To: Your Manager; Subject: Technical debt and how it impacts business KPIs
Tags: leadership, techdebt
Published: 2023-12-18 11:21:36

Today, I want to unwrap a hot topic in both developer circles and business meetings: _Technical Debt_. For me as a CTO it's a balancing act between business and tech: Whether you're coding your heart out or crafting strategies, having an eye on technical debt is crucial for keeping your product development speedy and smooth - and meet your company and sales targets.

_Feel free to send this post to your manager if you're having this discussion over and over again. It pays attention to both perspectives - business and tech - and should help in finding a good balance between the trade-offs for both parties._

## What is Technical Debt?

Imagine you're in a rush and decide to throw your clothes on a chair instead of hanging them up (Seriously, who hangs their clothes?). That’s convenient for now, but if you keep doing it, you’ll end up with a mountain of clothes and a much bigger problem. That's technical debt in a nutshell. In the software world, it’s when you choose a quick and easy (or even "dirty") solution over a better one that takes more time. Like our clothes mountain, these shortcuts pile up, making future changes tough and expensive.

## The fight between Speed vs. Quality
**Why can't we have both?**

In startups, it often feels like you're in a race against time. On one side, you've got the business team: They're all about getting new stuff out there insanely fast. But why? Because in the startup game, speed can mean the difference between being a trendsetter or a follower - or even success or failure. Competitors popping up like mushrooms and create the urge to stay ahead. It's like being in a cooking show where the first to serve gets the most applause.

Now, flip to the developers' side. These folks are the chefs in the kitchen, and they care deeply about the quality of the dish they're serving. They know that rushing might get the dish out faster, but what if it's undercooked or missing ingredients? For us developers, it's about writing code that not only works today but won’t turn into a nightmare of bugs and breakdowns tomorrow. We’re thinking long-term, about building something that lasts and stays tasty (or bug-free) over time.

The key is finding a balance. It's understanding that sometimes you might need to push a bit harder to get that feature out, but also recognizing when to pump the brakes and focus on quality.

## The impact of technical debt on the business
**It's not about code!**

### The hidden costs of cutting corners

Think of technical debt like a credit card for coding. It’s super tempting to swipe it for a quick fix, but the bill comes due eventually, and it's often steeper than you'd expect. When developers take shortcuts to hit tight deadlines, **they're borrowing time from the future**. It seems harmless at first – a patch here, a quick fix there. But soon, you're spending more time fixing old problems than building new features. It's like trying to fill a bucket with a hole in it; you're always playing catch-up.

This debt doesn't just slow down developers. It starts seeping into every corner of the business: Sales teams struggle to sell a product that's always "under maintenance". Customer service gets flooded with complaints about bugs and glitches. Marketing finds it hard to promote software that's not at its best. It's a chain reaction – **what starts in the development team quickly becomes everyone's problem**. And let’s not forget about the customers – they’re quick to jump ship if your product feels like it’s always one update behind.


> implementing this new feature would be like building a skyscraper on a shaky foundation.


### The long-term impact of technical debt

But the impact of technical debt goes beyond just immediate inconvenience. It's a silent growth killer. In the long run, excessive debt can cripple a company's ability to innovate and respond to market changes. Imagine you have a great new idea that could really set your product apart. But when you start digging into the code, you realize that **implementing this new feature would be like building a skyscraper on a shaky foundation**. You're stuck. You can't move forward without a massive effort to fix past mistakes. That's opportunity cost – the price you pay for what you can't do because of technical debt.

Moreover, technical debt isn't just about money. It's about team morale too. Constantly dealing with the fallout of rushed decisions is frustrating for developers. **It's demoralizing to spend more time fixing things than creating new and exciting features**. This can lead to burnout and high turnover, which only adds to the cost and slows down progress further.

In essence, technical debt is like that small leak in a dam – ignore it, and you risk a flood. It's crucial for startups to recognize and address these issues early on. Balancing the need for speed with the need for quality isn't just about making your product better today. It's about ensuring that your company can continue to grow, innovate, and lead in the future.

## Avoiding the "Debt Trap" - Smart moves for the long game

Avoiding a mess of technical debt while still moving fast is a team effort. Let’s break down some smart moves to avoid technical debt in the long run:

1. Talk It Out: Get devs, project managers, and business leaders together regularly. When everyone knows what’s up, decisions get smarter. Example: A dev team explains why rushing a feature might lead to more bugs. The business team gets it and agrees to a more realistic timeline.
2. Plan Like a Pro: Think strategy, not just speed. Choose features wisely based on what's most valuable and doable. Imagine you’re picking what to cook for dinner - you wouldn’t start with dessert, right?
3. Agile to the Rescue: Agile methods are like having a GPS for development. They help you stay on track, adapt to changes, and keep quality in check through regular check-ins.
4. Quality is King: Make quality a habit. Regular code reviews, automated tests, and continuous integration are like having a health check-up for your code. It keeps things running smoothly.
5. Tech Debt Clean-up Days: Set aside time to tackle existing tech debt. Think of it like a ‘spring cleaning’ session for your code.
6. Teach and Advocate: Help the non-tech folks understand why rushing now can cost more later. It’s like explaining why buying cheap tools can end up being more expensive if they break down.

## Conclusion

In the bustling world of tech startups, getting a handle on technical debt can make a huge difference. By blending clear communication, smart planning, and a commitment to quality, you can keep your development speedy yet solid - setting you up for lasting success.