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The assembly line approach can be adopted for software development by automating process management. Process management is essential in client/server application development because a client/server environment is more complex than a centralized one. Process management is a subset of project management, which also encompasses test, change, and configuration management. Approaches to process management differ. Some firms favor the decentralized approach, where central MIS defines application development processes and departments decide which process they will follow based on their business requirements. Others favor a completely centralized approach, with no room for adaptation. The MIS department at Matsushita Electric Corp. of America is implementing its own process management methodology based on ABT's Total Project Management Suite. At First Union Corp. MIS defines core requirements and processes for all projects, but leaves it up to the individual unit to decide whether to adopt all the processes when beginning a development effort.