As software development teams become increasingly important for businesses to remain competitive, the concept of technical debt is becoming a common topic of discussion. As leaders in the IT industry, it's essential that CTOs, CIOs, and Directors of Software Development understand what technical debt is and how it impacts your business. This blog post provides an explanation of technical debt and offers strategies for taking control of current levels as well as preventative measures to reduce future strain on IT resources.
What is Technical Debt?
Technical debt is a term used to describe the technical complexity created by trading development time for value and quality. It is a result of shortcuts in development or due to technical changes of direction that accumulate technical complexity into technical debt, resulting in decreased performance, security risks, and delivery delays. Technical debt can come in many forms such as incorrect integration, low-quality source code, unreliable software components, or badly designed functionality. Identifying technical debt early is key to successfully managing it but even more important is reducing the technical risk through well-defined development processes and review cycles that help ensure high-quality construction along the developmental path.
Strategies For Taking Control Of Technical Debt
Prioritize Technical Debt Repayment Over New Tech Initiatives
Organizations should prioritize this effort over new technology initiatives when it comes to technical debt repayment. This is because technical debt can cause technical instability, reduce innovation, and eventually increase the cost of development down the line. If technical debt persists and builds up, teams will have less time and resources to develop technical innovations as they are constantly facing backlogs from existing technical projects that need to be dealt with. Therefore it is essential for organizations to address technical issues in a timely manner so that there is no disruption in technological advancement and growth.
Set Technical Debt Goals And Measure Progress
Managing technical debt is an essential part of the software development process. However, without a clear goal and quantitative measures in place, technical debt can skyrocket and become difficult to manage over time. To ensure technical debt remains low and any issues are quickly identified and addressed, it's important to set technical debt goals and continuously track progress against them. Establishing technical debt metrics gives visibility into technical debt levels, making it possible to understand where attention is needed most, compare technical debt relative to standards or established baselines, and monitor trends over time. In this way, technical debt goals provide invaluable insights that enable teams to identify technical debt issues before they accumulate to problematic levels.
Create a Technical Debt Review Board
Establishing a technical debt review board is important in any successful technical debt management strategy. This dedicated team can help balance competing demands on technical debt, coordinate technical debt reduction efforts, and provide visibility into technical debt within an organization. The board should be composed of technical and non-technical stakeholders who are experienced enough to understand technical debt and its effects on the organization. Review boards should set clear objectives for technical debt reduction and thorough monitoring procedures to track progress. Additionally, review sessions can bring up new strategies or initiatives to better target technical debt and keep the company’s technical investments aligned with its roadmap and priorities. Organizations can save time and effort through a comprehensive approach to technical debt management while achieving their desired business outcomes.
Conclusion
Technical debt can be incredibly costly for businesses if it’s not managed properly. Luckily, by understanding what technical debt is and how it accumulates, you can take steps to mitigate its impact on your business. Have you ever had to deal with technical debt? What strategies did you use to manage it?
