roadmapping
Plotting future steps
Roadmapping is the process of creating a strategic plan that outlines goals, milestones, and timelines for a project or product.
Common in business and technology contexts, it involves charting a course from current state to desired outcome: We spent the morning roadmapping the product launch.
A roadmapping session typically produces a visual timeline showing key deliverables and dependencies.
Ranking by importance
- planningArranging for future events
- visionAbility to see
- alignmentCorrect relative positioning
- objectivesIntended targets or ends
goals · initiatives · themes · epics · tradeoffs · sequencing · stakeholders · buy-in
Ordered display of events
- phasesDistinct periods in sequence
- stagesDistinct periods or platforms
- checkpointsInspection stations along routes
- deliverablesContracted work products owed
deadlines · targets · benchmarks · objectives · schedule · timetable · outcomes · achievements
Simplified explanatory sketch
- timelineOrdered display of events
- GanttProject scheduling bar chart
- swimlanesParallel racing channels
- kanbanVisual workflow signal card
layout · legend · quadrants · hierarchy · grouping · presentation · visual · overview
Distinctive qualities or aspects
- releasesLets go or publishes
- iterationsSuccessive passes through process
- backlogAccumulated unfinished work
- requirementsNecessary conditions for something
MVP · launch · versioning · enhancements · capabilities · functionality · discovery · validation
Project management platform
- TrelloVisual project management tool
- MondayWeek's second day
- spreadsheetTabular data organizer
- templatePreset pattern for reproduction
software · collaboration · sharing · updating · integration · backlog · tracking · sync
prioritization
Ranking by importance
objectives · goals · initiatives · themes · epics · tradeoffs · sequencing · stakeholders · buy-in · consensus
timeline
Ordered display of events
- phasesDistinct periods in sequence
- stagesDistinct periods or platforms
- checkpointsInspection stations along routes
deliverables · deadlines · targets · benchmarks · objectives · schedule · timetable · outcomes · achievements · completion
diagram
Simplified explanatory sketch
kanban · layout · legend · quadrants · hierarchy · grouping · presentation · visual · overview · snapshot
features
Distinctive qualities or aspects
- releasesLets go or publishes
- iterationsSuccessive passes through process
- backlogAccumulated unfinished work
requirements · MVP · launch · versioning · enhancements · capabilities · functionality · discovery · validation · specs
Jira
Project management platform
- TrelloVisual project management tool
- MondayWeek's second day
- spreadsheetTabular data organizer
template · software · collaboration · sharing · updating · integration · backlog · tracking · sync
- Strategy ToolsSWOT analysis, SWOT, gap analysis, competitive analysis, stakeholder analysis
- planning activitiesoutlining, drafting, scheduling, strategizing, brainstorming
- IT Strategydigital transformation, cybersecurity, tech stack, infrastructure, architecture
- Innovation Methodsbrainstorming, design thinking, ideation, prototyping, iteration
- foresightforesight, precognition, futurology, forethought, premonition
- software developmentcoding, programming, bug, debug, debugging
roadmappingimprovising
Creating spontaneously without plan
winging it · ad-libbing · playing it by ear · going with the flow · flying by the seat of your pants
roadmappingdisorganization
Absence of systematic arrangement
chaos · randomness · haphazardness · disorder · formlessness
roadmappingreacting
Giving a response
firefighting · crisis management · troubleshooting · damage control · scrambling
road, mapped, mapping, roadmap, cartographer, cartography, cartographic, mappers, mapmakers