For engineers, "technical debt" conjures vivid memories. We've all known bugs we yearned to fix before release or not-quite-polished features pushed to meet a deadline. These situations leave us crossing our fingers and hoping for time to revisit the work and achieve our initial vision. Unfortunately, that doesn’t always happen.
Project managers, product leaders, and executives often view technical debt differently. During prioritization discussions, the phrase “technical debt" translates to "non-urgent work" at best, or even worse, "work irrelevant to our users." After all, if the product shipped and functions adequately, why prioritize it over the next feature on the roadmap? This is where the challenge lies for engineering leaders. We see the "bodies buried" in the codebase and can foresee their future impact.
Translating Tech Debt into Business Value
This is where your leadership role comes into play. It's your job to translate those outstanding technical tasks into compelling narratives that resonate with product and business goals. It's not about forcing prioritization; it's about fostering a desire to prioritize.
Technical debt often falls into one of these key categories:
Performance: Unoptimized code can lead to slow loading times and a frustrating user experience, especially as usage scales. Security: Unaddressed vulnerabilities can expose user data and damage your reputation. User Experience (UX): Bugs and inconsistencies can hinder a user's ability to interact with your product effectively. Developer Experience (DX): Inefficient codebase structure can slow down development and decrease developer morale.
By framing the story around these areas, you effectively communicate the potential consequences of ignoring technical debt.
Championing Long-Term Success
Engineering leaders hold a critical responsibility: advocating for investments that may not yield immediate results but ensure long-term product stability and user satisfaction. By effectively translating technical debt into product and business terms, you empower yourself to champion technical solutions that drive long-term success.