A roadmap is a story
Roadmaps are a challenging concept for PMs - maybe the most challenging.
Many PMs believe it is a pro-forma part of the job - a slide that execs or customers require of them. Very often - too often - PMs are not clear on WHY or WHAT its purpose is. They just assume “we gotta do this thing,” as if it was filing expense reports or something.
If you are a PM reading this and remember nothing else, remember that:
a roadmap is not a plan, a roadmap is a story
Roadmaps exist to be statements of intention. They describe your “point of view” and how you intend to reach your goals. They are a NARRATIVE about what you, as a PM, believe is the most important thing to build, and why, and in what order. And because it is a narrative, there is a obligation to persuade, and an opportunity to teach.
This idea of narrative and persuasion is sadly lost on all but the best PMs. If you want to be a better PM, the cheat code is to use your roadmap as the place where you tell the story of your product. This is your opportunity to persuade and teach - and get people on your side.
- What choices are you making?
- What led you to these choices?
- What are the impact of your choices?
Roadmaps as they currently exist are a VISUALIZATION of this story, but that’s all they are - a picture. The story needs to come from the PM, from you.
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