Now / Next / Later
- Now — this quarter, committed
- Next — likely next quarter, being scoped
- Later — on the radar, not committed
The bets, named
Two to four themes framed as bets: 'If we do X, we believe Y will happen.' Names beats a list of tickets every time.
What we're NOT doing
The single most valuable section. Explicit non-goals prevent stakeholder ambush later in the quarter.
Confidence and risks
Per bet: confidence level and the top risk. Read this section aloud to a skeptic before you publish.
Common pitfalls
- — Committing to specific dates in 'Later.' That's a roadmap for pain.
- — Skipping the 'not doing' section because it feels political. That's exactly why it matters.
- — Publishing once and never updating. Roadmap staleness kills trust.