Mastering the 8 types of Product Roadmaps

Product Development is a journey towards an ultimate vision, and on this journey you as a product manager, product developer, strategic leader or even CEO will make a more than few stops along the way. Your Product Roadmap, is all about the stops you choose to make.

The stops we make during this journey, much like the stops in a grand vacation (or any other journey) before we reach our destination, determine how good (or bad) we feel when we reach that destination. Imagine you’re going on a vacation and on one of the stops your valuables including your money, are stolen — you’re probably not going to be happy when you reach your destination.

Product Roadmaps are no different, we have to choose our stops (or features) wisely because they determine how well the vision is actualised. As a Product Leader who has scaled some exceptional high-growth businesses, I’m not a stranger to making the wrong stops (we will all do that at some point — its essential to earn your battle scars). The bigger problem besides the making the wrong stops is treating all journeys as equal. Imagine going on a road trip with your friends back when you were in university, a poor stop along the way was probably more of a good story or learning experience rather than something which ruined your trip. Yet the same thing on your honeymoon would weigh more.

And just like that in product development, while ultimately the aim is to build your vision, its not just one team thats on that journey. Different teams with different operating models will come together to make it happen, and unless you use the right type of roadmap for each of those teams one of two things could happen. 1 — You end up somewhere that doesn’t resemble your vision, 2 — You take an exceptionally long route to your vision.

You’re probably wondering why can’t we use one roadmap to align everyone? It’s because every team has a different operating model and accordingly need varying levels of fidelity focused on different kinds of outcomes.

In this comprehensive guide, we’re going to take a look at the different types of product roadmaps. We’re not just talking about a generic outline of features and timelines. We’ll cover the whole spectrum — from vision roadmaps that paint the big picture to feature-specific roadmaps that detail every nut and bolt. I’ll share who is best suited to lead each type of roadmap, the ideal composition of the supporting team, and how these roadmaps fit into various business models.

Whether you’re at the helm of a fledgling startup or steering the product strategy in a large enterprise, this is the ultimate guide to all different types of roadmaps. Learn the complexities of each roadmap type, understand the strengths and pinpointing the weaknesses. By the end of it, you’ll not only be equipped to select the right type of roadmap for your product but also know how to leverage it effectively to drive your product to its destination: success.

1. Vision (or Strategic) Roadmap

Purpose

Whats our destination and the major stops along the way?

The Vision Roadmap (aka Strategic Roadmap) is the strategic backbone of a product’s journey, focusing on long-term objectives and the overarching aspirations. It’s less about granular details and more about the ‘what’ and ‘why’, providing a high-level view of the product’s intended future and impact. Find out how to create a strategic product roadmap here.

Ideal Owner

A Chief Product Officer (CPO) or a Senior Product Leader is typically at the helm of the Vision Roadmap. Their strategic foresight and deep understanding of the company’s overarching goals ensure the product’s alignment with business objectives.

Team Structure for Input

The ideal team for a Vision Roadmap is diverse, encompassing members from R&D, marketing, sales, and customer support. This ensures a comprehensive approach, grounded in a realistic understanding of various business functions and market dynamics.

What you’ll find on a Vision Roadmap

For example, in a SaaS application targeting project management, a Vision Roadmap might include:

1. Market Expansion: Targeting new markets like the educational sector by 2025.
2. Technological Leadership: Integrating AI for predictive analytics with a goal to lead in AI-powered project management tools by 2026.
3. Customer Experience Revolution: Overhauling the user interface for enhanced usability by 2024.
4. Sustainability Goals: Adopting eco-friendly practices for data centres, aspiring to be the most sustainable SaaS provider by 2027.
5. Community Building: Developing a user community platform for peer-to-peer learning by 2025.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

1. Strategic Alignment: Ensures product development aligns with broader business goals.
2. Clarity and Direction: Provides clear long-term vision, aiding in team motivation and stakeholder engagement.
3. Inspires Stakeholders: Energises investors, stakeholders, and teams with a compelling vision.

