Integrating technical debt management and software quality management processes: a framework and field tests

Abstract

Technical debt, defined as the maintenance obligations arising from shortcuts taken during the design, development, and deployment of software systems, has been shown to significantly impact the reliability and long-term evolution of software systems [1], [2]. Although academic research has moved beyond using technical debt only as a metaphor, and has begun compiling strong empirical evidence on the economic implications of technical debt, industry practitioners continue to find managing technical debt a challenging balancing act [3]. Despite the increasing awareness of the importance of managing technical debt in software product development, systematic processes for implementing technical debt management in software production have not been readily available.