Answer:
Similarities
Need good architecture - otherwise will collapse
Incredible variety and diversity in terms of size and function
Different styles and approaches, religiously advocated by proponents
Evolving technologies, paradigms changing along with them
It's a recipe for disaster If you allow major changes in the requirements during development (although software customers seem to be oblivious to this)
Differences:
When well organized, construction can be broken down to routine tasks - software development can't
Consequence of the above - construction is fairly well manageable and predictable. Delays and budget overruns are common but not endemic. Software projects, on the other hand, are above budget most of the time and a sizeable portion are outright failures and never see the light of day - some after having millions spent on them
Buildings can be adapted to new functions even if the original business need is no more - software can't (thus the large failure rate)
In the construction industry the architects get celebrity status. In software it's the entrepreneurs - society considers tech geniuses and designers to be just nerds
