This standard ensures technical debt is actively identified, prioritised, and reduced over time-preventing drag on delivery, quality, and morale. It enables sustainable progress without compromising future agility.
Aligned to our "Balance Sustainability with Speed" and "Developer Experience Matters" policies, this standard protects long-term team health and system maintainability. Without it, debt compounds silently, slowing teams and eroding trust.
Clearly defined impacts of meeting this standard include improved delivery flow, reduced risk, higher system resilience, and better alignment to business needs. Over time, teams will see reduced rework, faster time to value, and stronger system integrity.
Level 1 – Initial: Technical debt is unmanaged and accumulates silently.
Level 2 – Managed: Some technical debt is recorded and occasionally addressed.
Level 3 – Defined: Debt is prioritised, scheduled, and visible to stakeholders.
Level 4 – Quantitatively Managed: Debt impact and reduction velocity are measured.
Level 5 – Optimising: Debt is managed as a strategic asset with continuous investment and systemic mitigation.