“Titanic Lessons for IT Projects” IT Projects from Hell

Titanic

Titanic Screws

White Star invested in ship-builder’s model (IT pilot). Used to analyze all exposures to the possibility of loss.

Titanic’s construction stage integrated many complex technologies and selected safety features to reduce risks

By end of construction Titanic’s safety compromised severely. But White Star believed it safest ship ever built.

Decisions with esthetic factors compromised individual safety features and escalated the level of risk

Two assessment groups surveyed for damage. Bruce Ismay made fateful decision to prove Titanic could save herself.

Lessons learned - what can you take from all this. Your IT project is little different to Titanic’s project.

Therac-25

Joke Apparently the computer giant IBM decided to have some parts manufactured in Japan as a trial project. In the specifications, they set out that they will accept three defective parts per 10,000. When the delivery came in there was an accompanying letter. "We, Japanese people, had a hard time understanding North American business practices. But the three defective parts per 10,000 have been separately manufactured and have been included in the consignment. Hope this pleases you."

Saga of the Project From Hell