How does technical debt affect the value a Product Owner can derive from a product?

Technical debt refers to the concept of taking shortcuts in software development that may expedite short-term gains but ultimately lead to more substantial costs and complications in the long run. When technical debt accumulates, it can significantly affect the Product Owner’s ability to derive value from a product in various ways, but notably, it often results in a greater percentage of the product's budget being allocated to maintenance activities.

As technical debt builds up, maintaining the product can become increasingly complex and costly, diverting resources away from new feature development or improvements. This scenario can lead to delayed product releases, frustration within the development team, and a reduced ability to respond to market changes or customer needs. For a Product Owner, this means that the expected return on investment diminishes, as funds that could be used for enhancing the product or delivering new features are instead consumed by necessary maintenance to address issues stemming from the technical debt.

In contrast, while the other options might suggest positive outcomes, they do not accurately represent the typical implications of technical debt. It doesn’t inherently increase development capability, enhance user experience, or improve marketability. In fact, the opposite can occur—a product laden with technical debt may become less desirable to users, creating a cycle where value delivery diminishes over time.