Developers are opting for quick fixes over scalability. How can you guide them towards sustainable solutions?

There is no simple answer to this question and the approach needs to cover multiple areas. First is education: explain long term benefits, back it up with case studies, highlight risks of quick fixes. Second, it doesn't happen overnight: best practices have to be incorporated into development process through iterative process. Your team will have to grow and mature over time to adopt this. Third, no matter what you do you have to to align with business goals, so it maybe not be either/or at least for some time. Ultimately without these practices being part of the product roadmap your teams will not succeed. Fourth, provide tools and processes that encourage small iterative changes that make refactoring easy. And last lead by example.

Typically, it's Product and People Managers who advocate quick fixes, but the remedy is still the same: Explain why each quick fix makes the next project harder to complete on time and correctly. Clearly enumerate the benefits to be gained with implementing the proper solution. Don't shy away from pointing out the work involved, though. Clearly enumerate the risks of implementing a quick fix. Don't fall back on generalities or Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt. A poorly reasoned argument is both hard to defend and communicate. A well-reasoned argument lays the groundwork for a more constructive discussion to vet both sides' assumptions and allows for compromise on some of the lesser or more contentious points.

This takes balancing - cost, scalability, maintainability and time to market are all important here. If possible try to find the sweet spot between technical debt and maintainability - but sometimes and for a variety of reasons it can be right to get a fix out fast - knowing it will cost more later. But when in doubt opt for a better fix.

To guide developers toward sustainable solutions, emphasize the long-term benefits of scalability, such as easier maintenance, better performance, and future-proofing. Encourage a mindset shift by integrating scalability into code reviews and project planning, highlighting examples where quick fixes led to technical debt. Provide training on scalable design patterns and foster a culture of collaboration where sustainable practices are prioritized. Introduce tools that help measure and enforce scalability. Reinforce that investing time in scalable solutions now will save time and resources in the long run, ensuring the system’s growth and adaptability.

Encouraging developers to prioritize scalability requires product engineering leaders to create a mindset shift in teams. I emphasize the importance of integrating scalability considerations into every phase of product development. I begin by setting clear expectations that scalability is a foundational element of design rather than a feature to be retrofitted into a product. An effective strategy is to establish a culture of proactive load testing and performance monitoring from the outset. This helps teams visualize potential bottlenecks early in the development effort. Emphasizing collaborative planning with cross-functional teams also ensures that scalability needs are communicated and prioritized with all potential stakeholder groups.