Ça Va de Soi: A Phoenix Rises from the Ashes of a Failed IT Project

Description

Ça Va de Soi: A Phoenix Rises from the Ashes of a Failed IT Project: Abstract

This two-part case study of a Canadian knitwear SME called Ça Va de Soi (CVDS) presents a real-life situation: an IT project failure (part A) and how the project was “resuscitated” and transformed into a success (part B). The case highlights:

• The challenges and risks of IT projects for SMEs
• The importance of evaluating and selecting the right IT supplier and managing relationships
• How, during a retrospective, lessons learned from a project failure can be transferred and applied to other IT projects

Teaching objectives

This case aims to have students reflect on and discuss the following:

• The challenges and risks of IT projects carried out by SMEs
• The importance of carefully evaluating and selecting IT suppliers and managing relationships with them
• How lessons learned from a failed project can be transferred and applied to other IT projects

Main themes covered

• Key characteristics of SMEs and IT adoption drivers
• Importance of a strategic IT vision and IT project alignment
• Challenges and risks of IT projects for SMEs
• Importance of evaluating and selecting appropriate business partners
• Lessons learned from an abandoned project (transforming drifting projects)
• Project failure and project success

Concepts and theories related to the case

• IT adoption drivers of SMEs
• Strategic IT vision and project alignment
• IT project risk management and success factors
• The application of lessons learned to other IT projects

Multi-part case

• Part A: The Fall
• Part B: The Rise (included only with Teaching license purchases)

Additional information

Teaching notes are available for teachers only. Contact the HEC Montréal Case Centre for more information.