Business-Driven Technical Debt Prioritization: An Industry Case Study
摘要
Technical debt (TD) results from suboptimal software development decisions affecting quality, maintainability, and performance. Prioritization is essential but challenging due to the volume of TD items, making clear criteria necessary. This study applies Tracy-TD, a business-driven TD prioritization approach, which identifies criteria for future decision making. A case study tested this approach, followed by interviews with software professionals from various sectors to refine prioritization strategies, especially in anticipation of future scenarios. The findings clarify the medium- and long-term criteria that influence the prioritization of TD and the most affected types of TD. The analysis highlights how organizations define and apply these criteria in decision-making. In addition, the study details key prioritization variables and their impact on different types of TD, contributing to a structured approach to managing TD in evolving software projects.