A Recent Example of Information Technology Project Failure That You Might Have Missed

When ERP implementations fail, the consequences can be dire. 

Birmingham City Council’s (BCC) recent experience with implementing an Oracle ERP system is a prime example of how information technology project failures can have far-reaching impacts. 

The Oracle ERP project encountered substantial problems, leading to financial distress and operational chaos. This case study explores the failure and highlights key lessons that businesses can learn to avoid similar pitfalls.

An Overview of Birmingham City Council’s Oracle Implementation​

Birmingham City Council embarked on an ambitious journey to modernize its financial and human resources systems. The project was designed to streamline operations and enhance service delivery. 

However, from its inception, the project was plagued with challenges.

When the system went live in April 2022, critical components were non-functional, which disrupted essential financial processes. By September 2023, BCC had to declare bankruptcy. 

This ERP failure meant the organization couldn’t manage its finances properly, resulting in costly manual interventions and an inability to produce accurate financial accounts.

Lessons Learned From This Information Technology Project Failure​

From this debacle, four major lessons emerge, each underscoring critical best practices for avoiding information technology failures in business.

1. Rigorous Planning and Risk Management Are Non-Negotiable​

The Pitfall

BCC’s Oracle ERP project was marred by inadequate planning and risk management. Documents show that critical flaws, particularly with the bank reconciliation system, were known but not resolved before the system went live. These issues, identified as early as 2019, were still unaddressed during the 2022 implementation.

Despite internal warnings and known risks, the project management team failed to act decisively, leading to severe disruptions in financial operations once the system was deployed.

The Lesson

Comprehensive planning and proactive risk management are crucial. To avoid information technology project failures, organizations must undertake thorough planning and implement robust risk management strategies. Key success factors include:

• Detailed Project Scoping: Clearly define the project’s objectives, deliverables, and timelines. Engage stakeholders early to understand their requirements and set realistic expectations.
• Risk Identification and Mitigation: Identify potential risks early and prioritize contingency planning. Address both technical risks, such as system integration issues, and operational risks, like changes to business processes.
• Regular Reviews and Audits: Conduct regular project reviews and audits to monitor progress and address any emerging risks. External audits can provide an unbiased perspective on project readiness and potential issues.

Our ERP implementation consultants often recommend a phased implementation approach to clients with complex operations. Starting with non-critical modules, the company can identify and resolve issues early without disrupting core operations, thus minimizing the risk of an information technology project failure.

2. Effective Communication and Stakeholder Engagement Are Critical​

The Pitfall

A significant factor in BCC’s failure was the breakdown of communication between the program management team, the steering committee, and council members. This lack of communication meant that crucial decision-makers were not informed about the issues plaguing the project, leading to a lack of timely intervention.

Moreover, BCC’s audit committee was misled about the project’s progress and risks, limiting their ability to provide effective oversight and address the emerging problems.

The Lesson

Transparent communication is essential throughout an ERP project. Engaging all stakeholders and maintaining open communication channels ensure that problems are identified and addressed promptly. Key communication strategies for avoiding IT failures in business include:

• Establishing Clear Communication Channels: Define formal channels for project updates, issue reporting, and stakeholder feedback. Ensure all relevant parties are regularly updated on the project’s status.
• Regular Stakeholder Meetings: Hold regular meetings with stakeholders, including project sponsors, department heads, and end-users. Discuss progress, challenges, and next steps, while encouraging an open dialogue where concerns can be raised and addressed.
• Creating a Communication Plan: Develop a comprehensive communication plan outlining how and when information will be shared. This plan should include contingency measures for addressing issues when things do not go as planned.

In our software expert witness engagements, we’ve found that people-related issues are one of the top ERP failure reasons.

3. Aligning Business Processes with ERP Capabilities Is Essential​

The Pitfall

BCC’s decision to heavily customize the Oracle system instead of aligning its business processes with the ERP system’s standard capabilities was a significant misstep. This increased the project’s complexity and costs. 

The extensive customization also led to ongoing challenges in maintaining and updating the system, as bespoke solutions typically require more complex and costly support.

The Lesson

Aligning business processes with the ERP system’s capabilities can significantly reduce implementation challenges and costs. Organizations should aim to standardize processes and adopt the best practices embedded in the ERP software to avoid IT project failure. This can be achieved through:

• Process Mapping and Analysis: Map your current business processes and identify areas where standard ERP processes can be adopted. This analysis should involve input from all relevant departments to ensure alignment.
• Minimizing Customizations: Limit customizations to those that are absolutely necessary to meet unique business requirements. Excessive customization can lead to higher costs, longer implementation times, and more complex system maintenance.
• Change Management and Training: Implement a robust change management plan to help staff adapt to new processes. Provide comprehensive training to ensure employees understand and can effectively use the new system.

When working with manufacturing companies, our independent ERP consultants often recommend ERP systems with built-in industry-standard processes. Manufacturing companies can then align their operations with pre-configurations in areas such as inventory management to minimize customizations. 

4. Governance and Leadership Must Be Strong and Consistent​

The Pitfall

The lack of strong governance and leadership was a critical factor in the failure of BCC’s ERP implementation. Senior leadership within the council was inadequately informed about the project’s progress and issues. The program management team, driven by a desire to meet the go-live deadline, ignored significant flaws and proceeded despite known risks.

Additionally, the audit committee’s oversight role was compromised as they were not provided with accurate and timely information, limiting their ability to exercise effective governance.

The Lesson

Strong governance and leadership are crucial for digital transformation success. Clear governance structures and consistent leadership ensure accountability and guide the project towards its objectives. Key success factors include:

• Establishing a Governance Framework: Create a governance framework that outlines roles, responsibilities, and decision-making processes. This framework should outline issue escalation paths and define how project decisions will be made.
• Consistent Leadership and Oversight: Ensure that the IT project has strong, consistent leadership at all levels. Senior leaders should be actively involved in overseeing the project and should receive regular updates on progress and challenges.
• Empowering Audit and Oversight Bodies: Provide audit committees and other oversight bodies with the authority and resources they need to monitor project progress effectively. This includes access to all relevant information and the power to intervene if necessary.

Learn More About the Impact of IT Failure in Business​

Birmingham City Council’s Oracle ERP implementation serves as a stark reminder of the potential for information technology project failure. 

Projects fail when organizations neglect rigorous planning, communication, and strong governance. Organizations embarking on ERP implementations must proactively address these areas to mitigate risks and ensure successful outcomes. 

Contact us below for an ERP consultation. We can help you avoid the pitfalls of poor IT project management.