The Wasa - a true story of scope creep

Historical Context

  • King Gustav II of Sweden: Engaged in war with Poland since 1618 and needed a strong naval presence in the Baltic Sea.

  • Swedish Navy's Limitations: Predominantly small patrol vessels armed lightly.

The Project Begins

  • Shipbuilding Commission: Master shipbuilder Henrik Hobbart commissioned to build a large gunship, named the Vasa.

  • Initial Specifications: 108 feet long, armed with 32 cannons.

  • Project Timeline: Estimated delivery in 2 years, despite initial changes requested by the king.

  • Supplies: A forest of a thousand oaks was donated for construction.

Scope Changes and Challenges

  • Initial Changes

    • Following the loss of 10 ships in a storm, the king prioritized speed and relaxation of budget constraints.

    • New design required the ship to be increased to 120 feet, complicating design and construction for Henrik who had not worked on larger ships.

  • Significant Demands

    • First Adjustment: Henrick convinces the king to settle on a maximum size of 111 feet.

    • Subsequent Changes: The king requested additional features, including:

      • Increase to 135 feet and a design accommodating a double row of guns.

      • Request for 64 cannons instead of 36, and additional smaller caliber weapons, compounding instability.

Construction Timeline and Complications

  • Mid-Project Adjustments: Despite a growing workforce of over 400 sailors, ongoing demands from the king made construction increasingly challenging.

  • Final Changes and Requests:

    • Decorative sculptures totaling 700 requested to surpass Danish counterparts.

    • Time was redirected to aesthetics instead of stability tests.

Final Events

  • Project Completion: After two and a half years, the Vasa was launched on August 10, 1628.

  • Unsuccessful Sailing:

    • Gun ports opened to salute, leading to a sudden capsizing due to instability.

    • In 15 minutes, Vasa sank only 1,300 meters from shore, resulting in 53 casualties.

Investigation and Aftermath

  • Blame Assigned: The captain, Suffering Hansen, was arrested and blamed for the disaster.

  • Inquest Findings: The official verdict determined the cause of sinking as indeterminate, with the statement, "Only God knows."

Lessons Learned

  • Project Management Insights:

    • Scope Creep: Continuous changes led to project failure; had to balance with the urgent timeline.

    • Pressure of Deadlines: Tight timelines can lead to compromising on critical processes (like stability tests).

    • Communication: Highlighting the need for transparent communication about feasibility between sponsors and project managers.

    • Warning against Gold Plating: Emphasizes that embellishing projects with non-essential features can detract from core functionalities.