Structuring Response With the STAR Method

Situation: "In my previous role as a senior engineering manager at a rapidly growing fintech company, we faced the challenge of delivering new features quickly to stay competitive. However, this fast-paced environment led to the accumulation of technical debt, which started affecting our system's performance and stability."

Task: "My task was to balance the need for quick delivery with the need to manage and reduce technical debt. The goal was to ensure that we could continue to innovate rapidly without compromising the quality and maintainability of our codebase."

Action: "To address this, I implemented a two-pronged approach:

1. Short-Term Solutions: I introduced a 'debt repayment sprint' every quarter where the team focused solely on refactoring and addressing technical debt. During these sprints, we prioritized critical areas that impacted performance and stability the most.

2. Long-Term Strategies: I integrated technical debt assessments into our regular development process. This included setting aside a portion of each sprint specifically for technical debt reduction. I also established coding standards and best practices to prevent the accumulation of new technical debt. Additionally, I encouraged the use of code reviews and automated testing to maintain code quality.

One specific example was when we were launching a major update to our mobile app. We had a tight deadline, but the existing codebase had several areas of technical debt that could potentially cause issues. I led the team to first identify and fix the most critical areas during our debt repayment sprint.

Simultaneously, we worked on the new features, ensuring that the new code adhered to our updated standards. By balancing the effort between new development and debt reduction, we were able to launch the update on time and with improved stability."

Result: "As a result of these actions, we successfully launched the mobile app update on schedule, with a 30% reduction in crash rates and a significant improvement in performance.

The quarterly debt repayment sprints and the integrated debt management in our regular process helped maintain the code quality over time, leading to fewer issues and faster development cycles in the long run. This approach not only enhanced our product's reliability but also boosted the team's morale as they could see the positive impact of their efforts."

Pitfalls To Avoid

• Overpromising: Avoid promising unrealistic solutions or timelines. Be realistic about what can be achieved within the constraints of quick delivery and managing technical debt.

• Ignoring Root Causes: Don't just focus on fixing immediate issues without addressing the underlying causes of technical debt. Ensure your strategy includes preventing future debt.

• Lack of Team Buy-In: Ensure that your team is on board with the plan. Failing to get their buy-in can lead to resistance and incomplete efforts in managing technical debt.

• Neglecting Documentation: Not documenting technical debt and the steps taken to address it can lead to recurring issues. Make sure your strategy includes thorough documentation.

• Overlooking Metrics: Avoid not setting up metrics to measure the impact of your actions. Without metrics, it’s hard to demonstrate the success and benefits of your approach.