Impact of Technical Debt on Transparency

Technical debt refers to the long-term consequences of making suboptimal technical decisions, such as taking shortcuts during development. While these decisions might speed up development initially, they can lead to significant challenges later, especially regarding the transparency and predictability of the development process.

Exam Question

Select two ways in which technical debt impacts transparency.
(choose the best two answers)
A. It enhances transparency for the Product Owner as the Developers are not allowed to do additional feature development in a Sprint as long as there is technical debt.
B. When calculated and estimated, the total amount of technical debt shows exactly how long until the Product Owner can release the Increment.
C. As development progresses and code is added, the system becomes more difficult to stabilize, which results in future work being slowed down in unpredictable ways.
D. It leads to false assumptions about the current state of the system, specifically of an Increment being releasable at the end of a Sprint.

Correct Answers

C. As development progresses and code is added, the system becomes more difficult to stabilize, which results in future work being slowed down in unpredictable ways.
D. It leads to false assumptions about the current state of the system, specifically of an Increment being releasable at the end of a Sprint.

Explanation

Correct Answers

C. As development progresses and code is added, the system becomes more difficult to stabilize, which results in future work being slowed down in unpredictable ways:
Technical debt can cause the system to become increasingly unstable as more code is added. This instability can lead to delays and unpredictability in future work, making it difficult to estimate and plan accurately. The lack of stability directly impacts the team’s ability to maintain transparency with the Product Owner and stakeholders about the progress and state of the system.

D. It leads to false assumptions about the current state of the system, specifically of an Increment being releasable at the end of a Sprint:
Technical debt can create a misleading perception of the system’s state, particularly regarding whether an Increment is actually releasable. This false sense of progress can lead to incorrect assumptions and decisions, reducing transparency about the actual readiness of the product.

Why the Other Options Are Less Appropriate

A. It enhances transparency for the Product Owner as the Developers are not allowed to do additional feature development in a Sprint as long as there is technical debt:
This statement is not accurate. Technical debt does not inherently prevent Developers from adding new features, nor does it necessarily enhance transparency. Instead, it can obscure the true state of the system and complicate the development process.

B. When calculated and estimated, the total amount of technical debt shows exactly how long until the Product Owner can release the Increment:
While estimating technical debt might provide some insights, it does not precisely predict when an Increment can be released. Technical debt adds complexity and unpredictability, making it difficult to estimate the exact timeline for release.

Relevance to the PSD Exam

Understanding how technical debt impacts transparency is crucial for the PSD exam. It highlights the importance of managing technical debt to maintain clear and accurate communication with the Product Owner and stakeholders.

Key Takeaways

• Technical debt can reduce transparency by making the system more difficult to stabilize, leading to delays and unpredictability in future work.
• It can also create false assumptions about the state of the system, particularly regarding whether an Increment is truly releasable at the end of a Sprint.
• Managing technical debt is essential to maintain transparency and ensure that the Product Owner and stakeholders have a clear understanding of the product’s progress.

Conclusion

Technical debt can significantly impact transparency within a Scrum Team, leading to unpredictability and false assumptions about the state of the system. Understanding these impacts is essential for maintaining clear communication and effective collaboration with the Product Owner and stakeholders. For more information on preparing for the PSD exam, visit our Professional Scrum Developer PSD™ Exam Prep.