Insights on Program Success

SEI Report
This 2009 report examines the reasons why some programs fail and studies the factors that lead to program success.
Publisher

Software Engineering Institute

CMU/SEI Report Number
CMU/SEI-2009-SR-023
DOI (Digital Object Identifier)
10.1184/R1/6574544.v1

Abstract

Why do some programs fail? What are the factors that lead to program success? Two organizations, the Systems and Software Consortium, Inc. (SSCI) and the Software Engineering Institute (SEI), recently examined the reasons, and concluded that while many are technical reasons, the greatest influence is people and the things they do individually and in teams that lead to program success or failure.

Cite This SEI Report

Software Engineering Institute, T., & and Software Consortium, Inc., S. (2009, October 1). Insights on Program Success. (SEI Report CMU/SEI-2009-SR-023). Retrieved September 21, 2026, from https://doi.org/10.1184/R1/6574544.v1.

@techreport{software_engineering_institute_2009,
author={Software Engineering Institute, The and and Software Consortium, Inc., Systems},
title={Insights on Program Success},
month={Oct},
year={2009},
number={{CMU/SEI-2009-SR-023},
institution={Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University},
doi={10.1184/R1/6574544.v1},
url={https://doi.org/10.1184/R1/6574544.v1},
note={Accessed: 2026-Sep-21}
}

Software Engineering Institute, The, and Systems and Software Consortium, Inc.. "Insights on Program Success." (CMU/SEI-2009-SR-023). Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University. Software Engineering Institute, October 1, 2009. https://doi.org/10.1184/R1/6574544.v1.

T. Software Engineering Institute, and S. and Software Consortium, Inc., "Insights on Program Success," Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University. Software Engineering Institute, SEI Report CMU/SEI-2009-SR-023, 1-Oct-2009 [Online]. Available: https://doi.org/10.1184/R1/6574544.v1. [Accessed: 21-Sep-2026].

Software Engineering Institute, The, and Systems and Software Consortium, Inc.. "Insights on Program Success." (SEI Report CMU/SEI-2009-SR-023). Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Software Engineering Institute, 1 Oct. 2009. https://doi.org/10.1184/R1/6574544.v1. Accessed 21 Sep. 2026.

Software Engineering Institute, The; & and Software Consortium, Inc., Systems. Insights on Program Success. CMU/SEI-2009-SR-023. Software Engineering Institute. 2009. DOI: 10.1184/R1/6574544.v1. https://doi.org/10.1184/R1/6574544.v1