun 2002 Cost :$460M CAD
Synopsis :
Driven in part by congestion problems being experienced at one of the main ferry terminals in Vancouver British Columbia, the government of British Columbia decided that a new fleet o...
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Victoria Police Department
The following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” - a list of failed and troubled projects from around the world.
Victoria Police Department - Australia
Project : LINK
Project type : Law enforcement assistance program
Date : Apr 2011 Cost :$100M AUD
Synopsis :
Project aimed at implementing a new Law Enforcement Assistance Program to replace an 18 year old system are suspended for 6 months due to technical and cost related issues. The implementation of a package sys...
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Department of Defence – Australia – Landing Craft
Following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” - a list of failed and troubled projects from around the world.
Department of Defence - Australia
Project type : Design and development of naval vessels
Date : Feb 2011 Cost :$40M AUD
Synopsis :
Australian Defence Minister scraps a $40M project to build 6 new landing craft for use by the Australian Navy. The boats were to be launched from a larger transport ships (HMAS Manoora and HMAS Kanimbla) which are already in serv...
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City of New York
Following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” - a list of failed and troubled projects from around the world.
City of New York - USA
Project : CityTime
Project type : Employee time recording
Date : Dec 2010 Cost :$540M over original budget
Synopsis :
City's new time recording system for employees goes 10 times over budget and is delivered 6 month late. The 10 year project was originally estimated at $63M but ended up costing in excess of $600m. Although the system...
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Virtual Border
Following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” - a list of failed and troubled projects from around the world.
Dept. Homeland Security - USA
Project: Secure Border Initiative Network
Project type : Virtual border control system
Date : Oct 2010 Cost :$1B
Synopsis :
The Department of Homeland Security refuses to renew a contract for the construction of a virtual border control system. Aimed at controlling the flow of drugs and weapons, the system was designed to levera...
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Queensland Health
Following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” - a list of failed and troubled projects from around the world.
Queensland Health - Government of Queensland - Australia
Project type : Payroll (ERP)
Project name : Shared Services Initiative - LATTICE replacement
Date : Jun 2010 Cost : $64.5M AUD direct cost + $1.2B AUD for 8 years of subsequent operations.
Synopsis :
In an effort to save costs, the Queensland Government initiated a "shared services" program in 2003. Th...
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National Offender Management Service
Following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” - a list of failed and troubled projects from around the world.
National Offender Management Service - UK
Project type : Integrated offender management system
Project name : C-NOMIS
Date : Mar 2009 Cost :$375M
Synopsis :
Efforts to integrate prison and probation systems from different local authorities into one national system fail. Despite a two year delay and life-cycle costs that have risen from $375M to $1.1B the UK...
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