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The findings revealed four main categories of TD interpretation: Decision, Activity, Problem and Pending Task. These categories encompass eight usage contexts. Many of the observed interpretations diverge significantly from the original metaphor, reinforcing the need for clearer conceptual alignment to support technical debt management practices.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.5753\/sbqs.2025.14872","type":"proceedings-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,5]],"date-time":"2025-12-05T11:53:36Z","timestamp":1764935616000},"page":"67-77","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["How Far From the Metaphor? 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