Cons:

1. Lack of Detail: The high-level nature might result in ambiguities during execution.
   • How to overcome: To mitigate this, periodically review and update the vision roadmap in conjunction with more detailed roadmaps, like the Features Roadmap, to ensure alignment and practicality.
2. Rigidity in Dynamic Markets: Long-term visions can become outdated in rapidly changing markets.
   • How to overcome: Regular market analysis and flexibility in adjusting the vision based on new trends and feedback can keep the roadmap relevant.
3. Balancing Act: Harmonising an inspiring vision with practical execution can be challenging.
   • How to overcome: Establish a feedback loop with execution teams to ensure the vision remains grounded in reality.

Pairing with Other Roadmap Types

While a Vision Roadmap provides the strategic direction, it’s most effective when paired with more execution-focused roadmaps. For instance, coupling it with a Features Roadmap can bridge the gap between high-level vision and detailed, tactical planning. This combination ensures that the vision is not only inspiring but also actionable and grounded in the realities of product development.

2. Features Roadmap

Purpose

How do we get there?

The Features Roadmap is a tactical and detailed plan that outlines the specific features and enhancements of a product. It pains a clear picture of what features will be developed, refined, or removed, often accompanied by tentative timelines. This roadmap is vital for internal planning, offering a clear, itemised list of upcoming product functionalities. I usually like to blend the features roadmap with outcomes and goals. This is a good approach if you’re time poor and can’t create all the different types of roadmaps. Learn how to create a feature roadmap in this other post I wrote.

Ideal Owner

The Product Manager is typically the custodian of a Features Roadmap. This role demands an intimate understanding of customer needs, market trends, and the technical aspects of feature development. The Product Manager prioritises features based on impact and viability, balancing them against strategic objectives and resources.

Team Structure for Input

A Features Roadmap thrives in an agile, responsive environment, necessitating collaboration across development, UX/UI design, QA, and customer success teams. This ensures technical feasibility, user-centric design, and alignment with overall product goals.

What you’ll find on a Features Roadmap

Consider a SaaS application in financial management. The Features Roadmap could include:

1. Dashboard Customisation: Rolling out customisable dashboards by Q2 2024 for a personalised user experience.
2. Mobile App Development: Launching a mobile application by Q3 2024 to enhance user accessibility.
3. Third-party Integration: Introducing integration with popular accounting software by Q4 2024, expanding functionality.
4. Security Enhancements: Implementing advanced encryption protocols by Q1 2025, bolstering data security.
5. Real-time Reporting Features: Developing instantaneous financial reporting capabilities by Q2 2025 for dynamic insights.

These initiatives are aligned with specific timelines, providing tangible goals for the product team.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

1. Clarity in Execution: Offers a clear, detailed pathway for feature rollout and improvements.
2. Prioritisation: Assists in ranking features based on importance and feasibility.
3. Team Alignment: Ensures that all team members are synchronised in understanding the product’s development trajectory.

Cons:

1. Inflexibility: May become too rigid, hindering responsiveness to market changes or user feedback.
   • How to overcome: Implementing agile methodologies can introduce the needed flexibility, allowing for periodic reassessment and adjustment of feature priorities based on new information.
2. Feature Overemphasis: There’s a risk of focusing excessively on features (which can lead to a feature factory mindset), overshadowing broader product strategy or user experience concerns.
   • How to overcome: Balancing the Features Roadmap with a Vision Roadmap can help maintain focus on the overall product strategy and user experience.
3. Complexity in Large Projects: Managing numerous features can be daunting in large-scale projects.
   • How to overcome: Utilising project management tools and breaking down features into smaller, manageable tasks can help simplify complexity.

Pairing with Other Roadmap Types

A Features Roadmap, with its focus on the specifics, is most effective when combined with a Vision Roadmap. This pairing ensures that while the product team is focused on detailed feature development, they are also aligned with the broader strategic objectives of the product, maintaining a balance between vision and execution.

3. Release Roadmap

For determining when each stop will happen. “Are we there yet” — becomes a thing of the past with this.

