Develop a Tech Debt Improvement Strategy
Develop a focused technical debt improvement strategy that balances system stability with continued feature delivery.
The scenario
Use the scenario to understand the project context and what you’ll be working on.
You're the product manager for a B2B SaaS platform that helps companies manage their supply chains. The platform has grown rapidly over the past two years, adding features quickly to win competitive deals. However, engineering velocity has decreased by 40% over the last six months, and critical bug reports have increased. The CTO has indicated that technical debt is becoming a serious problem, but the sales team is pushing for more features to close end-of-quarter deals.
Sample data provided:
- Engineering velocity chart showing declining sprint completion rates over 6 months
- Bug report categories and frequency (35% related to data syncing issues, 25% to performance problems, 20% to UI inconsistencies, 20% other)
- Architecture diagram highlighting components with highest technical debt according to the engineering team
- Development time allocation showing 45% spent on workarounds and bug fixes vs. 30% six months ago
- Customer satisfaction trends showing a 12-point NPS decrease correlating with recent performance issues
- Revenue impact analysis showing a potential 18% reduction in annual recurring revenue if current customers churn due to reliability issues
Details
Your task
Here’s what you need to do for your project:
- Based on the provided data, identify and prioritize the top 2-3 technical debt areas to address
- Identify the root causes and list actionable steps to address each of the listed technical debt areas
Instructions
Read the instructions to ensure your project receives maximum visibility.
- You can edit your project at any time.
- Remember to share your submission with your community. The more reviews and views it receives, the quicker it will be seen by Uxcel Mentors.
- After submitting your project, consider reviewing others' projects. This can enhance your project's discoverability.
- Ensure you only submit your own work.
Evaluation criteria
Your project will be evaluated using the following criteria:
Data Analysis— How effectively are the technical and business implications analyzed?
Prioritization— Is the technical debt improvement plan focused on the highest-impact areas?
Balance— Does the plan address immediate issues while maintaining business momentum?
Stakeholder Management— Have different perspectives and concerns been addressed effectively?
Templates
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FAQs
What are Uxcel Briefs?
Uxcel Briefs are hands-on, real-world project challenges designed to help learners apply their skills in practical product scenarios. Each Brief simulates a situation you might encounter in a modern product team—requiring critical thinking, creativity, and user-focused solutions.
Briefs cover a variety of topics aligned with Uxcel’s six core skill categories: UX Research, Visual Design, Interaction Design, Content Strategy, Product Thinking, and Leadership. They include a clear scenario, task, recommended tools, and curated resources to guide your approach. By completing a Brief, you can sharpen your problem-solving skills, grow your portfolio, and receive expert feedback from mentors.
Briefs cover a variety of topics aligned with Uxcel’s six core skill categories: UX Research, Visual Design, Interaction Design, Content Strategy, Product Thinking, and Leadership. They include a clear scenario, task, recommended tools, and curated resources to guide your approach. By completing a Brief, you can sharpen your problem-solving skills, grow your portfolio, and receive expert feedback from mentors.
Who are Uxcel Briefs for?
Anyone looking to strengthen their product thinking and communication skills can benefit from Briefs. While they're especially useful for designers, they’re also valuable for product managers, researchers, content strategists, and aspiring professionals who want to learn how to break down product challenges and present thoughtful solutions.
How do I earn a high score on a Brief?
Start by studying the scenario and completion criteria closely. Uxcel provides relevant lessons and resources to help you prepare before diving into the challenge. Treat each Brief like a real-world project: brainstorm ideas, consider multiple approaches, and test your decisions.
Strong submissions typically go through multiple iterations and demonstrate both problem-solving and attention to detail. You’ll also improve faster by reflecting on mentor feedback, identifying patterns in your mistakes, and applying those lessons to future projects.
Strong submissions typically go through multiple iterations and demonstrate both problem-solving and attention to detail. You’ll also improve faster by reflecting on mentor feedback, identifying patterns in your mistakes, and applying those lessons to future projects.
How can I submit a Brief?
Anyone can access and complete Briefs, but only Pro members can submit their work for professional feedback from Uxcel mentors. If you're not a Pro member, you can still work on the Brief and seek feedback from peers or within the Uxcel community.
When submitting a Brief, you'll upload a showcase image, give your project a name, and write a brief description. For tips on effective submissions, check out our best practices here.
When submitting a Brief, you'll upload a showcase image, give your project a name, and write a brief description. For tips on effective submissions, check out our best practices here.
Who reviews my Brief submission?
Submitted Briefs are reviewed by Uxcel Mentors—experienced professionals from top companies who offer clear, actionable feedback. In addition, your project will be published to the Showcase page, where community members can comment, like, and offer their own perspectives. This peer engagement helps simulate a real-world design review process.
How long does it take to get feedback?
Mentor reviews typically arrive within 24–48 hours after submission. The more active your Brief is—through likes and community engagement—the more visible it becomes on the Showcase page.
Pro tip: Share your submission with your network to increase visibility and feedback. Our algorithm takes likes and reviews into account when ranking projects on the Showcase page.
Pro tip: Share your submission with your network to increase visibility and feedback. Our algorithm takes likes and reviews into account when ranking projects on the Showcase page.
Can I redo a Brief or submit more than once?
Yes! Briefs are built for practice and improvement. You can revisit the same Brief to iterate on your previous work or try a different approach. Submitting multiple times helps reinforce learning, build confidence, and track your growth over time.
Do Briefs help me build a portfolio?
Absolutely. Each completed Brief can serve as a portfolio project that demonstrates your ability to think through problems, craft user-centered solutions, and communicate your process. It’s a great way to showcase your skills to hiring managers or teammates in a credible, structured format.