Following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” – a list of failed and troubled projects from around the world.
Organization: Saudi StateProject type: Urban developmentProject name: The LineDate: 2017 - 2025Cost: Total $2 Trillion (estimated had the project been completed)
Synopsis:
Ambitious mega-projects often fail when vision outpaces governance, technical realities and project budgets. Saudi Arabia’s Neom project (and particularly its flagship deve...
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Failed Project
AI Agents – The Jigsaw Piece That Pulverized the Puzzle
Following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” – a list of failed and troubled projects from around the world.
Organization: PocketOSProject type: AI Agent implementationDate: Apr 2026Cost: Not disclosed
Synopsis:
The explosion in interest in Artificial Intelligence (AI) agents means that enterprises around the world are experimenting with the possibilities. Projects abound and while there is no central record of how those efforts are going, ...
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Get low got low
Following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” – a list of failed and troubled projects from around the world.
Organization: Lululemon Athletica Inc.Project type: Fashion design / launchProject name: Get low collectionDate: Jan 2026Cost: Not disclosed
Synopsis:
Successful product launches require alignment between innovation, quality control, brand expectations, and governance. Lululemon’s Get Low collection demonstrates how even well-resourced organizations can...
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Squeezing your customer
Following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” – a list of failed and troubled projects from around the world.
Organization: WestJet AirlinesProject type: Aircraft interior reconfiguration / product redesignProject name: Ultra-basic economy seating rolloutDate: 2025 – 2026Cost: Not disclosed
Synopsis:
To succeed in complex environments, project leaders must balance financial objectives with human factors, regulatory constraints, and publ...
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Aguwani-Sultanganj bridge collapse
The following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” – a list of failed or troubled projects from around the world.
Organization: Bihar State Road Construction Corporation - Bihar state India
Project type : Bridge construction
Project name : Aguwani-Sultanganj bridge
Date : Jun 2023
Cost : $208M USD
Synopsis :
Humans have been building bridges for millennia and there are of course inherent risks. Today those risks are well understood and modern engineering helps ensure bridg...
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Scottish Ferries Fiasco
The following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” – a list of failed or troubled projects from around the world.
Organization: CalMac Ferries Ltd
Project type : Construction of two new ferries
Date : Sep 2022
Cost : £340 million
Synopsis :
The services provided by state owned ferry operator CalMac Ferries Ltd sustain communities on 22 of Scotland’s islands. To ensure they continue to meet stakeholder needs CalMac’s fleet renewal program ordered two new boats in 2015. The £97...
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Panorama
The following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” – a list of failed or troubled projects from around the world.
Organization:
Project type : Integrated Public Health Information System
Project name : Panorama
Date : Apr 2020
Cost : $115M
Synopsis :
Audit reports can be a gold mine of information that reveal insights into the status of a project. One such report that caught my eye this week covers an IT system developed in Canada to help identify, manage and track a pandemi...
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Super-League Soccer
The following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” – a list of failed or troubled projects from around the world.
Organization: Super League
Project type : Establishment of a new professional sports league
Project name : Super League
Date : Apr 2021
Cost : Unknown
Synopsis :
The public announcement of a new project can be a significant milestone. It’s an opportunity to draw media attention and generate some buzz about an upcoming product. When done well it leaves the target ...
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F-35 Lightning II
The following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” – a list of failed or troubled projects from around the world.
Organization: US Military
Project type : Development of a multi-role fighter aircraft and associated systems
Project name : F-35 Lightning II
Date : Jan 2021
Cost : $1.7T
Synopsis :
When procuring defense systems one of the key strategic decisions needing to be made comes down to 'quantity' versus 'quality'. Should you buy a smaller number of super high-tech (but...
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The Dyson Electric Car
The following entry is a record in the “Catalogue of Catastrophe” – a list of failed or troubled projects from around the world.
Organization: Dyson Ltd – UK
Project type : Development of an electric car
Project name : The Dyson
Date : Oct 2019
Cost : £500M
Synopsis :
The future of transportation is here to see and it is of course electric! As a result, the development of electric cars has been a growth area for the past ten years and the pace of change continues to grow.
That growth and...
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