The Real Reasons Why Digital Projects Fail
When an investment in digital systems fails to deliver the expected value, managers need an analytical framework that can help them pinpoint the causes and improve organizational learning.
Curtis A. Merriweather Jr.October 06, 2026Reading Time: 8 min
Summary:
Digital tools meant to improve business processes don’t always deliver value when implemented on the front lines, but efforts to identify ...
It’s a familiar scenario: An organization implements digital tools intended to improve a particular process but fails to obtain the desired result. Employees who are meant to use them complain that the tools don’t solve the problem or that they add inefficiencies. Managers who investigate problems with the tools chalk the failure up to poor adoption but don’t look more closely at what caused the outcome.
When those leaders do seek to analyze failed digital investments, they make a common error: They evaluate data...
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