Marin County

The following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” - a list of failed and troubled projects from around the world. Marin County - California, USA Project type : Enterprise Resource Planning system - Accounting package Project name : MERIT (Marin Enterprise Resource Integrated Technology) Date : Jan 2013 court case settled  Cost :$33M Synopsis : Marin County (Marin) is an affluent county of about 250,000 inhabitants located just across the Golden Gate Bridge from San ...
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State of California

The following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” - a list of failed and troubled projects from around the world. State of California - California, USA Project type : Payroll and benefits system Project name : 21st Century Project (MyCalPAYS)  Date : Feb 2013  Cost :$254M Synopsis : As with many large organizations, the state of California has over the years built up a complex interconnected set of IT systems to support their daily operations. Managing multiple syst...
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US Department of Defense – U.S. Air Force

The following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” - a list of failed and troubled projects from around the world. Department of Defense - USA Project type : Integrated supply chain and logistics system Project name : Expeditionary Combat Support System (ECSS) Date : Nov 2012 Cost :$1B Synopsis : When you have 5,400 high-tech aircraft to deploy and maintain, plus 330,000 active personnel to coordinate, you have a major logistics problem on your hands! To manage those...
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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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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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American LaFrance

Following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” - a list of failed and troubled projects from around the world. American LaFrance – USA Project : ERP (counting, purchasing, inventory, production, payroll and finance services) Date : Jun 2007 Cost :$Undisclosed, but ALF blames Chapter-11 bankruptcy on the failure of the project Synopsis : ALF (the world's largest builder of customized fire fighting trucks and equipment) files for chapter-11 bankruptcy following a botch...
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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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