IS FAILURES The need for well run projects

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IS FAILURESThe need for well run projects

• Stan Price

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A CAPITAL THREE

• LONDON EMERGENCY SERVICES COMMAND CONTROL
  SYSTEMS.
• AMBULANCE, FIRE POLICE.
• AMBULANCE FIRE - LITIGATION
• POLICE - SUCCESSFUL

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LONDON AMBULANCE SYSTEM

• EVERY MISTAKE MADE.
• COMPREHENSIVE REPORT, BUT
• SECOND TIME AROUND
• CHIEF EXEC.

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LONDON FIRE BRIGADE SYSTEM

• 3M VALUE - 2M I.S. 1981 PRICES.
• ENGINEERING LED.
• WENT TO ENGINEERING COMPANY.

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NIMROD MK3 -1

• AIRBORNE EARLY WARNING SYSTEM.
• 60 I.S.
• CANCELLED BY THATCHER.
• 2B SPENT.
• EXISTING BOEING AWACS BOUGHT.

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NIMROD MK3 - 2

• CUT COST - USE AVAILABLE COMET FUSELAGES.
• PHYSICAL RESTRICTION ON COMPUTER POWER.
• 2 RADARS - MORE COMPLEX PROCESSING.
• BAe - MARCONI SCHISM

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NORTH WEST WATER - 1

• TOTAL FINANCIAL CONTROL SYSTEM.
• VISION - WORLDS MOST EFFICIENT PUBLIC UTILITY.
• 60M SPENT WITH AA.
• WHAT DID NWW HAVE TO SHOW FOR IT?

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NORTH WEST WATER - 2

• CLAIMS BASED ON US (LESS REGULATORY) EXPERIENCE.
• NO SIGNIFICANT WORK UPFRONT JUST CHIEF EXEC
  DECISION.

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BED LINEN MILL -1

• 50K SYSTEM.
• MAINLY STOCK CONTROL.
• WENT LIVE.
• LOST MAIL ORDER BUSINESS.
• MAIN MILL CLOSED - COMPANY NEARLY WENT UNDER -
  LITIGATION.

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BED LINEN MILL -2

• INSUFFICIENT TESTING.
• ONE MAJOR BUG MISSED.
• ACTUAL DELIVERY NUMBERS RATHER THAN NUMBER
  ORDERED DEDUCTED FROM STOCK TOTALS.

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WAFER-FAB PLANT SCHEDULING SYSTEM - 1

• SMALL BATCHES, VARIABLE, PRODUCTION PATHS,
  EXPENSIVE UNRELIABLE PLANT.
• MAXIMISE YIELD.
• COLLAB RESEARCH PROJECT.
• NOW USED IN EVERY WAFER-FAB IN WORLD.

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WAFER-FAB PLANT SCHEDULING SYSTEM - 2

• ACE PROJECT LEADER (MANAGER).
• DECISIVE DECISION.
• ACE TEAM.
• 1B PLANT AS TEST BED.

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NOT JUST IN UK

• DENVER AIRPORT BAGGAGE SYSTEM.
• FAA 6B AAS SYSTEM.
• FRENCH SNCF TGV RESERVATION SYSTEM (SOCRATE) .
• SYDNEY AIRPORT APPROACH CONTROL.

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SOCRATE - 1

• RESERVATIONS FOR START OF TGV NORD.
• BASED ON AIRLINE SYSTEM.
• WENT LIVE 1993
• GETTING TICKET PARIS- LILLE TOOK LONGER THAN
  JOURNEY.
• STRIKES LESS PASSENGERS.

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SOCRATE - 2

• INTRODUCED IN UNSTABLE ENVIRONMENT.
• DOUBLE TICKETING PHILOSOPHY CHANGE.
• NO LIVE TESTING.
• BIG BANG INTRODUCTION.
• INSUFFICIENT TRAINING.

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SWANWICK ALIAS NERC - 1

• NEW LONDON EN-ROUTE ATC CENTRE - 50 IS.
• ORIGINAL OPERATIONAL DATE 1996.
• CURRENT CONFIDENT ESTIMATE 2001/2.
• MANAGEMENT IN DENIAL.

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SWANWICK ALIAS NERC - 2

• TARGET DATE POLITICAL.
• MIX OLD/NEW SYSTEMS TO MEET DATE.
• FRAGMENTED ORGANISATION.
• SHOOT MESSENGER CULTURE.
• NEW BRIGADE.

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IS - THE BIG Myths

• IS can be fully specified at the start.
• IS are always good for you.
• Software is an engineering commodity that can be
  predictably manufactured.

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IT DELIVERY TEN
COMMANDMENTS - 1

• BE REALISTIC.
• MANAGE RISK.
• THINK OF EVERYTHING.
• STAFF WELL.
• MOTIVATE STAFF.
• PROMOTE TEAMS IN OPEN CULTURE.

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IT DELIVERY TEN
COMMANDMENTS - 2

• USE A TRULY PROVEN PROCESS.
• KEEP FOCUSED.
• MAXIMISE CREATIVITY/MINIMISE BUREAUCRACY.
• AVOID DOGMATISM PARTICULARLY ABOUT TECHNOLOGY.

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RECOMMENDATION

• Teach I.S. Project Management in a Real Life
  Realistic Environment.