Understanding Technical Debt Part 1: Perspectives of an Executive, Consultant and Engineer
In this blog
1. The executive's perspective: A strategic concern
What is technical debt?
From your perspective, technical debt might seem like IT's problem, but it's not—it's a business problem. Think of it like rushing to launch a product without perfecting it. You meet the deadline but must address defects, inefficiencies, or customer complaints later.
In tech, it's when developers use quick fixes, outdated tools, or other shortcuts to meet a deadline. This approach can work temporarily, but over time, it leads to higher costs, slower progress, and even risks to the business.
Why should you care?
- Higher costs later
Addressing technical debt often costs significantly more than building it right first. Delaying fixes can lead to massive overhauls that strain budgets and disrupt operations. - Slower innovation
When IT teams spend time patching up old systems, they can't focus on delivering new features or adapting to market needs. - Increased security risks
Outdated or hastily implemented systems are often riddled with vulnerabilities, making them prime cyberattack targets.
What can you do about it?
- Budget for debt reduction: Allocate resources to pay down technical debt regularly, just like servicing a loan.
- Ask business questions: "How is technical debt slowing our progress? What risks does it create for our customers and bottom line?"
- Collaborate with IT: Treat this as a business risk, not just an IT inconvenience.
2. The consultant's perspective: A manageable challenge
What is technical debt?
To a consultant, technical debt is typical—it's part of every organization's lifecycle. It's not inherently wrong; it can be a strategic choice. Sometimes, quick fixes help meet deadlines or secure early wins, but there's a trade-off: those shortcuts must be addressed later.
Here's an analogy: Imagine you're renovating a house. You can patch up the plumbing for now, knowing it'll need a complete replacement later. That's technical debt—delaying a long-term fix to get something functional today.
Why does it happen?
- Pressure to deliver
Teams are often forced to prioritize speed over quality to meet deadlines. - Legacy systems
Older systems that "still work" often accumulate layers of band-aid fixes, creating inefficiencies and risk. - Poor documentation
When systems are poorly documented, future developers spend more time unraveling the past than building for the future.
How to fix it
- Inventory the debt
Identify and document areas where shortcuts were taken and where inefficiencies exist. - Prioritize strategically
Not all debt needs to be fixed immediately. Focus on the parts that slow down progress or pose significant risks. - Develop incrementally
Fixing technical debt doesn't have to be an all-or-nothing endeavor. Minor, consistent improvements reduce disruption and spread costs.
How to communicate with executives
Executives don't need to hear about code or architecture. They care about outcomes:
- "This slows our ability to release new features."
- "It increases maintenance costs by X%."
- "It exposes us to potential security breaches."
Speak in terms of time, money, and risk.
3. The engineer's perspective: Living with debt
What is technical debt?
For engineers, technical debt is often something they inherit or create under pressure. It's code written quickly to meet deadlines, knowing it isn't perfect. It's outdated tools, tangled systems or a lack of time to refactor.
Here's how engineers see it: Imagine building a car. You skip some steps to get it running faster, like properly bolting parts down. The car might run, but every bump in the road rattles something loose, and the longer it goes, the harder it is to fix.
Why does it matter?
- It slows development
Messy codebases and fragile systems mean small changes can break everything. Engineers spend more time fixing problems than creating solutions. - It's demoralizing
Working on a system full of debt feels like cleaning a cluttered garage—it's frustrating and time-consuming. - It creates risk
When systems are held together with duct tape, they're prone to failure. A minor issue in one area can cascade into a major outage.
What can engineers do?
- Push for time to refactor
Advocate for addressing technical debt as part of regular work cycles. Explain the long-term benefits to managers. - Write better documentation
Good documentation makes it easier for future engineers to understand and improve the system, reducing debt accumulation. - Build incrementally
Tackle small pieces of debt during regular development work. Over time, these minor fixes add up to significant improvements.
How to communicate with executives and consultants
When talking to executives, focus on outcomes:
- "If we don't address this, it will delay feature X by three months."
- "This increases the risk of system failure by Y%."
- "Fixing this now will save us $Z in maintenance costs later."
When working with consultants, be honest about pain points and help them prioritize urgent ones.
Key takeaways: Bridging perspectives
- Executives treat technical debt as a strategic investment in your company's future. It's about enabling innovation and minimizing long-term costs.
- Consultants help businesses identify, prioritize, and address technical debt strategically. Simplify the conversation for executives, focusing on business outcomes.
- Engineers advocate for incremental fixes and better practices to prevent debt from piling up and communicate its impact on time, money, and risk.
By aligning these perspectives, organizations can manage technical debt effectively and turn it into an opportunity for growth.
In Part 2, we'll examine several real-world scenarios that illustrate how avoidable events/choices can lead to increased expenses due to unintended consequences.