IASA - Product Roadmap Canvas
The product roadmap canvas is used most commonly by solution architects to describe a solution roadmap in either an agile or waterfall solution. The canvas provides areas for events, business visible elements, technology elements and learning for the product.
Canvas Overview: The product roadmap canvas is used most commonly by solution architects to describe a solution roadmap in either an agile or waterfall solution. The canvas provides areas for events, business visible elements, technology elements and learning for the product. Used by product teams and architects alike, it visualizes the overall product vision, key goals, essential initiatives, and a development timeline.
To work effectively with the canvas, start by gathering stakeholders invested in the product’s success. This typically includes product managers, designers, developers, marketing, and sales representatives. Next, define the timeframe for your roadmap – a quarter or a year are common choices. This helps to focus on the most critical initiatives within that period.
Once assembled, begin defining your business goals. What do you hope to achieve with this product? Ensure these goals are measurable and time-bound. Alongside business goals, identify the specific needs of your target users. What problems does your product solve for them, and how will it improve their lives? User research techniques such as surveys, interviews, and usability testing are invaluable here. From user needs, craft user stories. These are short descriptions focused on how users will interact with your product and the value it delivers.
Now, using your user stories as a guide, identify the initiatives necessary to achieve your business goals. Initiatives are larger projects that will deliver specific outcomes. Consider the time and resources required for each initiative, then strategically plot them on your product roadmap timeline.
How to use this canvas
Step 1: Gather Your Materials
Product Roadmap Canvas Template: You can find a template here and in Miro.
Sticky Notes: Use these for brainstorming and capturing ideas.
Markers: For writing on the canvas and sticky notes.
Step 2: Assemble Your Team
Bring together a cross-functional team invested in the product’s success. This typically includes product managers, designers, developers, marketing, sales, and potentially other relevant stakeholders.
Step 3: Define Business Goals
Start with the “why” behind your product. What are the specific business goals you are aiming to achieve? Examples might be increasing revenue, expanding market share, or improving customer satisfaction.
Make sure your goals are SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.
Step 4: Understand User Needs
Dive deep into the problems your product solves. What pain points does it address for your target users? How does it make their lives easier or better?
If you don’t already have this data, conduct user research through surveys, interviews, usability testing, and other methods.
Step 5: Write User Stories
Craft short, simple descriptions of how users will interact with your product. Frame them from the user’s perspective, focusing on the value the product delivers. For example: “As a busy project manager, I want to easily track project progress on a visual dashboard so I can quickly identify any bottlenecks.”
Step 6: Identify Initiatives
Brainstorm the major projects or features that will deliver the value outlined in your user stories and achieve your business goals.
Consider the resources (time, people, budget) needed for each initiative.
Step 7: Prioritize and Map to Timeline
Determine the most critical initiatives that align with your business goals and available resources.
Place these initiatives on your roadmap timeline, being mindful of any dependencies between initiatives.
Step 8: Review and Iterate
Present the roadmap to your team and stakeholders. Gather feedback, make adjustments, and seek alignment.
Remember, a product roadmap is a living document. Revisit it regularly to reflect changing priorities, new market information, or user feedback.
Important Considerations:
Keep it Visual: The canvas is meant to provide a clear overview. Avoid excessive text, focusing instead on keywords and short descriptions.
Stay Focused: Limit the timeframe to a quarter or a year for optimal focus and execution.
Be Flexible: Adapting your roadmap as new information becomes available or priorities shift is key to its success.
Let me know if you want a more specific example or assistance in filling out a particular section of the canvas!
About IASA Global: IASA Global is a non-profit association for ALL Technology Architects which was established in 2002. The association is committed to improving the quality of the BT architecture industry by developing and delivering standards, education programs and developing accreditation programs and services that optimize the development of the architecture profession. The IASA network and membership consists of approximately 70,000 people in over 50 countries.
IASA Global has created the world's first and only Business Technology Architecture Body of Knowledge, (BTABoK), which is a free public archive of Business Technology architecture best practices, skills, and knowledge developed from the experience of individual and corporate members of IASA.
IASA has added templates for over 30 of the most frequently used BTABoK structured canvases into the Miroverse to help accelerate how Technology Architects collaborate on the architecture of the future. Give one a try today, and learn more about IASA at https://iasaglobal.org/.
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Agile Product Roadmap
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ERD Supply Chain Management System Template
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[Triple Diamond] Project Map
Works best for:
Roadmap, Mapping, Planning
The [Triple Diamond] Project Map template provides a comprehensive framework for managing project initiatives from inception to delivery. By guiding teams through the stages of discovery, definition, and delivery, this template ensures alignment with stakeholder expectations and project objectives. With a focus on user-centric design and iterative development, teams can deliver high-quality solutions that meet user needs and drive business value.
SDLC Template
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The Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) template is a well-designed visual tool that helps software development teams follow a structured approach from the initial concept to the final deployment of the software. One of the most significant benefits of using this template is that it promotes clear, streamlined communication among team members. By breaking the development cycle into distinct phases, all stakeholders can stay informed about the progress of the project and understand their responsibilities within the larger context. This enhanced communication reduces the chances of misunderstandings and ensures that everyone works together towards the common goal of delivering high-quality software. The template acts not only as a roadmap but also as a shared language for the team, improving collaboration and the efficient progression of the project through each critical stage.
Status Report Template
Works best for:
Project Management, Documentation, Strategic Planning
A status report provides a snapshot of how something is going at a given time. You can provide a status report for a project, a team, or a situation, as long as it emphasizes and maps out a project’s chain of events. If you’re a project manager, you can use this report to keep historical records of project timelines. Ideally, any project stakeholder should be able to look at a status report and answer the question, “Where are we, and how did we get here?” Use this template as a starting point to summarize how something is progressing against a projected plan or outcome.
Simple Quarterly Product Roadmap 🗺️
Works best for:
Roadmap, Planning, Mapping
Plan your product development with the Quarterly Product Roadmap template. This tool helps you outline key objectives and tasks for each quarter. Use it to set clear priorities, align your team, and track progress over time. Ideal for product managers and teams aiming to maintain focus and achieve quarterly goals. Simplify your planning process and ensure everyone is on the same page with this easy-to-use roadmap template.