[comp.software-eng] Large Projects

davis@mwunix.mitre.org (David Davis) (07/25/90)

We frequently hear the assertion that some other field of engineering 
performs better than the software profession in meeting cost/schedule 
goals...well, not always.

A recent Washington Post article (about 21 July) described how the 
British Channel Tunnel, or "Chunnel", project is half done and 60% 
over budget, through a combination of inflation, poilitics, and the 
unexpected.  I would like to suggest that this supports a pet theory of 
mine that almost all big projects get into some trouble, simply 
because of their bigness.  Small comfort?  At least one can carve 
up a software project in to safer, smaller ones.



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Dave Davis                  davis@mwunix.mitre.org
MITRE Corporation           me := disclaimer.all
7525 Colshire Dr.        McLean, VA 22102