Technical debt will likely arise when organizations make design decisions based on the deadline rather than performance. The compulsion to expedite the development process leads to changes in the future, ultimately costing way more than what was invested initially.
However, indiscreet acceleration of the development process is not the only reason that can cause tech debt. Here are the common reasons for tech debt.
Organizations are looking to reduce costs and expedite development to ensure better ROI. However, what transpires is quite the opposite. Initially, you may go linear in the approach and use minimal resources, technologies, and development time, but later, it costs even more to make the changes.
Research also shows that refactoring costs correlate significantly with architecture smells (design decisions that negatively impact flexibility, testability, and reusability).
Constantly evolving technologies have reshaped the way modern business functions. Take an example of the containerization approach. Earlier virtual machines or VMs were an excellent option for virtualizing resources.
Newer work models and technologies have induced a skill conundrum in the market. And so, companies are struggling to find a workforce with the right skill sets to bridge the gap between user requirements and technical assistance. Korn Ferry report suggests an $8.5 trillion skill shortage by 2030.
So, how to ensure that the skill gap does not add to your organization’s rising tech debt? First, you need a skill-based analysis of the project to forecast the need for developers or skilled professionals in the future.
Testing your software is essential. However, many organizations cut corners in terms of testing for two reasons,– Need for faster time to market– Lack of QA support
Documentation of development, testing, deployment, and maintenance phases is key to your business. However, many organizations lack comprehensive documentation, which leads to tech debt.