Roadmap Management

Learn how to create, manage, and share your product roadmap to communicate your development plans with users and stakeholders. The roadmap feature helps you turn feedback into actionable development plans.

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Overview

The roadmap feature in FeedbackNexus allows you to:

  • Plan and organize future development work
  • Connect feedback items to roadmap initiatives
  • Communicate progress and timelines to users
  • Prioritize features based on user demand
  • Track development progress publicly or privately

Getting Started with Roadmaps

Creating Your First Roadmap Item

  1. Navigate to a Feature:

    • Update status to Planned
    • Click Create Roadmap Item

  2. Set Timeline:

    • Target Date: When you plan to complete this item
    • Quarter/Month: Broader timeline grouping

Roadmap Item Structure

Core Information:

  • Title & Description: What you're building
  • Status: Development progress
  • Timeline: When it will be delivered
  • Priority: Relative importance

User Connection:

  • Linked Feedback: Related user requests
  • Vote Count: Community support level
  • Comments: User discussions and questions

Roadmap Statuses

Planned

  • Items approved for development
  • Timeline and resources allocated
  • Requirements defined
  • Ready to begin work

In Progress

  • Active development underway
  • Team assigned and working
  • Regular progress updates
  • Estimated completion date

Under Review

  • Development completed
  • Testing and quality assurance
  • Internal review process
  • Preparing for release

Completed

  • Feature shipped to users
  • Available in production
  • Release notes published
  • Feedback loop closed

Cancelled

  • No longer pursuing
  • Explain reasoning to users
  • Archive the item
  • Redirect user expectations

Roadmap Planning Strategies

Feedback-Driven Planning

Connect Feedback to Roadmap:

  1. Review Popular Feedback: Sort by votes and engagement
  2. Identify Themes: Group similar requests
  3. Create Roadmap Items: Turn themes into development plans
  4. Link Feedback: Connect original requests to roadmap

Benefits:

  • Demonstrates user-centricity
  • Validates development priorities
  • Increases user satisfaction
  • Reduces duplicate requests

Timeline-Based Planning

Quarterly Planning:

  • Q1: Critical fixes and high-impact features
  • Q2: Major feature development
  • Q3: User experience improvements
  • Q4: Platform enhancements and scaling

Monthly Milestones:

  • Break large features into monthly deliverables
  • Set realistic completion targets
  • Allow buffer time for unexpected issues
  • Communicate progress regularly

Priority-Based Planning

Priority Levels:

  • Urgent: Critical bugs, security issues
  • High: Major features, significant user impact
  • Medium: Standard improvements, nice-to-haves
  • Low: Future considerations, experimental features

Prioritization Factors:

  • User demand (votes and feedback)
  • Business impact and revenue
  • Technical complexity and effort
  • Strategic alignment
  • Resource availability

Connecting Feedback to Roadmap

Manual Connections

Individual Linking:

  1. Open roadmap item
  2. Click Add Item
  3. Select features in Planned status
  4. Click Add button

👥 Roadmap Visibility Settings

Public Roadmap

Best Practices:

  • Keep information current
  • Explain delays honestly
  • Celebrate completions
  • Gather feedback on plans

Private Roadmap

Use Cases:

  • Internal planning only
  • Competitive sensitivity
  • Uncertain timelines
  • Strategic initiatives

Team Access:

  • Admin-only visibility
  • Stakeholder sharing
  • Development team access
  • Controlled information flow

Roadmap Workflow

Planning Process

  1. Quarterly Planning Session:

    • Review feedback and user requests
    • Assess technical capabilities
    • Set realistic timelines
    • Allocate resources

  2. Monthly Reviews:

    • Update progress status
    • Adjust timelines if needed
    • Communicate changes
    • Plan next month's work

  3. Weekly Updates:

    • Progress check-ins
    • Blocker identification
    • Team coordination
    • User communication

Best Practices

Roadmap Planning

  1. Be Realistic: Set achievable timelines
  2. Stay Flexible: Adapt to changing priorities
  3. Communicate Clearly: Explain decisions and changes
  4. Involve Users: Gather feedback on plans
  5. Measure Success: Track delivery and satisfaction

User Communication

  1. Regular Updates: Keep information current
  2. Honest Communication: Explain delays and changes
  3. Celebrate Wins: Highlight completed features
  4. Gather Feedback: Ask for input on delivered features
  5. Close the Loop: Show how feedback influenced development

Team Coordination

  1. Clear Ownership: Assign responsible team members
  2. Regular Check-ins: Monitor progress consistently
  3. Dependency Management: Track prerequisites and blockers
  4. Resource Planning: Ensure adequate capacity
  5. Quality Focus: Don't sacrifice quality for speed