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Top 10 Corporate Information Technology Failures

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Top 10 Corporate Information Technology Failures
AMR Corp., PROJECT: “Confirm” reservation system for hotel and system for Budget Rent A Car Corp., hotel and rental car bookings Hilton Hotels Corp., Marriott International Inc.
WHAT HAPPENED? After four years and $125 million in development, the project crumbled in 1992 when it became clear that Confirm would miss its deadline by as much as two years. AMR sued its three partners for breach of contract, citing mismanagement and fickle goals. Marriott countersued, accusing AMR of botching the project and covering it up. Both suits were later settled for undisclosed terms. Confirm died and AMR took a $109 million write-off.

Snap-On Inc. PROJECT: Conversion to a new order-entry system from The Baan Co. WHAT HAPPENED? Despite three years of design and implementation, a new order-entry system installed in December 1997 costs the tools company $50 million in lost sales for the first half of 1998. Orders are delayed, inventory is miscounted. Snap-On’s operating costs soar 40%, mainly to cover costs of extra freight and temporary workers. Franchisees, frustrated because they can’t operate the new software, turn to Snap-On competitors. Company profits for the period sink 22% compared to 1997. FoxMeyer Corp. PROJECT: SAP ERP system WHAT HAPPENED? A bungled enterprise resource planning (ERP) installation in 1996 helped drive FoxMeyer into bankruptcy, the drug distributor claims in lawsuits still pending against SAP AG, SAP America Inc. and Andersen Consulting. FoxMeyer seeks a combined $1 billion in damages, but defendants deny doing anything wrong. Trials scheduled for next May. W. W. Grainger Inc. PROJECT: SAP ERP system WHAT HAPPENED? Grainger spent at least $9 million on SAP software and services in 1998 and last year, but the ERP system overcounted warehouse inventory and had routine crashes. During the worst six

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