Following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” - a list of failed and troubled projects from around the world.
British Rail - UK
Project name : Advanced Passenger Train (APT)
Project type : Design and development of high speed trains
Date : 1981 (filed under historical failures)
Cost : £50M (1981 costs estimated) – £150M (2012 inflation adjusted cost)
Synopsis :
With the goal of decreasing travel times between the UK's major cities, in the 1970's the then publicly o...
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Why do projects fail
Department of Transport – West Coast Railway Franchise
The following entry is a record in the "Catalogue of Catastrophe” - a list of failed and troubled projects from around the world.
Department of Transport - UK
Project name : West Coast Rail Franchise Competition
Project type : Tendering process for operations of passenger rail system
Date : Sep 2012
Cost : £40 to £100 Million estimated
Synopsis :
Operated by private companies, the British rail system is divided into a number of distinct regions. The contract for the West Coast li...
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De Havilland Comet
Following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” - a list of failed and troubled projects from around the world.
De Havilland Aircraft - UK
Project name : Comet
Project type : Commercial aircraft design and development
Date : 1949-1954 (filed under historical failures)
Cost : Unknown
Synopsis :
Developed in the late 1940's, the de Havilland Comet was the first jet airliner to enter commercial service. A technological leap forward, the Comet ushered in the jet ...
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Swedish Navy
Following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” - a list of failed and troubled projects from around the world.
Swedish Navy
Project name : Vasa
Project type : Military vessel design and development
Date : 1628 (filed under historical failures)
Cost : Unknown
Synopsis :
The Swedish Navy's new flagship sinks on its maiden voyage after completing less than 1 nautical mile. Due to the ship being top heavy a gust of wind was able to capsize the ship resulting in the ...
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Bristol Aeroplane Company
Following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” - a list of failed and troubled projects from around the world.
Bristol Aeroplane Company - UK
Project name : Bristol Brabazon
Project type : Aircraft design and development
Date : 1949 (filed under historical failures)
Cost : £12M (1949 costs) - £350M (2012 inflation adjusted cost)
Synopsis :
Project failure is by no means a new phenomena. The mistakes that lead to today's failed projects are mistakes than have been ma...
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Fox-Meyer Drugs
Following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” - a list of failed and troubled projects from around the world.
Fox-Meyer Drug - USA
Project type : Enterprise Resource Planning
Date : Aug 1996 (filed under golden oldies)
Cost : $40B write down in share value - company bankrupt
Synopsis :
A $65M investment in an Enterprise Resource Planning System (ERP) and new warehousing facilities results in the destruction of a $40B business. A project aimed at improving busine...
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London Stock Exchange – Taurus
Following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” - a list of failed and troubled projects from around the world.
London Stock Exchange - UK
Project : Taurus (Transfer and Automated Registration of Uncertificated Stock)
Project type : Share trading system
Date : Mar 1993 (filed under golden oldies)
Cost : £75M lost by the London Stock Exchange and as much as £400M by other stakeholders
Synopsis :
Efforts to move form paper based stock trading to a computerized system b...
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G4S – Olympics Security Shambles
Following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” - a list of failed and troubled projects from around the world.
G4S Security Services - UK
Project type : Provision of security personnel for the 2012 London Olympic games
Project name : Olympic games
Date : Aug 2012 Cost : $60M Management fee
Synopsis :
3,500 British military personnel are called in at the last minute to plug gaps in the 2012 Olympic Games security after G4S Ltd failed to deliver on their contract t...
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British Home Office
Following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” - a list of failed and troubled projects from around the world.
British Home Office - UK
Project type : Mobile computing implementation
Project name : Mobile Information Programme (MIP)
Date : May 2012
Cost : £103M
Synopsis :
Equipping 41,000 British Police Officers with Blackberry devises was intended to cut down on paperwork, improve efficiency and allow officers to spend more time on the beat. Savings from the plan ...
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Knight Capital
Following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” - a list of failed and troubled projects from around the world.
Knight Capital - USA
Project type : Share trading system
Project name : Unknown
Date : Aug 2012 Cost :$440 USD
Synopsis :
In a story that reminds us of the need for proper testing standards, a software "glitch" at Knight Capital resulted in a $400M lose in just 30 minutes! According to press reports the lose amounted to 3 times Knight's annual earnings. Alt...
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