How do SAFe architects manage technical debt?

SAFe architects manage technical debt by prioritizing necessary refactoring and including it in planning. This approach acknowledges that technical debt is a natural part of software development, arising from the need to balance short-term delivery with long-term quality and sustainability. By actively prioritizing refactoring efforts, architects can address areas of the codebase that may affect the system's performance, maintainability, and scalability.

Incorporating refactoring into planning cycles allows teams to allocate time and resources specifically for tackling technical debt. It ensures that addressing these issues is part of the regular workflow rather than an afterthought or something that gets neglected until later in the development process. This proactive management not only helps mitigate the risks associated with technical debt but also contributes to the overall health of the codebase and supports continuous improvement efforts within the organization.

This strategy contrasts with ignoring technical debt or delegating it to lower-level teams, which can lead to accumulation of problems that may hinder future development. Simply eliminating existing code is also not a practical solution, as it does not take into account the potential value of existing systems while also overlooking the complexity of modern software systems. By focusing on intentional refactoring, SAFe architects can ensure that technical debt is managed effectively within the context of ongoing development.