The business side of IT
What a technology roadmap is, and why you want one
Without a plan, technology changes happen when something breaks or someone gets frustrated. A roadmap puts them in the order the business needs.
1 min readExplainer
The short version
A roadmap is a short, plain-language plan for what changes in your technology over the next year or two, and why.
What it contains
A useful roadmap is short and readable by people who are not technical:
- Where things stand: a plain summary of your current technology and its risks.
- What should change: each item described in business terms, such as “move the file server to SharePoint so staff can work from anywhere.”
- When: grouped by quarter or half-year.
- Roughly what it costs, so it can feed the budget.
- Why: the risk reduced or the benefit gained.
Why it helps
- Fewer surprises. Replacements and deadlines are planned, not sprung on you.
- Better decisions. Leadership can weigh technology against other priorities.
- Steady progress. Small improvements every quarter add up.
- Accountability. Everyone can see what was planned and what got done.
What keeps it alive
A roadmap is reviewed regularly, at least a couple of times a year, with leadership and whoever runs your IT. Plans change; the roadmap should change with them.
Talk to us about your technology
Tell us what you run today and what is getting in the way. We will get back to you about how we can help.