Most product roadmaps are wishes, dreams, and sometimes even lies.
Three ways to create 10x better roadmaps: 🧵
#productmanagement
Three ways to create 10x better roadmaps: 🧵
#productmanagement
1. Focus on goals, not features
Most of your ideas are not going to work. Others will typically require several iterations before they deliver the expected outcomes.
Instead of giving teams predefined tasks, set goals and let them discover how best to achieve them.
Most of your ideas are not going to work. Others will typically require several iterations before they deliver the expected outcomes.
Instead of giving teams predefined tasks, set goals and let them discover how best to achieve them.
This will also enable agility, build a sense of ownership, and increase intrinsic motivation.
My favorite technique for setting goals is using OKRs. You can place them on the roadmap, for example, "Now - Next - Later." If you don't use OKRs, ensure you include success metrics.
My favorite technique for setting goals is using OKRs. You can place them on the roadmap, for example, "Now - Next - Later." If you don't use OKRs, ensure you include success metrics.
2. Do not commit too soon
There are cases when your business needs a specific date. The most important rule is not to make those commitments too soon.
Ask for additional time to address four risks:
There are cases when your business needs a specific date. The most important rule is not to make those commitments too soon.
Ask for additional time to address four risks:
- Value. Will it create value for the customers?
- Usability. Will users figure out how to use it?
- Viability. Can our business support it?
- Feasibility. Can it be done (technology)?
Product discovery results in a validated product backlog.
- Usability. Will users figure out how to use it?
- Viability. Can our business support it?
- Feasibility. Can it be done (technology)?
Product discovery results in a validated product backlog.
After testing ideas with prototypes, you can make so-called "high-integrity commitments."
This significantly reduces but does not completely eliminate these four risks. There are also others, e.g.:
- Estimates. Are they accurate?
- People. How well will they work together?
This significantly reduces but does not completely eliminate these four risks. There are also others, e.g.:
- Estimates. Are they accurate?
- People. How well will they work together?
Therefore, any schedule with dates will always carry a risk. What else can be done?
3. Shorten the planning horizon
The risks accumulate over time. According to The Cone of Uncertainty, the longer the planning horizon, the more uncertain the future becomes.
3. Shorten the planning horizon
The risks accumulate over time. According to The Cone of Uncertainty, the longer the planning horizon, the more uncertain the future becomes.
I have personally never seen a detailed plan longer than 3 months that has stood the test of time.
The best strategy is to focus on the near future and significantly reduce the details presented for the following months (for example, present only high-level goals).
The best strategy is to focus on the near future and significantly reduce the details presented for the following months (for example, present only high-level goals).
To sum up:
1. Focus on goals, not features
2. Do not commit too soon
3. Shorten the planning horizon
Follow me for similar tweets and threads: @HurynPawel
1. Focus on goals, not features
2. Do not commit too soon
3. Shorten the planning horizon
Follow me for similar tweets and threads: @HurynPawel
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