Product roadmaps look great in slide decks. They also lock teams into guesses they made months ago, long before customers had any input.
My new Simplicity-First essay, “Rethink Your Product Roadmap: Replace Quarterly Guessing with Real Customer Impact,” takes aim at roadmap theater and asks a simple question:
If reality changes every few weeks, why are we still treating a 12-month feature grid as a contract?
In the essay, I dig into:
How traditional roadmaps quietly turn into political wishlists instead of strategy
Why fixed quarterly plans slow learning and trap teams in weak bets
The difference between feature lists and outcome-driven product bets
A lighter planning model built on short cycles, clear outcomes, and real feedback
Practical steps to shrink your roadmap without losing alignment across the company
If you have ever sat in a roadmap review thinking, “We all know this is going to change,” this one is for you.
Read the essay here:
