ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the many dimensions of systems integration projects and their reasons for failure in the context of the symptoms of the Terminally Ill Integration Project (TIIP). Twenty M.B.A. students at the University of Tampa, Fla., performed a research study of published information to examine evidence as to why computer integration and systems development projects fail. The study reports findings of more than 50 organizations, and the students quickly realized that many such failures would not be reported for obvious public relations reasons. Nevertheless, many illustrations were found to support the symptoms of TIIPs. The chapter presents a sample of apparent system project failures with some pertinent facts as to why they did fail. There are many other accounts of terminally ill projects and undoubtedly many, many others that were unreported or are suppressed by their respective organizations.