Purpose

The Release Roadmap is a timeline-focused guide that outlines when product updates and versions are planned to be launched. It’s particularly important for coordinating the efforts of development, marketing, sales, and customer support teams around key release dates. This roadmap type provides a clear schedule of product deliverables, helping manage stakeholder expectations and enabling the marketing and sales teams to plan their activities around these releases. A very important customer for this roadmap, is the customer themselves.

Ideal Owner

A Release Manager or a Product Owner often takes charge of the Release Roadmap. Their role involves coordinating with different teams, managing release schedules, and ensuring that each product release is timely, meets quality standards, and aligns with the overall product strategy.

Team Structure for Input

Effective Release Roadmaps require a well-organised, cross-functional team structure that includes software developers, QA testers, marketing professionals, sales personnel, and customer support teams. This diversity ensures that all aspects of a product release, from development to market launch, are considered and well-executed.

What you’ll find on a Release Roadmap

For a hypothetical financial management SaaS application, the Release Roadmap might include:

1. Version 2.0 Launch: Scheduled for Q1 2024, introducing major user interface enhancements and new budgeting features.
2. Security Update Release: Planned for Q2 2024, focusing on implementing advanced security protocols and compliance features.
3. Mobile App Version 1.0: Set for Q3 2024, marking the entry of the product into mobile platforms.
4. Integration Update: Targeted for Q4 2024, adding new third-party integrations.
5. Version 3.0 Launch: Slated for Q2 2025, featuring AI-driven analytics and customised reporting tools.

Each release is strategically timed to ensure continuous improvement and alignment with user expectations.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

1. Timely Coordination: Facilitates synchronisation across various departments, ensuring everyone is prepared for upcoming releases.
2. Stakeholder Transparency: Provides clear communication to stakeholders about when new features or updates will be available.
3. Market Responsiveness: Allows the product team to plan releases in response to market trends and customer feedback.

Cons:

1. Rigid Timelines: Fixed release dates can sometimes lead to rushed products or features if not managed properly.
   • How to overcome: Building buffer time into the schedule and adopting agile practices can provide the flexibility needed to maintain quality.
2. Overemphasis on Deadlines: Focusing too much on release dates might compromise feature quality or user experience.
   • How to overcome: Pairing the Release Roadmap with a Features Roadmap ensures a balanced focus on both timelines and product quality.
3. Complexity in Coordination: Coordinating multiple teams for a release can be challenging.
   • How to overcome: Regular inter-departmental meetings and clear communication channels can help streamline coordination efforts.

Pairing with Other Roadmap Types

The Release Roadmap is most effective when used in conjunction with a Features Roadmap. While the Release Roadmap focuses on when things will be done, the Features Roadmap provides clarity on what those things will be. This combination ensures that product releases are not only timely but also rich in features and aligned with user needs.

4. Technology/IT Roadmap

When you need to understand what tools you’ll need on the journey

Purpose

The Technology or IT Roadmap is a strategic plan that outlines the technological changes, upgrades, and innovations intended for a product or an organisation. This roadmap type is particularly crucial for planning and communicating technical shifts, infrastructure improvements, or the adoption of new technologies. It helps align the technological developments with the broader business objectives and ensures that the technical team is prepared for upcoming changes.

Ideal Owner

Typically, the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) or an IT Director oversees the Technology Roadmap. Their role is to anticipate future technology trends and align them with the company’s product and business strategies. They ensure that the technology stack remains modern, secure, and capable of meeting future demands.

Team Structure for Input

The team supporting a Technology Roadmap generally includes IT professionals, software engineers, system architects, and data security experts. A close collaboration with the product management and development teams is also essential to ensure that technological upgrades seamlessly integrate with the product’s evolution.

