The September, 2005, issue of IEEE Spectrum contains a special report describing problems, and some potential solutions to those problems, in the production of software. This web page gives you access to those three articles and the entire issue. If you read only one of these articles, some instructors recommend "The Exterminators". Others may recommend "Why Software Fails" as the best.
"As organizations waste tens of billions of dollars annually on failed software projects, the key to consistently creating large, reliable, and efficient IT systems remains elusive. Can adding engineering rigor to the black art of programming resolve the software crisis?"
If you're not sure whether the internet connection you are using is ON-CAMPUS (at The Ohio State University) or OFF-CAMPUS, just try one of the ON-CAMPUS links; if it works, then you're "ON-CAMPUS".
Technical Help Using These Links
"A band of programmers at a small British software house are using mathematical logic to track down bugs and ruthlessly eliminate them."
"The reasons that software projects go awry are well known. Yet failures, near-failures, and just plain old bad software will continue to plague us."
"The FBI spent $170 million on a uselss, bug-ridden software package that was supposed to help the bureau prevent another 9/11. How did the Virtual Case File project fail, and could it happen again?"
"The FBI's Virtual Case File system consumed $170,000,000 before the FBI gave up on it in April. Years after 9/11, agents still don't have software to help them spot patterns that might signal a future attack."
"There's got to be a better way, right?"
"You bet your life."