{"id":81603,"date":"2024-02-29T09:53:28","date_gmt":"2024-02-29T09:53:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.prodpad.com\/?p=81603"},"modified":"2025-10-09T17:14:48","modified_gmt":"2025-10-09T16:14:48","slug":"convert-timeline-roadmap-to-now-next-later","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.prodpad.com\/blog\/convert-timeline-roadmap-to-now-next-later\/","title":{"rendered":"8 Steps to Convert Your Timeline Roadmap to a Now-Next-Later"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Timeline roadmaps lock you into dates and output. The Now-Next-Later roadmap<\/a> keeps your team focused on outcomes, learning, and real progress. I\u2019ll show you exactly how to convert your current roadmap in eight practical steps, without throwing away the work you\u2019ve already done.<\/p>\n\n\n

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I created the Now-Next-Later roadmap years ago to help teams cut through date theater and focus on outcomes. Thousands of teams use it today. If you want the backstory, here\u2019s the original write-up.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n Now-Next-Later Roadmap Origin Story<\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n

I’m assuming that if you’ve landed on this page and want to convert your timeline roadmap to a Now-Next-Later, you’ve come to the realization that you need to get away from your timeline roadmap<\/a>. So, first off, I want to congratulate you on that. Timeline roadmaps look confident, then derail your team. I won’t go into all the reasons why here, but if you need any further convincing (or think anyone on your team does) then I urge you to signup for our free course on How to Move from Timeline to Agile Roadmapping<\/a>. On signing up you’ll be taken to a page that maps out exactly why timelines are bad for business, bad for customers and bad for the world. Ok… maybe not the world, but they certainly won’t make for a happy Product team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"a<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I’m also assuming, since you’re here, that you know why the Now-Next-Later roadmap, and lean, agile roadmapping in general, is a much better approach. But again, if you want a refresher on that, lesson 2 in the course will see you right. Alternatively there’s a short, sharp explanation on the benefits of the Now-Next-Later framework in our Ultimate Guide to Product Roadmaps<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n

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What is a Now-Next-Later roadmap?<\/strong>
\nA Now-Next-Later roadmap is a time-horizon roadmap that focuses on problems and outcomes, not feature lists. \u201cNow\u201d captures validated work in motion, \u201cNext\u201d covers validated opportunities waiting their turn, and \u201cLater\u201d holds problem areas that need discovery.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

In short, the Now-Next-Later helps you stay outcome-focused and not output-focused. Rather than a roadmap populated with specific features, you will have a strategic planning tool that prioritizes broader Initiatives, articulated as problems to solve, across three time horizons. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Within each Initiative are different Ideas, or experiments, you are exploring and validating as possible ways to solve that problem. In this way, the Now-Next-Later roadmap framework affords you the flexibility to experiment, learn and iterate to find the most successful solution that will drive your desired outcome. You are not committing to an exact feature too early, nor are you giving exact dates until you know for sure what you are going to build. But you are making a clear and easy to understand declaration of the important problems you are going to solve (for the business and\/or the customer) and in what order you are going to tackle them.

Sounds good right? You want that for yourself don’t you? But if right now you\u2019re sat in front of a well-established timeline roadmap around which all your product processes and stakeholder expectations are centered, how on earth do you get there? How do you go from that, to the better way of working that I\u2019ve described?\u00a0

After all, a lot of work will have gone into that timeline roadmap, however troublesome it might be. So how do you transition to the Now-Next-Later roadmap without completely throwing out all that work and starting from scratch? Well, don\u2019t despair, it is possible. Just work through the steps I’m going to walk you through in this article.

Let’s get started…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 8 steps to converting your timeline roadmap to a Now-Next-Later  <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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  1. Start with Vision so your Now-Next-Later roadmap has a spine<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Check Objectives\/OKRs to anchor outcomes<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Translate features into problems to solve<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Create Initiatives and Ideas the Now-Next-Later way<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Map Initiatives to Objective<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. Define your Now, Next, and Later horizons<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  7. Place Initiatives by confidence, not calendar dates<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  8. Review your Now-Next-Later roadmap and cut waste<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Step 1. Start with Vision so your Now-Next-Later roadmap has a spine<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Before we pick up your timeline roadmap and start the transition, we need to make sure you have solid foundations in place. The outcome-focused nature of the Now-Next-Later framework means it is intrinsically linked to the value your product is trying to drive for both your customers and your business. As such, any good Now-Next-Later roadmap is grounded in a strong Product Vision.\u00a0

    We won\u2019t dive into the art of creating a compelling and effective Product Vision here, but if you don\u2019t have one, or think yours could do with a refresh, then be sure to check out our     Product Vision Template<\/a> for guidance on how best to create one, and our collection of good Product Vision examples<\/a> to help spark ideas.

    But if you do have a product vision in place, check that it:<\/p>\n\n\n\n