What you’ll find on a Technology Roadmap

In our hypothetical financial management SaaS application, the Technology Roadmap might include:

1. Cloud Migration: Moving to a cloud-based infrastructure by Q3 2024 for increased scalability and flexibility.
2. Adoption of Microservices Architecture: Transitioning to a microservices architecture by Q1 2025 to enhance application modularity and ease of maintenance.
3. Implementation of Machine Learning: Integrating machine learning capabilities by Q2 2025 for predictive financial analytics.
4. Data Security Overhaul: Upgrading data encryption and security protocols by Q3 2025, ensuring compliance with the latest data protection regulations.
5. API Development: Creating a more robust set of APIs for third-party integrations by Q4 2025, expanding the application’s ecosystem.

These initiatives are focused on keeping the technology stack current and aligned with the application’s strategic needs.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

1. Strategic Technology Alignment: Ensures that technological developments support the overall business and product strategy.
2. Future-Proofing: Helps in anticipating and preparing for future technology needs and trends.
3. Efficient Resource Allocation: Guides investment in technology, ensuring resources are utilised effectively.

Cons:

1. Rapid Technological Changes: The fast pace of technological advancement can render some roadmap elements obsolete quickly.
   • How to overcome: Regularly revisiting and updating the roadmap can help stay abreast of new technologies and market shifts.
2. Complex Implementation: Integrating new technologies can be complex and resource-intensive.
   • How to overcome: Phased implementation and thorough testing can mitigate risks associated with complex technology integrations.
3. Balancing Innovation and Stability: Innovating while maintaining a stable and reliable IT infrastructure can be challenging.
   • How to overcome: Adopting a balanced approach that weighs innovation against reliability and user needs.

Pairing with Other Roadmap Types

A Technology Roadmap is often paired with a Features Roadmap or a Release Roadmap. While the Technology Roadmap focuses on the underlying technical advancements, the Features and Release Roadmaps ensure that these technological capabilities are translated into user-centric features and timely product releases.

5. Go-to-Market (GTM) Roadmap

When you want to align everyone on who does what at each stop. A bit like those extended family vacations where your uncle was in charge of the food.

Description and Purpose

The Go-to-Market (GTM) Roadmap is a strategic plan that aligns product development with marketing, sales, and customer support activities. This roadmap is essential for launching new products or features, encompassing everything from marketing campaigns and sales strategies to customer support readiness. It ensures that all go-to-market activities are synchronised with product development timelines, enabling a cohesive and well-coordinated product launch.

Ideal Owner

Typically, a Marketing Manager or a Product Marketing Manager is responsible for the Go-to-Market Roadmap. This role involves close coordination with product management, sales teams, and customer support to ensure that the marketing and sales strategies are well-aligned with the product’s features and release schedule.

Team Structure for Input

The GTM Roadmap requires a cross-functional team, including members from marketing, sales, product management, and customer support. This collaborative approach ensures that all aspects of the product launch are covered, from creating market buzz to ensuring customer satisfaction post-launch.

What you’ll find on a GTM Roadmap

For our hypothetical financial management SaaS application, the GTM Roadmap might include:

1. Pre-Launch Marketing Campaign: Initiating a marketing campaign three months before the product launch to build anticipation and awareness.
2. Sales Team Training: Conducting comprehensive training for the sales team on the new product features and benefits, scheduled one month before the launch.
3. Customer Support Preparation: Preparing customer support with FAQs and troubleshooting guides, aligning with the product release date.
4. Partnership and Collaboration: Establishing partnerships with key industry players for co-marketing initiatives, planned for the launch quarter.
5. Post-Launch Feedback Collection: Implementing a system for collecting and analysing customer feedback immediately after the launch for continuous improvement.

These initiatives ensure a well-coordinated effort across all departments involved in bringing the product to market.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

1. Market Alignment: Ensures that marketing and sales strategies are perfectly aligned with the product’s value proposition and features.
2. Customer Readiness: Prepares the customer support team for the influx of queries and issues post-launch.
3. Coordinated Execution: Facilitates the synchronisation of various departments towards a common launch goal.

