The construction of large software systems is one of the most hazardous activities of the business world.  The failure or cancellation rate of large software systems is over 35%.  Of the large systems that are completed, about two thirds experience schedule delays and cost overruns.  Yet some large systems are finished early, meet their budgets, and have few if any quality problems.  How do successful projects differ from projects that fail?  Better project management and better quality control are the most important differences between success and failure in the software world.  Thus excellence in software project management has a very favorable return on investment (ROI) due to cost avoidance. Continue reading →