The product roadmap scope might vary. It can cover a single product or several
products in a product family, including their variants and releases. If
the roadmap covers several product families or business units and several years
ahead, then the roadmap is usually referred to as the strategic product
roadmap. The strategic product roadmap is not the responsibility of a single
product manager. Instead, it is handled by a product development committee.
A product roadmap is used to provide internal and external stakeholders with
the vision of the product's future and its possible destination. Therefore,
it is best to communicate it at a high level. Otherwise, it could seem that
you promise to provide certain features at a certain date, which is not the
intention of a roadmap. The internal roadmap can be described in
more detail, such as quarterly; whereas, the external
roadmap can be described at a higher level, such as yearly.
Make sure to communicate the roadmap as a plan, not a commitment.
Also assume that the competition might see the roadmap. Therefore,
do not include information that is confidential to the business. |