You're facing a backlog of technical debt. How can you prioritize it while still pushing out new features?
Managing a backlog of technical debt can be daunting, especially when you're also under pressure to roll out new features. Here's how you can tackle both efficiently:
How do you prioritize technical debt in your projects?
You're facing a backlog of technical debt. How can you prioritize it while still pushing out new features?
Managing a backlog of technical debt can be daunting, especially when you're also under pressure to roll out new features. Here's how you can tackle both efficiently:
How do you prioritize technical debt in your projects?
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To manage technical debt while delivering new features, I’d prioritize debt based on its impact and allocate time during sprints to address the most critical issues. By integrating debt fixes into feature work and planning effectively, I can reduce the backlog without delaying new feature delivery
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Use the order of payback of technical debt based on how it affects current and future work. Begin with quick fixes from which payback can be practically realized in the short term. Equate the payment against debt reduction with new feature development through time slots. Involve the team to prioritize the most critical debt and chunk it into meaningful tasks. It may help applying Kanban for workflow visualization and management. Priorities must be reassessed regularly as well as adaptability to change.
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Balancing technical debt and new feature development requires strategic prioritization and communication. Start by assessing the technical debt backlog—categorize it based on severity, impact, and urgency. Prioritize items that pose immediate risks to system stability, security, or performance, as these can have long-term consequences if ignored. Use a scoring system to weigh the cost of addressing each debt item against its potential benefits. Engage stakeholders to align on priorities, highlighting how unresolved technical debt can slow future development and inflate costs.
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