
It is a key document for product managers and helps to understand where an organization wishes to be and the steps to complete that vision. Product roadmapĪ product roadmap is a reference document for the team, specifying product vision, direction, priorities, and development vector over time. Below are several common types of roadmaps, plus examples. Roadmap planning is a highly versatile planning technique, applicable across different industries and functions. It is not enough to use words and, preferably, avoid their usage to not overpopulate the diagram itself. Remember, as a tool, roadmaps have to highlight graphic values.
Required Resources: This comprehends both human capital involved in the project, and physical and technical resources that help the organization fulfill its aspirations. Due dates for deliverables have to be listed, as well as contingency plans when a key deliverable does not meet the deadline. Schedule: A group of goals without time estimation is just a dream in the air. Strategic Alignment: The roadmap has to reflect initiatives, their why and how they were conceived, and how do those initiatives align with the product or business strategies for the organization. Ideally, a roadmap has to count on the following elements to achieve its functional purpose: It’s a higher-level document acting as “a single source of truth” when it comes to making day-to-day lower-level decisions and determining the priority of various tasks and activities. However, you should remember that business roadmaps are more than project trackers or visual to-do lists. Communicate how short-term efforts align with long-term business objectives. Inform all project stakeholders about the important milestones. Serve as a reference point for main goals and objectives. The underlying purpose of any type of project roadmap is threefold: It should be revised, updated, and improved as you move ahead with the execution or obtain new market data. Unlike more rigid strategic plans, a roadmap is an evolving document. Placed on a timeline, a roadmap specifies the main goals, steps, and milestones of the project. Thus, here’s a more business-oriented roadmap definition:Ī roadmap is a high-level document, outlining the overarching direction of a planned initiative. But more recently, the “roadmap” term found a footing in the business world - specifically, in project management and software product design. Traditionally a road map is a navigational tool, showcasing all the roads in the area for motorists. Where should you begin? What timelines are realistic? How can I break down my vision for the team? These are the common questions managers have, and a roadmap is a tool many choose to turn the project pre-planning chaos into clarity. When you have a new project underway, it’s easy to get overwhelmed with the overall scope of planning and the optimal execution sequence.