This session conducted at ProductCamp Silicon Valley on March 22, 2014 discussed different ways of organizing your product roadmap and grouping your initiatives into themes. It discussed processes for prioritizing what gets on to the roadmap and getting buy-in from executives and other stakeholders. We also discussed tips for presenting a compelling product roadmap to different audiences. Free 30 Day Trial at www.productplan.com

1. Product Roadmaps
Creating a Compelling Vision
Jim Semick
ProductCamp Silicon Valley
March 22, 2014

2. Have You Seen these Signs of
Roadmap Disfunction?
Strategic objectives not clear
Confusion internally about current
roadmap
Lack of transparency/decisions not
accessible
Process and roadmaps not unified across
org
Lack of consistency when evaluating
opportunities
Execs are not on board or focused on weeds
Sales sharing internal roadmaps with

3. How can we change this?

4. Consider Your Audience
Is it executives?
Engineers?
Sales & Customers?

5. Be Goal Oriented:
Keep Your Initiatives and
Dates High Level

6. Think in them es
that deliver value

7. Organize It
Product Line
Product Category
(e.g. Web, Mobile, Platform)
Markets Served
Strategic Initiative
(e.g. monetization, growth)
Team
Outcomes, Goals
Sales Channel
Status

8. Color coded by Strategic
Goals
Quarterly/Monthly Timeframe
Product Lines or
Product Categories
Details: e.g. Goals,
Strategic Value, Features,
Progress, Owner
Typical Format

9. Other Formats
romanpichler.com, S. Doubinski

10. Whatever format you choose,
make it:
Accessible
Easy to update
Collaborative
Consistent
Visual

11. Executive Engagement
Be transparent about your approach
Engage them with your process
Align decisions with Goals and KPIs/Objectives
Give them access to the roadmap

12. Prioritization
Benefit versus Cost
Benefits: e.g. Increase revenue, growth, customer value,
strategic value
Costs: e.g. Implementation effort, support costs, risk
Scoring: the score isn’t the important part. It’s the
conversation.

13. Roadmap Resources
Pragmatic Marketing
280 Group: templates, training
Steve Johnson: under10consulting.com - ebook

14. Thank You!
Jim Semick
jim@productplan.com
www.productplan.com
@productplan
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