Comment EDS not Technology failure (Score 2, Insightful) 310
Cost is rarely the only criteria on large public sector contracts
With EDS's track record of failure and their financial instability,
it is hard to understand why they still receive these contracts.
This application could be developed successfully on any modern platform
EDS is most likely responsible for most issues raised in the article if they were the main contractor.
The "bleeding" issue is the most serious issue raised.
If the system cannot maintain data integrity, then it is worthless for
the main requirement of monitoring students who may be a security threat.
The "bleeding" issue is probably caused by
failure in database design (EDS resp)
or less likely a serious performance issue
"to create a record for the newborn child.. ..delete everyone's file and create new ones"
failure in database design (EDS resp)
"Before extra capacity was added to the system, several student advisers
logging on at once caused SEVIS to slow dramatically"
Flawed operational architecture even if sizing, availability requirements were poorly defined as solution did not scale (EDS resp)
"help desk for long periods, only to be offered a solution that turned out to be wrong"
Failure possibly due to organization, staffing level, poor documentation, inadequate handover to maintaining organization to provide support at the required SLA (EDS resp)
"..several others, she says. "It begs the question,
how rickety is [SEVIS] if you can't do upgrades to it?"
poor maintenance procedures, no regression testing (EDS resp if maintaining)
"The Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement
has yet to name an official to oversee SEVIS."
Inadequate handover to maintenance organization (joint failure)
With EDS's track record of failure and their financial instability,
it is hard to understand why they still receive these contracts.
This application could be developed successfully on any modern platform
EDS is most likely responsible for most issues raised in the article if they were the main contractor.
The "bleeding" issue is the most serious issue raised.
If the system cannot maintain data integrity, then it is worthless for
the main requirement of monitoring students who may be a security threat.
The "bleeding" issue is probably caused by
failure in database design (EDS resp)
or less likely a serious performance issue
"to create a record for the newborn child..
failure in database design (EDS resp)
"Before extra capacity was added to the system, several student advisers
logging on at once caused SEVIS to slow dramatically"
Flawed operational architecture even if sizing, availability requirements were poorly defined as solution did not scale (EDS resp)
"help desk for long periods, only to be offered a solution that turned out to be wrong"
Failure possibly due to organization, staffing level, poor documentation, inadequate handover to maintaining organization to provide support at the required SLA (EDS resp)
"..several others, she says. "It begs the question,
how rickety is [SEVIS] if you can't do upgrades to it?"
poor maintenance procedures, no regression testing (EDS resp if maintaining)
"The Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement
has yet to name an official to oversee SEVIS."
Inadequate handover to maintenance organization (joint failure)
