3. Problems with new IT systems

As was mentioned in the previous page - change is risky. Managing any change that involves IT systems is particularly risky!

A survey of over 14,000 organisations showed that where new IT systems were being developed*

  • 80-90% of systems fail to meet performance goals
  • 80% of systems are late and over budget
  • 40% of systems fail or are abandoned
  • Just 10-20% of businesses meet all their success criteria.

Only a small minority of the IT projects in the survey were successful.

 

Read the following news stories:

Offender IT failure 'a shambles'

IT failure 'causes £130m arrears'

IT delays 'put patients at risk'

What could have been done better?

What could reduce the chances of failure?

 

As people have learnt from past mistakes, a model has been developed and refined over the years to try and maximise the chances of a successful project.

This method / model is called the SYSTEMS LIFE CYCLE.

 

challenge see if you can find out one extra fact on this topic that we haven't already told you

Click on this link: Project planning

*OASIG 1995 study