Ask HN: How do you visualize your product roadmap?

5 points by tjomk 5 years ago | 2 comments

I have a question: I've been working on a product for product management tool for a little while now. Among other features we offer product roadmaps with different views of the roadmap:

- a simple quarterly "card" view: basically saying we do these things in this calendar quarter, and those things in the quarter after that, etc.

- a Gantt view where you can really map out how long you think things will take for each item on the roadmap (in number of sprints)

What really puzzles me here: I find the simple quarterly card view much better, more pragmatic, and also less overhead (as a user). Yet most people seem to be using the Gantt view, and we get many more requests for features on the Gantt view.

I am really wondering why this is. Any ideas? For example, does it really matter to plan out how long each item takes, or isn’t it enough "this feature will be shipped in Q2, and this in Q3 or later"?

And which type(s) of product roadmaps do you prefer?

p.s. the tool I am working on is here if you want to have a look: https://www.getshipit.com

muzani 5 years ago |

My favorite roadmap: http://www.bay12games.com/dwarves/dev.html

rahimnathwani 5 years ago |

Rather than asking people which view they prefer and why, it might be better to build a better understanding of:

1. When do they look at their overall roadmap view?

2. Why?

3. What actions do they often take as a result (e.g. print it out for upper mgmt, drag around the timing, ...)?

4. Why do they need to do those things?

5. ...

I could be off base but, based on your questions, I'd suggest you dial up the time you spend interviewing your customers about their problems.

The book 'The Mom Test' is a great guide for how to put this advice into practice.