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There are companies that don't view Development work as the "cost" center for the business, but much more directly as the "Profit" center of the business. This is not necessarily the norm, and certainly not in certain industries like Education or especially Hospitals, or Law where IT are basically seen as second class citizens (however well they may be compensated).

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I feel it's very much not the norm, except for early-stage tech startups, and companies that use software directly to print money - which more often than I'd like means adtech or gambling. All the "useful" or "worthwhile" activities, in the traditional, social sense, tend to be cost centers.

Now, without passing too much judgement, I'm starting to feel the unease comes straight from the cost/profit center distinction, as another way to define it is: profit center is what you do to get the money, so you can spend it on the cost center. The former is more exposed to market pressures, thus more likely to evolve into something ugly.

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