Body of Knowledge · Glossary
Technical debt
The implied cost of future rework from choosing expedience now. A controlled amount is a sensible trade. Left unmanaged, the interest (slower delivery, more defects, more toil) compounds until movement stops.
Where the standard develops it
- TJ-2Technical debtRecognising, quantifying, and scheduling repayment.
Related terms
- Bus factor
- The number of people who could leave before critical knowledge or capability is lost.
- Strangler pattern
- Replacing a legacy system incrementally by growing the new capability around it and routing traffic away piece by piece until the old system can be retired.
- Technical-debt quadrant
- Debt classified as deliberate or inadvertent, and as prudent or reckless.
Cite this definition
Chicago, BibTeX and licence →Engineering Management Academy. (2026). Technical debt. In Engineering Management Academy Body of Knowledge (Version 3.1, GLO.technical-debt). https://www.engineeringmanagement.academy/body-of-knowledge/glossary/technical-debt