Technical Debt in R&D Organizations: A Conversation with John F. Conway and Raminderpal Singh

Overview

John F. Conway and Raminderpal Singh explore how technical debt accumulates within R&D organizations — particularly in pharma and life sciences — and why it often goes unaddressed. They share real-world stories, practical solutions, and leadership lessons for managing the growing complexity of scientific and technical systems.

💡 Key Topics Covered:

• How technical debt arises in well-funded vs. resource-constrained organizations
• The hidden challenges of integrating outdated and redundant systems
• Why R&D organizations underestimate their role as software developers
• The importance of modular software design and architectural thinking
• Balancing off-the-shelf platforms with in-house customization
• Decision-making pitfalls: fragmented planning, TCO blind spots, and short-term thinking
• The damaging "us vs. them" divide between IT and scientific teams
• Leadership gaps: organizational experts without technical depth, and vice versa
• The critical role of user experience in system adoption and success
• Strategies to break cycles of inefficiency and unlock innovation

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