A project roadmap, simply put is a layout or a detailed design of the process of a project. Generally, it should have deadlines, project cycles, dates, risks and any other significant data relating to the project.
There are essentials for setting up your project roadmap, including:
· Making Known Your Plan
Explain your plan to your team first before tackling it. They need to know the timeframe, deadlines and the communication channels you have created for the project. Potential risks should also be discussed.
· Details & More Details
The details in a project bring the whole thing together. The clearer the picture is, the more detailed you are as a project manager.
It also helps create a streamlined timeline to avoid confusion.
· Clarify Tasks
The idea is not to have any member of your team questioning what they should be doing or even have the number assigned a task be more or less. Create a clear schedule for your team to adhere to.
· Cultivate Morale
A stirring speech just before kick-off could be good for your team and it is important to create such an opportunity in order to start on the right note, with a motivated team.
The Roadmap Should Include
- Areas of risk to be looked out for to help the team recognize gaps in product and technology required for the project.
- Targets to make the workload manageable by breaking it up. This helps them identify which direction to keep going and where there might be a lag.
- Timeframes and significant dates to help carry out the strategy that the team will have in place.
- The goals of the team behind the project to help orientate customers and suppliers on what the target is and the plan to get there. To solicit their reaction also allows them time to make their own plans.
- Outline of the strategic use of technology and other resources on a project
The Upside of Having a Project Roadmap
- It creates order and helps prioritize from the beginning of the project.
- The project manager using a roadmap can predict and evaluate risks and benefits from the project.
- There is a documented outline for those involved in the project to refer to and follow progress.
Notes
It is essential for a project manager to use the right software to properly prepare his/her team. There are many options out there such as:
1. Product plan;
2. Roadmap planner;
3. Hello focus;
4. Propad;
5. Clickup;
6. Roadmap;
…and many others.
It is also important for one to update your roadmap frequently, holding a meeting every cycle so no one is left in the dark is a good way to go about it. It is important to have a roadmap that could be revised later on in case something does not completely work out.
Conclusion
A good roadmap will have contributions of the team working on a project, so a good project manager should not be shy away from feedback and a good team is integral to a successful project.
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