Cons:

1. Market Dynamics: Rapid changes in the market can affect the effectiveness of the GTM strategy.
   • How to overcome: Keeping a flexible approach and being ready to adapt the GTM strategy based on real-time market feedback is crucial.
2. Cross-Departmental Dependencies: Heavy reliance on multiple departments can lead to coordination challenges.
   • How to overcome: Regular inter-departmental meetings and a clear communication plan can help streamline coordination.
3. Resource Intensiveness: A successful GTM requires significant resources and effort across departments.
   • How to overcome: Effective planning and resource allocation well in advance of the product launch can mitigate this challenge.

Pairing with Other Roadmap Types

The Go-to-Market Roadmap is ideally paired with the Features Roadmap and the Release Roadmap. While the GTM Roadmap focuses on how to introduce the product to the market, the Features and Release Roadmaps ensure that the product itself is ready and aligned with the market strategy. This combination guarantees that the product not only meets market needs but also is launched with a bang.

6. Agile Roadmap

When you don’t know all the steps along the way

Purpose

The Agile Roadmap is a flexible, iteration-based plan that suits the dynamic nature of Agile development environments. It focuses on short-term goals and iterations (sprints), allowing for quick adjustments based on continuous feedback and changing priorities. Unlike traditional roadmaps that may be more rigid and long-term, the Agile Roadmap is about adaptability and responsiveness, making it an excellent tool for teams in fast-paced, evolving markets. Unlike other roadmaps, its not uncommon for this to be short-term (such as 3 months instead of a year). This is because as part of the agile process, you’re expected to learn and shift your plans based on those learnings. So planning too far ahead doesn’t really make sense.

Ideal Owner

The Agile Coach or Scrum Master is typically responsible for guiding the Agile Roadmap, along with Product Owners. They ensure that the roadmap remains flexible and aligned with Agile principles, facilitating regular reassessments and adaptations based on team performance and stakeholder feedback.

Team Structure for Input

Teams operating with an Agile Roadmap are usually cross-functional, with members from development, design, QA, and product management. These teams work in short, iterative cycles, focusing on delivering value incrementally. Collaboration and communication are key, as plans may change rapidly based on new insights or requirements.

What you’ll find on an Agile Roadmap

In the case of our hypothetical financial management SaaS application, the Agile Roadmap might include:

1. Sprint 1-3: Focusing on foundational work like setting up the core architecture and basic user authentication system.
2. Sprint 4-6: Developing primary features such as account linking and basic financial tracking functionalities.
3. Sprint 7-9: Implementing additional features based on early user feedback, such as enhanced data visualisation tools.
4. Sprint 10-12: Refining the user interface and user experience based on user testing and feedback.
5. Continuous Feedback Loops: Integrating continuous user feedback into each sprint for ongoing improvement and refinement.

Each sprint is designed to be flexible, with goals and priorities reassessed at the beginning of each cycle.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

1. Flexibility and Responsiveness: Allows for quick adaptation to changes and new information.
2. Stakeholder Engagement: Regular reviews and updates keep stakeholders continuously involved and informed.
3. Incremental Value Delivery: Focuses on delivering value to users in small, manageable increments.

Cons:

1. Lack of Long-Term Visibility: Can make it challenging to see the bigger picture and long-term strategy.
   • How to overcome: Pairing the Agile Roadmap with a Vision Roadmap can provide long-term direction while maintaining flexibility.
2. Overemphasis on Short-Term Goals: Might lead to neglecting long-term strategic objectives.
   • How to overcome: Regular strategic reviews can ensure alignment with broader business goals.
3. Potential for Scope Creep: Flexibility can sometimes lead to continuous additions or changes in scope.
   • How to overcome: Clearly defining and adhering to sprint goals can help maintain focus and control over scope.

Pairing with Other Roadmap Types

An Agile Roadmap is most effective when paired with a Vision Roadmap. The combination of the Vision Roadmap’s long-term strategic focus and the Agile Roadmap’s short-term, iterative approach allows teams to be both flexible and aligned with the overall business objectives.

7. Portfolio Roadmap

For the travel agents of Product Management

Description and Purpose

The Portfolio Roadmap is used for managing multiple products or projects simultaneously. It provides a high-level overview of how different products or initiatives align with each other and the overall business strategy. This roadmap type is essential for companies with diverse product lines, ensuring that resources are allocated effectively and that there’s a strategic cohesion across the entire product portfolio.

