I've been involved or around all of these over the years.. AI and CASE at BP's IT Research Unit in the late 80's. Thin Clients (yeah!), ERP, B-to-b marketplaces while at Oracle and more recently Enterprise social media.
IT snake oil: Six tech cure-alls that went bunk.
In most cases I think the approach, ideas and technology/applications are (still) valid - it is the expectations which were incorrect:
- HYPE & timing:
- over-estimating the short-term impact; under-estimating the long-term impact
- technology is not quite ready/mature enough - yet the trend is towards what's required
- Vendors always over-HYPE the potential of the tech and it's impact
- resistance to change:
- most people and organisations resist change and most managements can't/don't/won't lead their employees properly
- as the article points out -people like the way they do business already
B-to-b marketplaces