R&D built a performance review form

“The AI understands the code.”— Katrin, R&D

Reason:

Because the lunch prototype is now business critical. Presented in a town hall as "innovation".

Built by:

Katrin, a key account manager

Build time:

8 minutes

Built with:

Excel macros, exposed over HTTP

Database:

a backup strategy consisting of Marco copying the folder on Fridays

Authentication:

the API key is shared with three vendors and one intern

Deployment:

behind a domain that still contains the word demo

Responsible:

Jens, who has not touched it in 14 months

Documentation:

a Confluence page marked "draft", last edited 209 days ago

Security situation:

it was reviewed once, by Katrin, who built it

Future disaster:

It will become a works council agenda item.

Age: 70 days · originally expected to last 14 days · 1 owner so far · survived 1 reorganisation · last meaningful change 70 days ago

Rated common mostly because: 5 departments depend on it, 136 users, alive 5x longer than intended.