Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Deliberative Technical Debt Management: An Action Research Study

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
Software Business (ICSOB 2021)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Business Information Processing ((LNBIP,volume 434))

Included in the following conference series:

Abstract

Technical Debt (TD) has seen a growing interest from software companies and researchers since the term was first established almost 30 years ago. TD refers to concessions made for short-term advantages or conveniences, which may result in long-term difficulties. Numerous TD management strategies have been proposed to avoid the severe consequences of leaving TD unchecked. However, these strategies often suffer from being too abstract, making it difficult to initiate TD deliberations. To investigate how software development companies can initiate such deliberations, we conducted an Action Research study in collaboration with a Danish software development department, SoftShelf. Through two Action Research interventions at SoftShelf, we introduced strategies and tools for TD management and reified them to their situation in order to initiate deliberations on the matter. After reporting the interventions’ practical consequences in SoftShelf, we discuss the usefulness of deliberation theory in TD management research and practice.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 69.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Allman, E.: Managing technical debt. Commun. ACM 55(5), 50–55 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Ananjeva, A., Persson, J.S., Bruun, A.: Integrating UX work with agile development through user stories: an action research study in a small software company. J. Syst. Softw. 170, 110785 (2020)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Avison, D.E., Davison, R.M., Malaurent, J.: Information systems action research: debunking myths and overcoming barriers. Inf. Manag. 55(2), 177–187 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Behutiye, W.N., Rodríguez, P., Oivo, M., Tosun, A.: Analyzing the concept of technical debt in the context of agile software development: a systematic literature review. Inf. Softw. Technol. 82, 139–158 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Brinkmann, S.: Doing without data. Qual. Inq. 20(6), 720–725 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Burkhalter, S., Gastil, J., Kelshaw, T.: A conceptual definition and theoretical model of public deliberation in small face–to–face groups. Commun. Theory 12(4), 398–422 (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Cunningham, W.: The WyCash portfolio management system. ACM SIGPLAN OOPS Messenger 4(2), 29–30 (1992)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. De Lucia, A., Fasolino, A.R., Pompelle, E.: A decisional framework for legacy system management. In: International Conference on Software Maintenance (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Ernst, N.A., Bellomo, S., Ozkaya, I., Nord, R.L., Gorton, I.: Measure it? Manage it? Ignore it? software practitioners and technical debt. In: 10th Joint Meeting on Foundations of Software Engineering, pp. 50–60 (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Fernández-Sánchez, C., Garbajosa, J., Yagüe, A., Perez, J.: Identification and analysis of the elements required to manage technical debt by means of a systematic mapping study. J. Syst. Softw. 124, 22–38 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Fokaefs, M., Tsantalis, N., Chatzigeorgiou, A.: JDeodorant: identification and removal of feature envy bad smells. In: International Conference on Software Maintenance, pp. 519–520. IEEE (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Fowler, M.: Technical debt quadrant, October 2009. https://martinfowler.com/bliki/TechnicalDebtQuadrant.html. Accessed 09 Nov 2020

  13. Guo, Y., Seaman, C., da Silva, F.Q.: Costs and obstacles encountered in technical debt management-a case study. J. Syst. Softw. 120, 156–169 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Hayes, G.R.: The relationship of action research to human-computer interaction. ACM Trans. Comput.-Human Interact. 18(3), 1–20 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Klimczyk, P., Madeyski, L.: Technical debt aware estimations in software engineering: a systematic mapping study. e-Informatica Softw. Eng. J. 14(1), 61–76 (2020)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Klinger, T., Tarr, P., Wagstrom, P., Williams, C.: An enterprise perspective on technical debt. In: 2nd Workshop on Managing Technical Debt, pp. 35–38 (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  17. Kruchten, P.: Refining the definition of technical debt, April 2016. https://philippe.kruchten.com/2016/04/22/refining-the-definition-of-technical-debt/

