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research efforts. He stated that within the computer science
community there is general agreement as to the basic elements of
the routine software development process: Problem definition and
specification, design, implementation, integration and system
testing, installation and field testing, and maintenance. The
development involves a constant, cyclical process of designing,
testing, and modifying.51
Finally, Dr. Davis claimed that failure in the software
development process is usually not attributable to technical risk,
but is more often due to people and project management concerns.52
Additionally, he insisted that Norwest's use of the SDM was meant
to minimize risk because Norwest was developing "mission-critical"
software where it could ill afford to redesign a system late in the
development process. Dr. Davis conceded, however, that the
activities generally appeared to provide a new or improved business
function.
51 Dr. Davis testified that in the early stages of
development, the modification efforts are generally characterized
as redesigning, while in the later stages, as the development
approaches production, the efforts are generally characterized as
debugging.
52 Dr. Davis stated that as much as 30 percent of all
software projects fail or are canceled before completion.
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