It came down the chain of command at my department in a large university that we needed a photo database application.
But not just any run-of-the-mill photo application. It needed to be developed from scratch because it was so revolutionary. It had to do unusual tasks such as hold large numbers of photos, store captions and tags for the photos, be accessible via a network shared drive or the interweb.
Being one of very few technically-inclined employees, I pointed out some obvious possible solutions: Gallery, iPhoto, Aperture, etc.
The suggestion was shot down in a ball of flames. No photo application built to date by mere mortals could possibly suit our needs. I'm the only programmer on staff, and (luckily for me) my work log was too backed up.
So somebody needed to be brought in to create this masterpiece of software.
Management couldn't even begin to decipher the "impressive" coursework and publications on the resume of one particular CS PhD candidate who applied for the job. Obviously she's qualified, and was hired.
Over the course of the next year, i see her in the office every day, coding and coding.
A year rolls by and she quits. Management comes to me and says "it's 99% done, we just need you to tie up a few loose ends." I take a look and the ultimate photo database application is two broken Java classes, one broken JSP page, and a directory FULL of JSP files titled "tutorial1", "tutorial2", etc. A year's salary spent on her (SLOWLY) learning Java+JSP... and 1/100th of a photo application that should have taken an afternoon of work.
I again suggest the existing software solutions. Again, shot down.
Management says it's time to break out the big guns. They hire a contractor. A pro. A ringer. No expenses spared to get the ultimate photo database application.
The guy they hire insists on working from his home office. "No problem!" management says. He's a super-duper, hot shot, high paid consultant and is going to deliver the world's most impressive, ultimate photo database application - give him what he wants.
Over the course of the next year, he occasionally comes in to the office for meetings with the department head - to give status reports, get management's latest and greatest revolutionary ideas for the application (such as, gasp multiple user accounts).
A year passes, in excess of a hundred thousand dollars is spent, and the unveiling takes place. WOW! It's amazing! Management loves it! It's genius. It truly IS the ultimate photo database application.
I take a look ............. and it's a default install of Gallery with the credits stripped from the pages (no attempt was made to cover it up in the source), and the university logo at the top of the page header.