Beyond Tech Debt - Understanding Product Debt

In the world of software development, we often talk about technical debt – the implied cost of additional rework caused by choosing quick solutions over better approaches that would take longer. But in my experience leading product teams, I’ve noticed something broader at play. There’s a larger concept that we might call “product debt,” which extends far beyond the code itself.

The Nature of Product Debt

Just as in our personal lives, having debt isn’t inherently problematic. The real danger lies in being unaware of our debt or allowing it to grow beyond manageable limits. I’ve seen organizations dedicate entire teams to managing technical debt, but that’s often a sign that the debt has already grown too large. The goal isn’t to eliminate debt entirely – that’s rarely practical – but to manage it wisely.

I’ve always believed in seeing technology as a means to an end, not an end in itself. This perspective helps us understand why product debt is more comprehensive than just technical debt. Consider a machine learning algorithm that recommends movies – while the algorithm (the means) plays a crucial role in creating good recommendations (the end), the overall product experience involves much more than just the technical implementation.

Forms of Product Debt

Product debt manifests in various ways. There’s design debt, where teams might have chosen suboptimal solutions during design sprints due to time or resource constraints. Documentation debt accumulates when teams don’t properly document their decisions and processes. Brand consistency might suffer, creating another form of debt.

In one organization I worked with, they had a dedicated team for managing technical debt. While well-intentioned, this approach missed the broader picture of product debt. I believe that debt should never reach a point where it requires a dedicated team – it should be managed continuously, just like we manage our regular product development efforts.

The Kitchen Table Analogy

I often think about product debt management in terms of how I handle my kitchen while cooking. I don’t wait until all the cooking is finished to start cleaning. Instead, I clean as I go, using natural breaks in the cooking process to wash dishes and wipe counters. This approach keeps the workspace manageable and prevents the overwhelming pile-up that would occur if I left everything until the end.

The same principle applies to product development. If we think of our product as a kitchen table that we want to keep clean, we should be determined to use our time and resources judiciously to address debt whenever possible. This ongoing maintenance keeps the product healthy and prevents the accumulation of overwhelming debt.

Achieving Product Immortality

Here’s an intriguing thought: I believe that if product debt is managed well, a product can achieve a form of “immortality.” There might never be a need for “sunsetting” a product if we continuously evolve and maintain it properly. This doesn’t mean the product never changes – quite the opposite. It means the product can continuously adapt and improve without accumulating crippling debt.

Practical Implementation

Managing product debt requires a holistic approach. When creating new features or making changes, we should always consider both the immediate impact and the potential debt we’re creating. Just as you might think twice about taking on a new financial debt, teams should carefully consider the long-term implications of their product decisions.

I’ve found that creating a “debt counterpart” for each new feature can be helpful. When you add a feature to your product backlog, also create a corresponding item for addressing any debt that feature might create. This helps maintain visibility and ensures debt doesn’t get forgotten in the rush to deliver new features.

Looking Forward

The concept of product debt might seem daunting, but it’s really about maintaining a healthy, sustainable product. By acknowledging that debt extends beyond technical considerations and actively working to manage it across all aspects of our product, we can build products that not only survive but thrive over the long term.

Think of it this way: just as a well-maintained kitchen makes cooking more enjoyable and efficient, a well-maintained product makes development more productive and user experiences more satisfying. The key is to stay aware of the debt we’re accumulating and to address it regularly, before it becomes overwhelming.

Remember, the goal isn’t to eliminate product debt entirely – that’s probably impossible. Instead, we should strive to understand it, manage it wisely, and use it strategically to build better products. After all, some debt, when taken on thoughtfully and managed properly, can help us achieve things we couldn’t otherwise accomplish.