7 Persuasive Ways CTOs Can Get Stakeholders Onboard With Code Refactoring

When legacy systems fail, the costs are staggering — from grounded flights to lost markets. This article explores why refactoring isn’t just a technical choice but a strategic investment. Using cautionary tales like Southwest Airlines and Netscape, it explains how to calculate ROI, communicate the long-term business impact of technical debt, and use AI-driven refactoring to modernize systems. For CTOs and tech leaders, the message is clear: delay is costly, and modernization pays dividends in productivity, stability, and talent retention.