Ariane 5 and the Denver luggage handling system

And other unheroic failures

By Martin Atherton, Freeform Dynamics • Get more from this author

Posted in Reg Technology Panel, 21st March 2008 07:02 GMT

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Reg Tech Panel What do these monster cock-ups have to do with you?

Hopefully, absolutely nothing, because they’re all examples of major software system failures which resulted in major loss of kit (a space rocket) or hard cash ($200m in project overrun).

But in your organisation, how sure are you of the resilience, protection and ‘proper design’ afforded to the applications you provide to the business every working day? Do you work at the operational end of a slick, collaborative application lifecycle process, or do you feel like you spend your time juggling hot potatoes? Come Friday, do you feel the need to dash off down the pub/sanatorium faster than you can say ‘London Ambulance Dispatch System’, or ‘where’s our Mars Climate Orbiter?'?

Here’s a new study you can really get your teeth into: we want to hear your most common causes of systems failure, the silliest systems failure stories you have come across, and your best ever ‘I told you so’ stories relating to systems falling over.

We’ll be awarding a Reg goodie bag for the best stories you come up with, so click here to get started.

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