Software Crisis: Time is Running Out

$250 billion is spent on 175,000 IT applications each year in the U.S. alone

• $70B/yr to maintain 10B lines of code

$140 billion is wasted due to late projects, canceled projects, out-of-control projects

• 31% of new projects canceled - $81B
• >1M LOC - 65% cancellation rate
• >500K LOC - 50% cancellation rate
• >100K LOC - 25% cancellation rate
• 52.7% of projects over budget - $59B

U.S. developer productivity dropped 13% from 1993-95

• Ratio of best to worst has widened from 4:1 in 1990 to 600:1 in 1995

References

• Jones, Capers. Assessment and Control of Software Risks. Yourdon Press, 1994.
• Lerner, Moisey. Software Maintenance Crisis Resolution: The New IEEE Standard. Software Development 11:65-72, August 1994.
• Standish Group. PC Week, 16 Jan 95, p. 68.
• Ed Yourdon's Guerilla Programmer, July 1995. Cutter Information Corp.