August 6th, 2025

What Is Technical Debt? How to Tackle It and Foster Healthy Development Teams (Part III)


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By Aaron Sylvan, 10x Senior Technologist

In Part One of this series, I explained the nuances of technical debt, how to identify tell-tale signs in your organization, and a couple of challenges that you may face in navigating the reality of technical debt. 

In Part Two, I explained why we might allow technical debt to accumulate in certain situations and why it actually might be beneficial for some projects, and how to identify warning signs that technical debt may be growing to a level of concern.

In Part Three below, I’ll discuss the necessity of tackling technical debt, how confronting this challenge head-on can lead to a much healthier development environment, and why bringing in an outside lens can be a successful strategy.

Shedding the Old Shell

For an organization addressing technical debt, I like to use the metaphor of a lobster “molting.” Eventually, a company has to shed its old, worn-out architecture and develop something sturdier underneath. This can be uncomfortable—rewriting large segments of code is never trivial—but it’s also essential for long-term survival and growth.

Why Bring in a Senior Freelancer or Consultant?

A Neutral Perspective

When different teams start pointing fingers—sales blaming development, development claiming unrealistic promises—a neutral voice can break the stalemate. Because I’m not competing for a permanent position within the company, I can mediate more effectively and focus on improving the situation rather than winning an internal debate.

Access to Specialized Expertise

Having worked inside hundreds of organizations, I can quickly diagnose patterns and uncover root causes. Sometimes a straightforward fix resolves the core issue; other times, a more extensive refactor is needed. In either scenario, an outsider can often accelerate the process of identifying and acting on the right solution.

Bridging Communication Gaps

I routinely interview both leadership and front-line developers to discover what they truly need. Usually, sales has promised features without a full understanding of the technical lift, while developers feel under-resourced. Simply relaying these needs clearly—so everyone sees the bigger picture—can bring alignment.

Practical Takeaways for Leaders

  1. Plan for Regular Refactoring
    Like the lobster shedding its shell, products need periodic, sometimes disruptive overhauls. Factor those critical refactoring cycles into your budget and schedules to avoid ballooning technical debt. This is especially true for multi-tenant SaaS.
  2. Monitor the Bug-Fix Burden
    Pay attention to how much of your team’s time goes toward fixing broken or outdated functionality. If it’s consistently more than 20%, there’s likely an architectural issue you can’t ignore.
  3. Encourage Healthy Coding Practices
    Promote the “DRY” principle (Don’t Repeat Yourself) so that a single code update doesn’t need to be replicated in multiple spots. Proper organization prevents compounding problems.
  4. Invest in Ongoing Education
    When developers don’t see coding best practices outside their own company, they risk stagnating. Support professional development through conferences, courses, and mentorship.
  5. Consider External Expertise
    If trust between departments has eroded or you suspect the product’s architecture is simply too fragile, an experienced consultant can fast-track a solution. Neutral outside voices often lead to quicker, clearer decisions.

Conclusion

When the situation seems too tangled, a senior freelancer can offer fresh eyes, mediate internal conflicts, and propose a path forward. Combining a sturdy architecture with a culture of collaboration gives companies a powerful foundation to face future challenges— and do so without mortgaging tomorrow’s progress to fix yesterday’s shortcuts.

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