"I prefer to keep roadmaps dates as vague as possible in order to maintain flexibility. If I don’t have sufficient confidence an item on the roadmap will be delivered by a specific date, then I don’t want to commit to it. The roadmap should clarify plans, but without providing false precision that someone else might be banking on."
That’s my friend Ben Foster, an advisor to product-driven startups. I delve into how to focus on value rather than dates (or features) in chapter 5 of my book, Product Roadmaps Relaunched.
Do you put specific dates on your roadmaps? Why? Discuss.
Jobs
My friend Sarah Ptalis at GoDaddy is looking for a director of product and UX in Cambridge, MA who can see strategy through to execution. Ping me directly if you want an introduction.