Benefits of object-oriented programming

Why has object-oriented programming gone from being ``something to think about'' to being a de-facto standard in the way software is developed today? OOA/OOD/OOP is good for:

• Analyzing user requirements
• Designing software
• Constructing software
  • Reusability (reusable components)
  • Reliability
  • Robustness
  • Extensibility
  • Maintainability
• Reducing large problems to smaller, more manageable problems

According to the GartnerInstitute ...

• 74% of all IT projects fail, come in over budget, or run past the original deadline.
• 28% fail altogether.
• 52.7% of IT projects cost 189
• Every year $75B is spent on failed IT projects.