What are the different types of product roadmaps?

Categorizing Product Roadmaps

Product roadmaps can vary in format and purpose, depending on the audience and goals. The most common types include strategic, tactical, release, and portfolio roadmaps. Each serves a unique function in communicating plans and progress.

Strategic vs. Tactical Roadmaps

Strategic roadmaps focus on long-term objectives and big-picture initiatives. They are used by executives and senior leadership to understand how the product contributes to organizational goals. Tactical roadmaps, on the other hand, are more granular. They outline short-term tasks, often used by development teams to manage feature releases and bug fixes.

Release and Portfolio Roadmaps

A release roadmap highlights specific product updates and launch dates. It’s helpful for marketing and sales teams that need to prepare campaigns and customer communications. Portfolio roadmaps cover multiple products or components within a larger ecosystem. They are designed to help organizations track how different product lines align with each other and support company-wide goals.