Without getting into the finer points, my understanding is this:
My company needs to make metal squares. There is a defined process for it. I just need a welder to weld all four corners. No R&D here.
I need a website with some features. Asking a sample of professional software developers how to build it, you get a variety of answers.
If anything, that the basics of software development still requires R&D is an indictment of our fields lack of professionalism.
Wait, what? There's more than 1 way to make metal squares, and which you want to choose is gonna vary based upon your needs and the fabricator, even if you, for whatever reason, pre-determine you want them welded!
I need a website with some features. Asking a sample of professional software developers how to build it, you get a variety of answers.
If anything, that the basics of software development still requires R&D is an indictment of our fields lack of professionalism.