What Went Wrong...
Examining the missteps of various software products across industries reveals common pitfalls that can derail even the most promising innovations. From inadequate market research and poor user experience design to insufficient testing and failure to adapt to technological advancements, these challenges underscore the importance of thorough planning and execution. The following section outlines specific cases, offering insights into how these factors contributed to their downfall and the lessons that can be gleaned to inform future endeavors.
Available Lessons:
200
ADP Onboarding System (Early Rollout)
HRTech
ADP
The onboarding tool failed due to slow performance and technical glitches, which caused frustration among HR teams and new hires.
WHAT WENT WRONG
Poor backend performance optimization
Insufficient real-world load testing
SIGNALS MISSED
Support tickets related to delays during onboarding processes
Feedback indicating platform slowness during peak usage
HOW COULD THEY HAVE AVOIDED THIS
Extensive load testing for real-world scenarios
Optimizing backend performance before scaling
TEAMS INVOLVED
Product, Engineering, QA, Customer Success
Oracle HCM Cloud (Early Versions)
HRTech
Oracle
Early iterations were plagued by a clunky user interface and low adoption due to poor UX design and steep learning curves.
WHAT WENT WRONG
Neglecting user-centric design principles
Overly complex workflows for HR professionals
SIGNALS MISSED
Negative feedback during user onboarding
High drop-off rates in product usage
HOW COULD THEY HAVE AVOIDED THIS
Iterative usability testing with real HR teams
Simplifying workflows and improving UI design
TEAMS INVOLVED
Product, Design, Engineering, Customer Success
Zenefits Compliance Automation Platform
HRTech
Zenefits
The platform promised automated compliance for HR processes but failed due to shortcuts in regulatory adherence, resulting in legal scrutiny and a damaged reputation.
WHAT WENT WRONG
Weak oversight of compliance processes in the platform
Poor governance and leadership decisions
SIGNALS MISSED
Internal warnings about compliance gaps ignored
Increasing regulatory questions from customers
HOW COULD THEY HAVE AVOIDED THIS
Prioritizing regulatory compliance checks in software development
Ensuring regular audits and transparent governance
TEAMS INVOLVED
Product, Engineering, Compliance, Sales, CEO
Cornerstone Learning Suite (Initial Launch)
HRTech
Cornerstone OnDemand
The software promised a seamless learning management solution but faced issues with customization and platform bugs.
WHAT WENT WRONG
Platform instability during large-scale deployments
Poor customization options for enterprise clients
SIGNALS MISSED
Reports of bugs during enterprise pilots
Low adoption rates from HR managers
HOW COULD THEY HAVE AVOIDED THIS
Building scalable infrastructure to support large enterprises
Improving customization options based on client feedback
TEAMS INVOLVED
Product, Engineering, Sales, Customer Success
Workday Skills Cloud (Initial Rollout)
HRTech
Workday
Promised AI-driven skills mapping for employees but faced issues with inaccurate data and slow system performance.
WHAT WENT WRONG
Insufficient AI training and validation processes
Poor integration with existing HR systems
SIGNALS MISSED
Early reports of skills mismatches flagged in testing
Frustration from HR teams over complex integrations
HOW COULD THEY HAVE AVOIDED THIS
Gradual AI model testing with real HR data
Ensuring smoother integrations with legacy systems
TEAMS INVOLVED
Product, Engineering, AI, Customer Success
Cengage Unlimited (Early Access)
EdTech
Cengage
Initial software rollout for digital textbook subscriptions had significant usability and access issues.
WHAT WENT WRONG
Technical bugs affecting access to materials
Poor UX design for subscription navigation
SIGNALS MISSED
User complaints about content availability
High support ticket volumes during the launch phase
HOW COULD THEY HAVE AVOIDED THIS
Conducting usability testing with students before launch
Ensuring content availability in all access tiers
TEAMS INVOLVED
Product, Engineering, Customer Success, QA