How to balance engineering investments — and not just keep the lights on?

Balancing engineering investments is a critical challenge in software development, requiring teams to prioritize between maintaining existing systems and pursuing new initiatives. The Balance Framework, initially introduced by a former Dropbox VP of Engineering, offers a structured approach by categorizing work into essential maintenance efforts, known as "keeping the lights on" (KTLO), and elective investments that include new product developments, improvements to existing features, and productivity enhancements. This framework helps organizations understand and optimize the allocation of their engineering resources by providing clear, mutually exclusive categories that can be tracked and analyzed through tools like Swarmia. By implementing this framework, teams can have data-driven discussions about priorities and resource allocation, aligning technical and business objectives while addressing technical debt and fostering productivity. The approach emphasizes starting with pilot teams, using issue tracking systems to gather data, and establishing goals to ensure a balanced focus across different categories, ultimately supporting more informed decision-making and strategic growth.