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# Discussion: Customer blames bankruptcy on IBM IT failure
- URL: https://katecarruthers.com/discussion-customer-blames-bankruptcy-on-ibm-it-failure/
- Published: 2008-02-14T21:57:00.000Z
- Updated: 2008-02-14T21:57:00.000Z
- Author: Kate Carruthers
- Tags: ideas, #Migrated-1775015344493, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-04-01 14:49

I have been using the following article as a bit of a case study with my students (who are currently studying project & SDLC management) this past week. It is such a good example of why this stuff is important to get right. Here a company has attributed bankruptcy to a failed ERP system implementation. It is very important because the failed technology implementation was really just a symptom of the failures of both the management and control systems within the business.  

[Customer blames bankruptcy on IBM IT failure](http://blogs.zdnet.com/projectfailures/?p=583&ref=katecarruthers.com) by [ZDNet](http://zdnet.com/?ref=katecarruthers.com)'s Michael Krigsman -- American LaFrance (ALF), the “leading brand of custom-made fire fighting, fire rescue vehicles, ambulances, and heavy-duty work refuse vehicles,” has declared bankruptcy, blaming IBM and a failed ERP implementation. According to filings in the District of Delaware bankruptcy court (PACER case no. 08-10178), problems occurred when ALF was spun out as an independent company from \[[...](http://blogs.zdnet.com/projectfailures/?p=583&ref=katecarruthers.com)\]
  
  
By Carruthers via [Aide-mémoire](http://carruthk.blogspot.com/?ref=katecarruthers.com)  
  
  
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