Ideal Owner

A Portfolio Manager or a Senior Executive overseeing multiple product lines is typically in charge of the Portfolio Roadmap. They need to have a broad perspective on the company’s goals and an understanding of how each product contributes to these objectives. Their role involves balancing resources, prioritising initiatives across different products, and ensuring strategic alignment across the portfolio.

Team Structure for Input

Organisations using a Portfolio Roadmap usually have separate teams for each product or project, overseen by a central strategic team. This structure allows for specialisation within individual product teams while maintaining a cohesive strategy across the portfolio.

What you’ll find on a Portfolio Roadmap

For a technology company with multiple SaaS products, the Portfolio Roadmap might include:

1. Product A Expansion: Focus on expanding the market reach of Product A into new geographical territories in 2024.
2. Product B Feature Enhancement: Plan to introduce AI capabilities into Product B by Q2 2025 to stay competitive.
3. New Product Development: Initiate the development of a new product, Product C, aiming for a market launch in 2026.
4. Cross-Product Integration: Work on integrating Products A and B for a seamless user experience, scheduled for completion by Q3 2025.
5. Resource Reallocation: Shift resources from mature products to more promising ventures as per market demands and product lifecycle stages.

These initiatives represent a strategic approach to managing and growing a diverse product portfolio.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

1. Strategic Oversight: Provides a broad view of the entire product landscape, helping in making informed strategic decisions.
2. Resource Optimisation: Ensures effective allocation of resources across multiple products or projects.
3. Synergy Creation: Identifies opportunities for synergy between different products or projects.

Cons:

1. Complexity in Management: Managing multiple products with varying objectives and timelines can be complex.
   • How to overcome: Regular portfolio reviews and clear communication channels can help in managing this complexity effectively.
2. Risk of Overlooking Details: The high-level nature might overlook the specifics of individual products.
   • How to overcome: Complementing the Portfolio Roadmap with individual product roadmaps ensures detailed attention to each product.
3. Balancing Diverse Needs: Aligning the diverse needs and timelines of different products can be challenging.
   • How to overcome: A flexible and adaptable approach, along with stakeholder input, can assist in balancing these diverse needs.

Pairing with Other Roadmap Types

The Portfolio Roadmap pairs well with individual Features and Release Roadmaps for each product. This combination ensures that while there is a cohesive strategy at the portfolio level, each product receives the detailed attention it requires in terms of feature development and release planning.

8. Strategy Roadmap

When your job is to figure out how you will scale the market for your product and the product for your market

Purpose

The Strategy Roadmap focuses on aligning the product’s development with the company’s broader business strategy. This roadmap type goes beyond product features or technological advancements; it incorporates market analysis, competitive landscape, customer needs, and overall business objectives into the product planning process. It’s about ensuring that the product contributes significantly to the company’s long-term success and market positioning. In other words it shows how your product’s market will expand, or how the product will expand to fit the market.

Ideal Owner

Typically, a Strategy Officer, a Senior Product Strategist or even the CEO is responsible for the Strategy Roadmap. Their role involves a deep understanding of market trends, business dynamics, and strategic planning. They are tasked with ensuring that the product development is in line with the company’s long-term goals and market opportunities.

Team Structure for Input

A team supporting a Strategy Roadmap needs to have a mix of skills including market research, business analysis, product management, and strategic planning. This diverse team composition allows for a holistic view of the product in the context of the broader market and business strategy.

What you’ll find on a Strategy Roadmap

For our hypothetical financial management SaaS application, the Strategy Roadmap might include:

1. Market Penetration Strategy: Focus on increasing market share in existing markets through competitive pricing and customer loyalty programs.
2. Diversification Strategy: Explore the development of new products or features that cater to untapped market segments.
3. Strategic Partnerships: Establish partnerships with key industry players for mutual growth and market expansion.
4. Customer-Centric Innovation: Continuously innovate based on customer feedback and emerging market needs.
5. Sustainable Growth Plans: Implement strategies for sustainable and scalable growth, balancing short-term gains with long-term viability.

These initiatives ensure that the product’s development is strategically aligned with market opportunities and business objectives.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

1. Business Alignment: Ensures that product development is in sync with the company’s strategic business objectives.
2. Market Relevance: Keeps the product relevant in the market by continuously aligning with market trends and customer needs.
3. Competitive Advantage: Aids in identifying and capitalizing on opportunities for competitive differentiation.

Cons:

1. Complex Market Dynamics: Navigating complex market trends and making strategic decisions can be challenging.
   • How to overcome: Regular market analysis and adapting the strategy based on new insights can help navigate these complexities.
2. Balancing Strategic and Tactical Needs: There can be a tension between strategic objectives and tactical product development requirements.
   • How to overcome: Balancing the Strategy Roadmap with more tactical roadmaps, like the Features or Agile Roadmap, can ensure alignment of both strategic and tactical needs.
3. Resource Allocation Challenges: Strategic initiatives may require significant resources, which need to be balanced with other priorities.
   • How to overcome: Effective resource management and prioritisation can help allocate resources where they have the most strategic impact.

Pairing with Other Roadmap Types

A Strategy Roadmap is effectively complemented by a Features Roadmap or an Agile Roadmap. While the Strategy Roadmap provides the long-term strategic direction, the Features or Agile Roadmaps help translate this strategy into actionable plans, ensuring a balanced approach between strategic vision and tactical execution.

When to Use Each Kind of Roadmap

Deciding which type of roadmap to use depends on various factors such as the stage of the product, the nature of the business, and specific strategic objectives. Here’s how you choose the right roadmap for different scenarios:

1. Vision Roadmap

When to Use: Ideal in the early stages of a product or when a significant pivot in product direction is planned. Use this roadmap when you need to align stakeholders around a long-term strategic vision, especially in cases of seeking investment or setting broad organisational goals.

2. Features Roadmap

When to Use: Best suited for products that are in the active development phase, where the focus is on rolling out new features or enhancements. This roadmap is particularly useful for product teams that need to plan and communicate the specifics of product functionality to internal teams and external stakeholders.

3. Release Roadmap

When to Use: Essential when your product has defined release cycles or when you need to coordinate with marketing and sales for product launches. It’s particularly useful for products that have regular updates or versions being released to the market.

4. Technology/IT Roadmap

When to Use: Use this roadmap when your product or company is undergoing significant technological changes, such as adopting new platforms, migrating to different infrastructure, or implementing new tech stacks. It’s crucial for ensuring that technology initiatives are aligned with the overall product strategy.

5. Go-to-Market Roadmap

When to Use: Ideal for planning the launch of new products or major features. It’s crucial for aligning marketing, sales, and customer support efforts with the product launch timeline, ensuring a cohesive and impactful market entry.

6. Agile Roadmap

When to Use: Best for teams that operate in a fast-paced, Agile environment and need to adapt quickly to changing requirements or feedback. It’s suitable for products in dynamic markets where flexibility and rapid iteration are key.

7. Portfolio Roadmap

When to Use: Use this roadmap when managing multiple products or major initiatives. It’s essential for organisations that need to allocate resources across a range of products and ensure strategic alignment across their entire portfolio.

8. Strategy Roadmap

When to Use: This roadmap is critical when your focus is on aligning the product development with long-term business objectives and market opportunities. It’s ideal for setting the strategic direction of the product in the context of the company’s overall strategy.

Each type of roadmap serves a unique purpose and fits different scenarios. The key is to understand your current needs, strategic objectives, and the specific context of your product or organisation to choose the most appropriate roadmap. In many cases, a combination of these roadmaps may be necessary to fully cover the strategic, tactical, and operational aspects of your product’s journey.

Stakeholders and Their Preferred Roadmaps

Different stakeholders have varied interests in a product’s journey, therefore they require specific types of roadmaps that align with their goals and concerns. Understanding this can help tailor communications and ensure effective stakeholder engagement.

