Often as developers we are stuck evaluating only the negative artifacts of technical debt.  However, what if we looked at the debt metaphor from the point-of-view of our business executives. Would we reach the same conclusions?

In this presentation, I demonstrate that technical debt is not always something to be avoided.  In fact, when debt is incurred responsibly, it can become a powerful tool that improves the communication between stakeholders and technologists.

As we inspect this concept, I offer rules and guidelines for evaluating when debt is good and when it is toxic.  Once we have a firm understanding of this framework, I present strategies for prudently measuring, paying, and using debt.  At the end of the presentation, both developers and business stakeholders will gain a new vocabulary for describing project decisions that will maximize the collaboration between both teams.