SezMe
22nd January 2005, 06:16 PM
The NY Times ran an article today (Jan 22) about major software projects that have failed here (http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/22/opinion/22carr.html?ex=1107411153&ei=1&en=0b15a70261e38dd3) (registration required). It started by citing a terrorist indentification system initiated by the FBI that they gave up on after spending $170 million. After citing other examples the OpEd piece states, "Software hell is a very crowded place."
Other snippets include:
In 1994, researchers found, only 16 percent were completed on time, on budget and fulfilling the original specifications. Nearly a third were canceled outright, and the remainder fell short of their objectives.
It may well turn out that the F.B.I.'s biggest problem was its desire to be innovative - to build a new wheel rather than use an old one within easy reach. When it comes to developing software today, innovation should be a last resort, not a first instinct.
These quotes may seem disjoint, but I don't want to violate the spirit of the forum rules. If you are interested and don't want to register, PM me and I'll forward it to you.
Other snippets include:
In 1994, researchers found, only 16 percent were completed on time, on budget and fulfilling the original specifications. Nearly a third were canceled outright, and the remainder fell short of their objectives.
It may well turn out that the F.B.I.'s biggest problem was its desire to be innovative - to build a new wheel rather than use an old one within easy reach. When it comes to developing software today, innovation should be a last resort, not a first instinct.
These quotes may seem disjoint, but I don't want to violate the spirit of the forum rules. If you are interested and don't want to register, PM me and I'll forward it to you.