What are project roadmaps and why should you have one?

It is critical that you make sure you start any project on the right foot. Regardless of whether it is a campaign, such as planning a virtual event, or a long-term initiative, such as the launch of a new IT tool, to launch a good project it is essential to have the ability to communicate an overview level of that project so that everyone involved is equally informed. project roadmap.

So how do you do it? You could start by creating a  project letter  or  business case  to get approval for your project. Then you can create a project plan to provide the most important elements for your work. Afterward, you can schedule a brainstorming project kick-off session, involving all relevant stakeholders. Depending on the project, you could even write a creative brief. But while these methods can turn out to be critical elements in launching a project, a roadmap is the best option for visualizing the project schedule and aligning with company goals.

What is a project roadmap?

A project roadmap is a high-level perspective view of all project deliverables, key accomplishments, and overall goals. It should be the first thing you create to start a project. Using the roadmap as a starting point, you can create other documents for project planning, such as a common plan or the project schedule.

If you’ve never used a roadmap before, it can be confusing to differentiate it from other elements of project planning. Here are the differences:

Roadmaps and common project plans have a lot in common. Both must be created at the beginning of the project and are documents that change over time instead of being static, immovable. But unlike a common project plan, the roadmap should only focus on the high-level perspective. When creating your project roadmap, be sure not to overwhelm with too many specifics, as the focus of the document will be diluted. Remember: provide an overview; no step by step instructions.