  18. Kruchten, P., Nord, R.L., Ozkaya, I.: Technical debt: from metaphor to theory and practice. IEEE Softw. 29(6), 18–21 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Lenarduzzi, V., Besker, T., Taibi, D., Martini, A., Fontana, F.A.: A systematic literature review on technical debt prioritization: strategies, processes, factors, and tools. J. Syst. Softw. 171, 110827 (2021)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Letouzey, J.L.: The SQALE method for evaluating technical debt. In: 3rd International Workshop on Managing Technical Debt, pp. 31–36. IEEE (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  21. Li, Z., Avgeriou, P., Liang, P.: A systematic mapping study on technical debt and its management. J. Syst. Softw. 101, 193–220 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Lim, E., Taksande, N., Seaman, C.: A balancing act: what software practitioners have to say about technical debt. IEEE Softw. 29(6), 22–27 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Mansbridge, J.: A minimalist definition of deliberation. In: Heller, P., Rao, V. (eds.) Deliberation and Development - Rethinking the Role of Voice and Collective Action in Unequal Societies, chap. 2, pp. 27–50. World Bank Publications (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  24. Mansbridge, J., Hartz-Karp, J., Amengual, M., Gastil, J.: Norms of deliberation: an inductive study. J. Public Deliberation 2(1) (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  25. McConnell, S.: Managing technical debt. Best practices white paper, Construx Software, June 2008. https://www.construx.com/resources/whitepaper-managing-technical-debt/

  26. McKay, J., Marshall, P.: The dual imperatives of action research. Inf. Technol. People 14(1), 46–59 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Nielsen, P.A., Persson, J.S.: Engaged problem formulation in is research. Commun. AIS 38, 720–737 (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  28. Oliveira, F., Goldman, A., Santos, V.: Managing technical debt in software projects using scrum: an action research. In: Agile Conference (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  29. Patton, M.Q.: Qualitative Research & Evaluation Methods: Integrating Theory and Practice. Sage publications (2015). chap. 7 Qualitative Interviewing

    Google Scholar 

  30. Rubin, K.S.: Essential Scrum: A Practical Guide to the Most Popular Agile Process. Addison-Wesley, Boston (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  31. Saraiva, D., Neto, J.G., Kulesza, U., Freitas, G., Reboucas, R., Coelho, R.: Technical debt tools: a systematic mapping study. In: Proceedings of the 23rd International Conference on Enterprise Information Systems, pp. 88–98 (2021)

    Google Scholar 

  32. Schwaber, K., Sutherland, J.: The scrum guide. Scrum Alliance 21, 1 (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  33. Seaman, C., Guo, Y.: Measuring and monitoring technical debt. In: Advances in Computers, vol. 82, pp. 25–46. Elsevier (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  34. Seaman, C., et al.: Using technical debt data in decision making: potential decision approaches. In: 3rd International Workshop on Managing Technical Debt (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  35. Spínola, R.O., Zazworka, N., Vetro, A., Shull, F., Seaman, C.: Understanding automated and human-based technical debt identification approaches-a two-phase study. J. Braz. Comput. Soc. 25(1), 1–21 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13173-019-0087-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Tom, E., Aurum, A., Vidgen, R.: An exploration of technical debt. J. Syst. Softw. 86(6), 1498–1516 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Wohlin, C., Runeson, P.: Guiding the selection of research methodology in industry-academia collaboration in software engineering. Inf. Softw. Technol. 140, 106678 (2021)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Yli-Huumo, J., Maglyas, A., Smolander, K.: How do software development teams manage technical debt?-An empirical study. J. Syst. Softw. 120, 195–218 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Yli-Huumo, J., Maglyas, A., Smolander, K., Haller, J., Törnroos, H.: Developing processes to increase technical debt visibility and manageability – an action research study in industry. In: Abrahamsson, P., Jedlitschka, A., Nguyen Duc, A., Felderer, M., Amasaki, S., Mikkonen, T. (eds.) PROFES 2016. LNCS, vol. 10027, pp. 368–378. Springer, Cham (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-49094-6_24

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Computer Science, Aalborg University, Selma Lagerlöfs Vej 300, 9220, Aalborg Øst, Denmark

    Nichlas Bødker Borup, Ann Louise Jul Christiansen, Sabine Hørdum Tovgaard & John Stouby Persson

Authors
  1. Nichlas Bødker Borup
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ann Louise Jul Christiansen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Sabine Hørdum Tovgaard
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. John Stouby Persson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to John Stouby Persson .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Bolzano, Italy

    Xiaofeng Wang

  2. University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway

    Antonio Martini

  3. University of South Eastern Norway, Bø, Norway

    Anh Nguyen-Duc

  4. University of Oslo and SINTEF, Oslo, Norway

    Viktoria Stray

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2021 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this paper

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this paper

Borup, N.B., Christiansen, A.L.J., Tovgaard, S.H., Persson, J.S. (2021). Deliberative Technical Debt Management: An Action Research Study. In: Wang, X., Martini, A., Nguyen-Duc, A., Stray, V. (eds) Software Business. ICSOB 2021. Lecture Notes in Business Information Processing, vol 434. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-91983-2_5

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-91983-2_5

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-91982-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-91983-2

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation