The true cost of technical debt: Why SMEs lose £50k+ annually
Comprehensive guide covering the 4-layer cost model, real case studies, and escape strategies.
Read article
What this tool does
This assessment evaluates your organisation's approach to managing technical debt across 6 key dimensions: code quality, documentation, testing, architecture, processes, and culture. You'll receive a maturity level score with specific priorities for improvement.
Answer honestly for the most useful results. This takes approximately 3-5 minutes.
Technical debt maturity assessment
The 5 maturity levels
| Level | Characteristics | Annual Cost (5-person team) |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Reactive | Daily firefighting, no tracking | >£100k |
| 2. Aware | Problems recognized, ad-hoc fixes | £50k-£100k |
| 3. Managed | Systematic tracking, regular allocation | £25k-£50k |
| 4. Proactive | Prevention focus, continuous refactoring | £10k-£25k |
| 5. Optimized | Strategic lever, predictive analytics | <£10k |
When to use this tool
- Baseline assessment - Understand your current state before starting improvement initiatives
- Team alignment - Get everyone on the same page about technical debt challenges
- Progress tracking - Re-assess quarterly to measure improvement
- Budget justification - Use results to support technology investment requests
