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Technical Services),4 a wholly owned subsidiary of Norwest
Corporation, which employed between 600 and 800 technical
personnel, such as computer programmers. NTS occasionally sought
the assistance of outside consultants and contractors to provide
technical support for its projects.
All of the eight sample activities at issue in this case
involve software applications. Software enables a computer to
perform specific functions by providing instructions to the
computer in the form of source code. The source code is written
in a programming language, often according to an architectural
design, which commands the computer to perform the specific tasks.
(A compilation of programs or tasks necessary to operate the
software often is referred to as a system.) The source code is
then converted, through the use of a compiler, into executable code
that is readable by the computer.
2. Software Development Methodology
To maintain discipline, structure, and standardization in the
software development process, Norwest Technical Services created a
formalized approach known as the Software Development Methodology
(sometimes referred to as SDM). SDM was developed to prevent the
need to "reinvent the wheel" by providing managers with a
documented process in developing software. The result was that SDM
4 Norwest Technical Services, Inc., was formerly known as
Norwest Information Services, Inc.
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Last modified: May 25, 2011