One of the main advantages which a SCRUM project has over other certified ones is such that its most important principle stresses on developing the functionality of the highest preferred service or product first. In this case, less important features could be developed in alternative sprints or they can be either retired or pushed into oblivion according to the customer needs. Working on this aspect allows the Scrum team to have the time that is required in order to focus on the quality of the preferred product or service’s vital functionality. One of the main benefits of this kind of planning (called as quality planning) will be the reduction in technical debt. Technical debt, in technical language is also referred – design debt or code debt, and generally refer to the work that a scrum team prioritizes in the lower category. They can also omit the work when it comes to prioritizing the primary jobs in co-ordination with the product of the project.
Technical debt accumulates and should be compensated in the future.
Among the many causes of technical debt, few are:
- Test of product or service that is not done properly or complete
- Documentation that is incomplete or inadequate according to the standards
- Differences of opinion between team members of various departments in the Scrum team – this will lead to less focus on final integration of components that are required in order to make a project or program successful
- Non-conformity in sharing of knowledge or vital information regarding business and process between project teams and stakeholders
- If the Management stresses on the achievement of short term projects rather than focusing on future objectives, the result will be poor-quality Result Products that can manifest into huge maintenance costs etc.
The advantage in a Scrum Project, to any organization, the technical debt is not allowed to prolong beyond a Sprint mainly because of two reasons – Acceptance and Done Criteria. Any functionality must satisfy these two criteria in order to be considered “Finished.” By the Prioritization of User Stories and the grooming of Prioritized Product Backlog, the team works towards creating Working Deliverables frequently, that prevents the accumulation of large amount technical debt. The technical debt could also be drastically reduced by the documentation provided by the Scrum Guidance Body.
In order to have a lower technical debt, the idea is to always define the product that will be required from the Sprint and the project together with Acceptance Criteria and any development methods that have to be followed. It is also the responsibility of the Scrum Team members to take this important aspect into account while maintaining the same quality.
