Advanced Level – Cross-Cutting
Technical Debt Quadrant – ISTQB Definition
Last Updated: July 12, 2026 · SoftwareTestPilot QA Team
Official ISTQB Definition
A model by Martin Fowler that classifies technical debt along axes of reckless vs prudent and deliberate vs inadvertent.
In simple words
Fowler's 2x2 for debt: reckless/prudent, deliberate/inadvertent — helps teams talk about which debt is OK.
Exam tip
The syllabus doesn't require the model, but it's a common interview-style question.
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