Strategize: Product Strategy and Product Roadmap Practices for the Digital Age

by Roman Pichler

In Figure 1, the vision describes the ultimate reason for creating the product, the product strategy states how the vision will be realized, and the product roadmap states how the strategy will be implemented. The product backlog contains the details necessary to develop the product as outlined in the roadmap, such as epics, user stories, and other requirements. Note that the relationships between the elements in Figure 1 work in both directions: the product backlog can cause changes to the roadmap, for instance, which in turn may affect the strategy. For example, if the feedback from the customers and users indicates that the product does not adequately address their needs, or if the development progress is slow, then this may lead to product roadmap changes. Similarly, larger roadmap changes can cause product strategy adjustments. And if you cannot find a valid product strategy—a strategy that helps you realize the vision—then you may have to change the vision or look for a new one.