🗺️ Roadmap Creation
Building clear, actionable roadmaps that align teams and drive delivery.
Roadmap types
| Type | Audience | Granularity |
|---|---|---|
| Strategic roadmap | Leadership, investors | Quarters, themes |
| Release roadmap | Product & engineering | Milestones, features |
| Sprint plan | Dev team | Tasks, story points |
Building a roadmap
- Start with goals — What outcomes matter this quarter/year?
- Group into themes — Cluster related features and initiatives
- Sequence by priority — Dependencies, value, and effort
- Set milestones — Key checkpoints with clear deliverables
- Communicate broadly — Make the roadmap visible and accessible
Timeline vs Now/Next/Later
- Timeline roadmaps — Good for fixed deadlines and external commitments
- Now/Next/Later — Better for agile teams, avoids false precision
Roadmap hygiene
- Review and update at least monthly
- Archive completed items, don't delete them
- Flag items at risk with clear reasons
- Keep a "parking lot" for good ideas that aren't prioritized yet
- Never promise dates on a roadmap without confidence backing