How ambitious software projects turn into digital ruins

Imagine an abandoned hotel resort. The reception is built, the pool is dug out – but nature is slowly reclaiming the construction site. Right next door, an almost identical resort is thriving with thousands of bookings. Why did the first project fail?

In software engineering, we often see the exact same picture. The product vision is brilliant, the budget is approved. But then months go by, the hoped-for release keeps getting pushed back, and the competition pulls ahead. In the end, the project threatens to become a digital ruin.

Why do well-funded projects stall like this?

Usually, it’s not a lack of good code. What’s missing is the foundation that connects business and tech. If the engineering team doesn’t have a crystal-clear understanding of the business goals, they build right past the market.

The blueprint to prevent this looks like this in practice:

✔️ Validate market relevance: Before thousands of Francs flow into code, you test the idea. Is the team really building what customers want to buy?

✔️ Architecture as the foundation: This isn’t a theoretical construct. It’s the framework that ensures business requirements are reflected 1:1 in the software.

✔️ Deliver incrementally: Instead of waiting for the “Big Bang” release after two years, core functions go live step by step. This brings early feedback and initial revenue.

Do you currently feel like the common thread between business and engineering is missing in one of your critical systems?

Let’s check the foundation before it turns into a ruin. With an Architecture Communication Canvas, we examine your system within hours – pragmatically, clearly, and without consultant jargon.

Feel free to send me a short message. ☎️