Abstract
Building upon the analogy of Technical Debt, Process Debt refers to issues arising from inefficient or obsolete processes, which can substantially restrict an organization's effectiveness in delivering software. Process Debt creates additional tasks, such as rework, clarification, and workaround efforts, which can significantly increase the workload experienced by developers. A heightened workload may lead to stress and burnout. This study empirically examines the quantitative impact of five types of Process Debt on workload among Agile Software Development teams. Survey data from 191 participants in two large organizations revealed significant correlations between all Process Debt types and increased workload. Multiple regression analysis further identified Synchronization Debt, Roles Debt, and Infrastructure Debt as key predictors, highlighting their critical roles in intensifying workload pressures. These findings underscore the importance of proactively addressing specific areas of Process Debt, enabling organizations to enhance process efficiency, reduce developer overload, and maintain sustainable productivity.
Paper Type
Full Paper
DOI
10.62036/ISD.2025.29
Overburdened by Debt: A Quantitative Study of Process Debt's Effect on Workload in Agile Teams
Building upon the analogy of Technical Debt, Process Debt refers to issues arising from inefficient or obsolete processes, which can substantially restrict an organization's effectiveness in delivering software. Process Debt creates additional tasks, such as rework, clarification, and workaround efforts, which can significantly increase the workload experienced by developers. A heightened workload may lead to stress and burnout. This study empirically examines the quantitative impact of five types of Process Debt on workload among Agile Software Development teams. Survey data from 191 participants in two large organizations revealed significant correlations between all Process Debt types and increased workload. Multiple regression analysis further identified Synchronization Debt, Roles Debt, and Infrastructure Debt as key predictors, highlighting their critical roles in intensifying workload pressures. These findings underscore the importance of proactively addressing specific areas of Process Debt, enabling organizations to enhance process efficiency, reduce developer overload, and maintain sustainable productivity.
Recommended Citation
Gustavsson, T., Ahmad, M.O. & Saeeda, H. (2025). Overburdened by Debt: A Quantitative Study of Process Debt's Effect on Workload in Agile TeamsIn I. Luković, S. Bjeladinović, B. Delibašić, D. Barać, N. Iivari, E. Insfran, M. Lang, H. Linger, & C. Schneider (Eds.), Empowering the Interdisciplinary Role of ISD in Addressing Contemporary Issues in Digital Transformation: How Data Science and Generative AI Contributes to ISD (ISD2025 Proceedings). Belgrade, Serbia: University of Gdańsk, Department of Business Informatics & University of Belgrade, Faculty of Organizational Sciences. ISBN: 978-83-972632-1-5. https://doi.org/10.62036/ISD.2025.29