Introduction: What You’ll Learn
In this simulation, you'll practice navigating the tension between business demands for quick delivery and the realities of high technical debt. You'll learn how to communicate effectively with stakeholders, prioritize technical health, and make balanced decisions under pressure.
You’ll practice:
- Assessing the impact of technical debt
- Communicating technical constraints to non-technical stakeholders
- Proposing balanced solutions that align with business goals
- Making informed decisions under pressure
Step-by-Step Simulation
Scene 1: Understanding the Business Demand
Facilitator: "Hey team, we've got an urgent request from the business side. They need a new feature fast to seize a market chance. Before we dive in, let’s check out the current state of our codebase."
Facilitator (as a developer): "We’re dealing with quite a bit of technical debt, especially in our core modules. This might affect our ability to deliver quickly and maintain quality."
Facilitator: "Let's talk about how this might impact our timeline and figure out a plan."
Scene 2: Assessing Technical Debt Impact
Alex (Developer): "Our core modules are pretty tangled. Making quick changes could introduce bugs and slow down the system."
Sara (Developer): "We also don't have enough tests in critical areas, which makes adding new features risky unless we address this first."
Facilitator: "Thanks, Alex and Sara. It’s clear we need to be careful. Let’s think about how we can balance these risks with the business urgency."
Scene 3: Communicating with Stakeholders
Facilitator: "We need to explain this to the business team clearly. We should outline the risks and suggest a balanced plan."
Priya (Product Manager): "I can draft a plan that highlights the risks of moving too fast and the benefits of tackling some of the debt first. Maybe we can suggest a phased rollout to manage expectations."
Facilitator: "Great idea, Priya. Let’s make sure we also highlight the long-term benefits of reducing tech debt for future flexibility."
Scene 4: Proposing a Balanced Plan
Facilitator: "Here’s the plan we’re proposing:"
- Phase 1: Tackle critical tech debt that impacts the new feature. Spend a sprint improving test coverage and untangling some modules.
- Phase 2: Roll out the feature incrementally, starting with a beta release to a small group of users for feedback.
- Phase 3: Expand the feature gradually as we confirm stability, while continuing to reduce tech debt.
Facilitator: "This approach aims to meet immediate business needs while ensuring technical sustainability. Let’s present this to our stakeholders."
Mini Roleplay Challenges
Challenge 1: The business insists on a full rollout despite the risks.
- Best Response: “Let’s talk about the potential risks of rushing this and see if we can find a compromise that manages risk.”
Challenge 2: A team member suggests ignoring tech debt temporarily.
- Best Response: “While it might seem practical short-term, ignoring debt could lead to bigger issues down the line. Let's find a way to address both priorities.”
Challenge 3: Stakeholders are not convinced by technical arguments.
- Best Response: “Let’s share some specific examples of past incidents where tech debt caused delays or problems.”
Optional Curveball Mode
- Unexpected resource constraints pop up.
- A critical bug is discovered during the discussion.
- A competitor launches a similar feature.
Practice handling each one while staying focused on balanced decision-making.
Reflection Checklist
Decision Making
- Did I clearly assess the impact of tech debt?
- Did I propose a balanced plan that addresses both technical and business needs?
- Did I effectively communicate the risks and benefits to stakeholders?
Communication & Alignment
- Did I make sure all voices and concerns were heard?
- Was the final decision communicated clearly and agreed upon by everyone involved?
Leadership & Tone
- Was I assertive yet approachable in discussions?
- Did I maintain a collaborative and open environment for decision making?
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Overlooking the importance of technical debt
- Failing to communicate technical constraints effectively
- Making decisions without team or stakeholder input
- Not following up on agreed action items