But take this with a pinch of salt, as with anything in Product Management, the answer is always “it depends”. It depends ultimately on the size and stage of your business. For instance, a CEO in an early stage business is unlikely to be interested in an “overly-strategic” roadmap but may instead want a features roadmap.

1. Executive Leadership (CEO, CTO, CPO)

Preferred Roadmaps: Vision Roadmap, Strategy Roadmap

• Why: These roadmaps align with their focus on the company’s long-term vision, market positioning, and strategic goals. They provide the high-level view necessary for making informed business decisions.

2. Product Managers

Preferred Roadmaps: Features Roadmap, Release Roadmap

• Why: Product Managers need to plan, prioritise, and communicate about specific features and release timelines. These roadmaps offer the detail and clarity required for day-to-day product development and management.

3. Marketing and Sales Teams

Preferred Roadmaps: Go-to-Market Roadmap, Release Roadmap

• Why: These teams are focused on how and when the product will be presented to the market. They rely on these roadmaps for planning campaigns, aligning sales strategies, and coordinating launches.

4. IT and Development Teams

Preferred Roadmaps: Technology/IT Roadmap, Agile Roadmap

• Why: IT and Development teams need detailed information on technology strategies, infrastructural changes, and sprint-based deliverables. These roadmaps guide their work on the technical aspects of product development.

5. Investors and Board Members

Preferred Roadmaps: Vision Roadmap, Strategy Roadmap

• Why: They are interested in the long-term growth and profitability of the company. These roadmaps provide insights into how the product aligns with the broader business objectives and market opportunities.

6. Customers and End Users

Preferred Roadmaps: Features Roadmap, Release Roadmap

• Why: Customers are typically interested in what features are coming up and when they can expect new updates. These roadmaps offer them a glimpse into the product’s future in terms of functionalities and improvements.

7. Portfolio Managers

Preferred Roadmaps: Portfolio Roadmap

• Why: For those managing multiple products or projects, the Portfolio Roadmap is essential for understanding how different initiatives align and contribute to the overall strategy, ensuring effective resource allocation.

8. Operations and Customer Support Teams

Preferred Roadmaps: Release Roadmap, Go-to-Market Roadmap

• Why: These teams need to prepare for product launches and updates in terms of operational readiness and customer support. The relevant roadmaps provide the necessary timeline and context for these preparations.

Understanding the preferences and needs of different stakeholders in terms of roadmap types is crucial for effective communication and alignment. It ensures that each group receives the information most relevant to their role and contributions to the product’s success.

Conclusion

Navigating product development requires more than just a vision; it demands a roadmap that’s tailored to the specific needs and stages of your product’s journey. From the high-level aspirations captured in a Vision Roadmap to the detailed execution plans of a Features Roadmap, each type serves a unique purpose, catering to different aspects of the product lifecycle and various stakeholder interests.

Successful product management is about not only choosing the right type of roadmap but also understanding how to effectively integrate and communicate these roadmaps to the relevant audiences. Executive leaders might look to the Vision and Strategy Roadmaps for long-term direction, while Product Managers rely on Features and Release Roadmaps for day-to-day execution. Similarly, Marketing and Sales Teams might focus on the Go-to-Market Roadmap, and IT and Development Teams on the Technology and Agile Roadmaps.

In rapidly evolving markets, the flexibility to adapt and combine these roadmaps is crucial. A Vision Roadmap paired with an Agile Roadmap can provide the perfect balance between long-term direction and short-term adaptability. A Portfolio Roadmap can bring cohesion to multiple product strategies, and a Features Roadmap can ensure that every product detail aligns with broader business goals.

The art of crafting and utilising the right product roadmap is a strategic endeavour that plays a critical role in the success of any product. By aligning your roadmaps with your business objectives, customer needs, and market dynamics, and by effectively communicating them to the right stakeholders, you pave a clear path for your product’s journey — a path that leads to success, innovation, and growth.