THE PRODUCT OWNER’S FRIEND OR FOE?
AGILE PRODUCT ROADMAPS
Roman Pichler
romanpichler.com

INTRODUCTION

Source: Google Maps

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THE PRODUCT ROADMAP DEFINED
A product roadmap is an actionable plan that shows
how a product is likely to evolve over the coming
months.
It typically covers several major releases or
product versions.
There are different types of roadmaps,
including internal and external ones. I’ll
focus on internal product roadmaps in this
talk.

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ROADMAP BENEFITS
• Provides a continuity of purpose beyond the next few sprints or the
next major release.
• Facilitates stakeholder and dev team alignment: shared strategic
product plan.
• Communicates how the product strategy will be implemented.
• Directs and unburdens the product backlog.
• Can help acquire a budget.

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BUT AREN’T ROADMAPS ANTI AGILE?
Image source: https://roadmunk.com/guides/what-is-a-product-roadmap/
AVOID FEATURE-BASED ROADMAPS

GOAL-ORIENTED ROADMAPS

When will the goal be met?
If meeting the goal results in a new major release or product version,
what will it called?
Which OUTCOME should be achieved, or which specific BENEFIT should be
offered?
Why is the product being developed?
Which OUTPUT is required to achieve the desired outcome and meet the goal?
What are the 3-5 key features or deliverables?
How do you know that the goal has been met?

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1st quarter
MVP
Help the users
understand their eating
habits and acquire an
initial user base.
• Healthy eating
dashboard
• Integration with smart
watches and fitness
devices
Be in the top 15 diabetes
apps six weeks after
launch
2nd quarter
Version 2
Help the users improve
their eating habits and
grow the user base.
• Recipes and shopping
lists
• Social media
integration
Activations, engagement,
NPS
3rd quarter 4th quarter
Version 3 Version 4
Help the users get fitter
and generate revenue
through in-app purchases.
• Personalised advice
(coach)
• Integration with smart
scales
Revenue from in-app
purchases two weeks
after release
Help users meet their
personal fitness targets
and retain users.
• Enhanced eating
tracker
• Integration with smart
food scales
Engagement, NPS,
monthly recurring
revenue
SAMPLE GO ROADMAP

THE ROADMAP
IN CONTEXT

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PRODUCT STRATEGY AND ROADMAP
Product Strategy Product Roadmap
What is your approach to
realise the vision and make
the product successful?
How will you implement
the strategy over the next
12 months?
• Needs
• Market
• Stand-out features
• Business goals
• Product goals
• Dates or timeframes
• Selected coarse-grained features
User and
Business Goals
Direct the roadmap.
Help determine the
right product goals.
validated actionable

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PRODUCT ROADMAP AND BACKLOG
Product Goal
Product Backlog
Focuses the product
backlog.
Helps determine the
right backlog items.
Product Roadmap
How will you implement
the strategy over the next
12 months?
• Product goals
• Dates or timeframes
• Selected coarse-grained features
Which UX design and features
are required to achieve the next
product goal?
• Epics, user stories
• Workflows and journeys
• Sketches, mock-ups
• NFRs
actionable focused

STAKEHOLDER COLLABORATION
AND ROADMAP REVIEWS

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COLLABORATIVE ROADMAPPING
Scrum Master
Development Team Members
Key Stakeholder
Product Person
Key Stakeholder
Key Stakeholder
Leads
Facilitates

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REGULAR ROADMAP REVIEWS
Changing
product
Dynamic market Stable market
Stable
product
Review
monthly
Review
quarterly
Review every
3-6 months
Review
quarterly

You can find more information on
product roadmaps at:
romanpichler.com
Please send questions & feedback to:
info@romanpichler.com
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION