World's Biggest 'Agile' Software Project Close To Failure

00_NOP writes "'Universal Credit' — the plan to consolidate all Britain's welfare payments into one — is the world's biggest 'agile' software development project. It is now close to collapse, the British government admitted yesterday. The failure, if and when it comes, could cost billions and have dire social consequences. 'Some steps have been taken to try to rescue the project. The back end – the benefits calculation – has reportedly been shifted to a "waterfall" development process – which offers some assurances that the government at least takes its fiduciary duties seriously as it should mean no code will be deployed that has not been finished. The front end – the bit used by humans – is still meant to be “agile” – which makes some sense, but where is the testing? Agile is supposed to be about openness between developer and client and we – the taxpayers – are the clients: why can’t we see what our money is paying for?'"

Comments

Re:Because

[PNutts]

You wouldn't understand it.
You would exploit it.
You wouldn't do anything to make it better.
You would waste time complaining about everything.

Burma Shave!

Re:Where's the testing?

[Anonymous Coward]

That question would indicate to me that they're doing Agile wrong.

Agile, unlike everything else in the world, is the perfect silver bullet. There can't be anything wrong with Agile. The seminar even said so.

Re:Agile doesn't mean that the project won't fail

[LifesABeach]

This should be modded Score 5, Funny. Your thesis is that everyone knows what thery're doing, except the programmer that can't make it work, and is honest enough to tell you so.

Repeat after me, "The King has no clothes." It just doesn't get old.

Re:What's that saying about agile?

[nightcats]

My new project methodology is to be called Fragile. Called it, now everyone jump on board and pay me.