Paying Down Operational Debt: Where to Start When Everything Feels Urgent
Article 7 of 9 | Operational Debt Series
Your credit union's remediation list is probably longer than anyone expected. The question isn't whether to act — it's where to start.
The organizations that make real progress on operational debt aren't the ones that work hardest. They're the ones that sequence intelligently. Start where debt creates the most risk to members and employees. Check your BCP and DR documentation as it's already a prioritization framework. Build early momentum with wins that are visible enough to sustain executive commitment.
And be honest about which problems are on your list because they're loud versus because they actually matter most.
Sequencing is strategy.
