Roadmap Decisions with Phil Hornby

In this conversation, Phil Hornby, an expert on roadmaps and decision-making, explores the deeper mechanics behind effective roadmapping and product management. Drawing from his experience in engineering and product leadership roles, Phil shares insights into using roadmaps as communication and alignment tools. He emphasizes tailoring roadmaps for different audiences—executives, development teams, sales, and customers—and aligning them with broader vision, strategy, and objectives.

Phil introduces concepts like product principles, OKR zero, and the decision stack as tools to filter and prioritize roadmap content, ensuring alignment with organizational goals. He also discusses the importance of balancing survival and vision, how to manage leadership expectations, and the reality of working in imperfect product management environments.

Key highlights include:

• Roadmaps as tools for communication, alignment, and decision-making.
• Tailoring roadmaps for internal and external stakeholders.
• The role of product principles in simplifying decisions.
• Using discovery to validate ideas before committing to delivery.
• Balancing short-term survival needs with long-term vision.

Phil concludes by encouraging pragmatic approaches to product management, embracing the reality of imperfect systems, and using roadmaps as a central artifact to drive meaningful conversations and decisions.