The Vicious Cycle of Technical Debt - How Poor Code Drives Down Profitability #3301276 (License: Personal Use)

The diagram maps a self-perpetuating loop where poorly written code leads to increased time and costs, which reduces business agility; this in turn lowers revenue and limits funding for future development, ultimately reinforcing the original problem. Each stage feeds into the next via directional arrows, emphasizing the cyclical nature of technical debt when left unaddressed. The color-coded nodes help distinguish cause-and-effect relationships across engineering, finance, and business strategy domains.

Used in software engineering blogs, DevOps guides, or CTO-level presentations to explain the business impact of neglecting code quality. Targets engineering leaders, product managers, and executives seeking to justify refactoring or tech investment.