Blog Becoming a Leader That Crushes Technical Debt: Highlights From “Modern CTO”
By Insight Editor / 28 Jun 2024 / Topics: IT modernization Modern workplace Digital transformation
A recap of an eye-opening chat on the technology choices we make, the tech debt we create — and how to lead our organizations through the seasons of change. Explore the key points below or stream the episode on demand.
What is technical debt, and why is it important to manage it in technology?
Technical debt refers to the cost of maintaining outdated or inefficient technology choices. Through my career, I have watched the rise, amazing success and ultimate demise of a number of technologies. Any technology ends up becoming something that you retire. You have to plan for that.
Another way to look at technical debt is through the product and offering lens. When we're developing products and services, we make a choice as an organization about what technologies those are going to be based on.
Without perfect clarity of future events, and with technology changing so quickly, how can organizations future-proof their technology choices?
While we can't predict the future, we can analyze market trends and make informed decisions based on what we know today. Even with the best intentions, unexpected events can quickly render our technology choices obsolete. That's why it's essential to build a culture of innovation and learning, where teams are constantly exploring new technologies and adapting to change.
Guide to tech debt
In this comprehensive guide, get strategies and best practices for remediating tech debt in your environment.
How can large tech teams build community and collaboration?
Leading teams through change and the complexities of tech debt can be challenging especially for large, long-standing enterprises. When managing large tech teams, it's easy to get lost in the hierarchy and formal structures. However, the real wisdom often lies with the collective intelligence of the team.
That's why it's crucial to embed community and collaboration deep into your company culture. When teammates are constantly exploring and sharing their experiences with evolving technology, their organizations are better positioned to pivot as needed without it feeling so disruptive. At Insight, our annual technical summit, Mastery, brings teammates together to learn from each other and share their expertise. It ensures an ever-evolving approach to the technology decisions we make — whether for ourselves or how we’re delivering to our clients.
How can organizations manage technical debt and modernize infrastructure for AI?
As organizations increasingly adopt AI and machine learning, they face the challenge of integrating these technologies into legacy infrastructure. This can quickly lead to technical debt, as new technologies clash with outdated systems.
To manage technical debt in AI infrastructure, it's essential to take a long-term perspective and build a roadmap for modernization. This includes identifying areas of technical debt, exploring new technologies that can integrate with legacy systems, and prioritizing innovation and learning across the org.
