Why do IT projects so often run over budget and over time? Perhaps thinking too big, too costly, and too risk adverse is part of the problem. All three conditions often lead to a long project timel ine, another significant risk factor. A recent computerworld article discusses the increasing use of ‘lite’-thinking with open-source/web 2.0-type tools. The advantages?
An example? You can have an organization-wide multi-user Content Management System up and running, fully configured in less than a day — with 2 staff people. Hardware-wise you need a standard apache/LAMP web server — a service that you can contract externally for under $1,000 annually (and for smaller organizations more like under $200). Many of your peer organizations are already doing it (especially if you are in higher education.) How do you accomplish this? WordPressMU. No months-long RFP process — no need for thousands of dollars of hardware/software investment — no mulit-tiered approval process — no consultants. Start small, start fast, see what works, gather user reaction, adapt, innovate.
Corporate IT done ‘lite’: open source, Web 2.0 gain appeal as budgets shrink
CIOs are turning to cheap, lightweight tools to get the job done fast.
Internet Evolution – IT Clan Editor’s Blog – Why Most IT Projects Cost Too Much
According to Jim Johnson, chairman of the Standish Group consultancy, a whopping 54 percent of IT projects worldwide came in over budget in 2008, with large enterprise projects a bit more likely to spin out of cost control…Hopefully, ongoing progress in Internet-related technologies will help alleviate some of the complexity of today’s IT projects.
Millions of Dollars Later, U. of Wisconsin Still Lacks New Payroll Software
More than three years and $36-million dollars have not been enough to fix the University of Wisconsin system’s payroll computer program…a system budget official said the project, originally budgeted to cost $1.6-million and be finished by last fall, will now cost at least $12-million.
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Randall Rode's online home for thoughts, notes, and experiments with a wide range of technology topics. Visit the about page for info on my recent projects and professional background. I welcome your comments!
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