top of page

8 Strategies for Tracking Technical Debt at Your Company

Jan 17

4 min read

0

1

0

Did your company's software system once seem sleek and nimble? But now it resembles a tangled web of shortcuts, patches, and workarounds.


Welcome to the realm of technical debt. It' s a silent saboteur that accumulates over time, threatening your efficiency.

People tracking technical debt

What is technical Debt?


Think of technical debt as the interest you pay on a loan you never intended to take. Technical debt accumulates when companies choose shortcut IT solutions. Rather than better, longer, more sustainable ones.

Initially, it seems harmless. But as your system grows, those hasty decisions compound. This slows down progress and creates future complications.


Addressing technical debt is essential for maintaining a robust, efficient technology environment. Here are eight strategies to tackle technical debt at your company


 

1. Identify and Prioritize Technical debt


Identifying technical debt is the first step in managing it effectively. Focus in the most critical issues first. This drives you to focus in changes that bring the most value.


  • Conduct a Technical Debt Audit: Start by identifying where technical debt exists. Conduct an audit of your network infrastructure, and processes. Document areas where shortcuts or quick fixes have been used.

  • Categorize and Rank: Not all technical debt needs immediate attention. Categorize debt based on its impact on performance, security and maintainability. Rank the most critical issues to address first.

  • Create a Technical Debt Register: Maintain a register of all identified technical debt. This helps track what has been addressed and what still needs attention.


 

2. Integrate Debt Management into Your Workflow


Incorporating debt management into your workflow ensures continuous attention tot technical debt. This helps maintain a balance between new development and debt reduction.


  • Incorporate into Agile Practices: Integrate technical debt management into your agile processes. Regularly review and address these tasks during sprint retrospectives.

  • Set Aside Time for Repairs: Earmark time for repairs and technical debt reduction. This ensures that potential issues aren't forgotten.

  • Track progress: Regularly track progress on technical debt reduction. Use metrics to track improvements and identify areas still needing work.