Roadmaps Revisited: Insights and Best Practices from Product Experts
Introduction:
If our recent Product Bite on Roadmaps got you interested, or you felt was missing some details you may want to check this episode from "The Product Podcast" https://www.mindtheproduct.com/lets-talk-about-product-roadmaps-the-product-experience/.
But... if you're a bit pressed for time and just want to dive in and get the key takeaways read on!
Summary
In this engaging and informative podcast episode, Lily Smith and Randy Silver delve into the topic of roadmaps, building upon their previous discussions and featuring insights from various product experts. They explore the purpose of roadmaps, the different approaches to structuring them, and offer valuable tips for creating effective roadmaps. Join them as they navigate through the diverse perspectives shared by their guests, providing a comprehensive overview of this essential product management tool.
Purpose of Roadmaps: Alignment
The Purpose of Roadmaps:
Lily and Randy kick off the episode by discussing the purpose of roadmaps. They highlight the importance of using roadmaps to align teams, prioritize objectives, and facilitate productive conversations. Roadmaps serve as a storytelling device, allowing stakeholders to understand the product journey and providing clarity amidst ambiguity. Storm Fagan, Chief Product Officer at the BBC, emphasizes the need for simplicity in roadmaps, focusing on outcomes rather than outputs. She suggests that if a roadmap cannot fit on one slide, it may be too complicated.
Dates or themes? What goes on the roadmap?
Dates or Themes: What Goes on the Roadmap?
The hosts explore the ongoing debate of whether roadmaps should include specific dates or focus on themes. They acknowledge that it depends on the context and the organization's needs. While dates may be crucial for compliance or time-sensitive projects, themes can provide flexibility and allow teams to prioritize outcomes. Roshi Proven and Maggie Crowley both advocate for theme-based roadmaps, emphasizing the importance of empowering teams to find the best solutions within a given theme.
Alexander Hipp introduces an interesting perspective, suggesting that instead of fixed dates, roadmaps should focus on the time allocated to specific items. This approach allows teams to prioritise and allocate resources effectively, emphasising the importance of time investment rather than rigid deadlines.
Roadmaps as Living Documents:
The concept of roadmaps as living documents is emphasized throughout the episode. Cassidy Fine highlights the importance of compiling roadmaps as a team, using them as artifacts for communication and alignment. The roadmap should be accessible to all stakeholders, inviting questions and feedback. It should evolve and adapt as the product journey progresses, reflecting the dynamic nature of product development.
Metaphors and Language:
Janice Fraser and Petra Vili introduce creative metaphors to describe their approach to roadmaps. Janice likens roadmaps to an accordion, with detailed actions for the present and summary-level outcomes for the future. Petra introduces the concept of "Onion Roadmaps," where circles representing value are added over time. The hosts stress the importance of using language that is familiar to all stakeholders, avoiding acronyms and providing explanations when necessary.
Tips for Effective Roadmaps:
The hosts and their guests offer valuable tips for creating effective roadmaps. They emphasize the need for collaboration and involvement from various teams, ensuring that the roadmap reflects the collective understanding and agreement. They also suggest increasing the level of vagueness as the roadmap extends into the future, acknowledging that plans may change and flexibility is essential. The roadmap should be seen as an intention rather than a promise.
Conclusion:
In this great podcast episode, Lily Smith and Randy Silver provide a comprehensive overview of roadmaps, drawing on insights from product experts. They explore the purpose of roadmaps, the inclusion of dates or themes, the number of roadmaps to have, and the importance of roadmaps as living documents. The diverse perspectives shared by their guests, help provide a well-rounded set of perspectives. Whether you are a seasoned product manager or new to the field, this podcast episode is a great summary of how to enhance their roadmap skills.
