[cableshaft]

That might be a good way for engineers to think of it, but you don't really want managers to see programming as a liability, because then they start thinking in terms of eliminating liability for business productivity (i.e. killing your job, not investing money to let you do your job effectively, etc).

There's already enough problems with companies considering their tech departments to be "cost centers" that don't result in direct revenue generation, therefore they don't respect the department enough, we don't need them thinking we're completely undesirable.

[theseatoms]

But it is a liability. If your business could generate the same revenue while spending less resources maintaining internal technology, you'd do it in a heartbeat.

[dTal]

I don't really get what this "cost center" thing gets you at all. Suppose you make televisions. R&D is a "cost center". Whoever's in charge of sourcing components is a "cost center". Hell, making the damn TVs is a "cost center". In fact, the only thing I can think of that isn't a "cost center" is sales. But without everything else, sales would have nothing to sell.

So what the heck is the point of labelling things "cost centers"?

[paulddraper]

No, tons of stuff are liabilities that they don't remove. Rent, salaries, etc.