The concept of “organizational debt” is the focus of a recent podcast episode featuring Tim Klein and Oliver Winter. They explain how it is similar to “technical debt,” which refers to shortcuts taken during product development. Organizational debt is the deliberate omission of Scrum elements or neglect of agile principles in organizations. Such practices can lead to long-term problems and costs.
The podcast primarily explores how organizational debt can impact product owners and agile product managers. These professionals are often faced with challenges during the implementation of Scrum or other agile methods. They may have to work with multiple Scrum teams or handle tasks without a Scrum Master.
Klein and Winter discuss the advantages and disadvantages of knowingly taking on organizational debt. Similar to technical debt, organizations may choose to incur such debt to speed up product development and generate outcomes earlier. The podcasters then provide real-life examples of organizational debt they have encountered during their work as agile coaches and consultants. They explain how product owners can recognize such debt and offer tips on how to handle it.
The podcast episode references previous discussions on the same topic featured in “Die Produktwerker” and is also available on the Produktwerker blog. Overall, the podcast serves as a valuable resource for product owners and agile product managers seeking to navigate the challenges of implementing Scrum and other agile methods in their organizations.
