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SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE WIRED CITY: The News Tribune's four-day (February 6 - 9, 2005) investigative series that reveals the reality behind the City of Tacoma's New Computer system.

PART I: Tacoma's new computer system costs more and does less than promised.
A few mistakes created many problems
Tacoma’s computer system project ran into trouble because of a few strategic mistakes, city employees and observers say.
• Five mistakes on the installation
• Controversy just seems to follow head of TUI
• Five quick facts about SAP, its software

PART II: Officials rushed to complete the risky computer conversion and ignored red flags and practices recommended by experts.
It works; no it doesn’t
Tacoma’s computer installation team talked up the project’s success even before the system was turned on.
• City took ‘success story’ on road but left reality at home

PART III: Project boosters declared early success despite rampant bugs and rising costs.
City waiting for payoff
Tacoma’s new computer system was supposed to make government so efficient that it would shrink the number of jobs at City Hall.
• Same company set to win another contract

PART IV: The system was pitched as a money-saver, but instead forced the city to hire dozens of workers. Will it ever pay off?
Feed me, computer system insists
Tacoma’s multimillion-dollar computer system is about to cost another $472,500.
• Council urges independent assessment on computer system
• Computer eats city budget
• A bit of good news on city computers
• Computer costs up again
• City computers under fire
• Council to pay for rest of computer work
• Utility's computers causing problems
• Pricey computers off to rocky start

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