Software Development Still a Risky Business

Despite technology breakthroughs over the years, software development remains costly and error-prone.

The data about software development projects is sobering -- as it has been for decades. Too many projects still end up way over budget and behind schedule.

A Standish Group study of some 10,000 software projects found that 21% of them had failed, meaning they weren't completed or were rejected by the customer.

About 37% of the projects in the study were deemed successful: They came in on time and within budget, and users accepted the result. Another 42% were found to be challenges: They were late, over budget, not meeting users' needs, or all of the above, according to the report issued earlier this year.

The data about software development projects is sobering -- as it has been for decades. Too many projects still end up way over budget and behind schedule.

A Standish Group study of some 10,000 software projects found that 21% of them had failed, meaning they weren't completed or were rejected by the customer.

About 37% of the projects in the study were deemed successful: They came in on time and within budget, and users accepted the result. Another 42% were found to be challenges: They were late, over budget, not meeting users' needs, or all of the above, according to the report issued earlier this year.

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