> Software projects fail because humans fail. Humans are the drivers of everything in our world.

Ah finally - I've had to scroll halfway down to find a key reason big software projects fail.

<rant>

I started programming in 1990 with PL/1 on IBM mainframes and for 35 years have dipped in and out of the software world. Every project I've seen fail was mainly down to people - egos, clashes, laziness, disinterest, inability to interact with end users, rudeness, lack of motivation, toxic team culture etc etc. It was rarely (never?) a major technical hurdle that scuppered a project. It was people and personalities, clashes and confusion.

</rant>

Of course the converse is also true - big software projects I've seen succeed were down to a few inspired leaders and/or engineers who set the tone. People with emotional intelligence, tact, clear vision, ability to really gather requirements and work with the end users. Leaders who treated their staff with dignity and respect. Of course, most of these projects were bland corporate business data ones... so not technically very challenging. But still big enough software projects.

Gez... don't know why I'm getting so emotional (!) But the hard-core sofware engineering world is all about people at the end of the day.

> big software projects I've seen succeed were down to a few inspired leaders and/or engineers who set the tone. People with emotional intelligence, tact, clear vision, ability to really gather requirements and work with the end users. Leaders who treated their staff with dignity and respect.

I completely agree. I would just like to add that this only works where the inspired leaders are properly incentivized!