How-to Evaluate a Product Roadmap, for Engineers

Stephen Meszaros provides a comprehensive framework for engineers to evaluate product roadmaps beyond just technical feasibility. Key evaluation criteria include strategic alignment (initiatives must directly connect to company mission and strategy), clarity and communication (roadmap should be intuitive without complex explanations), customer-centric focus (outcome-oriented with clear user benefits), flexibility and iteration (adaptable roadmap with progressive feature rollouts and de-risking strategies), evidence-based scoping (initiatives scoped through proper discovery with concrete evidence), dependency and risk management (identifying major project dependencies and potential risks), achievability assessment (roadmaps should feel 'aggressive but achievable'), appropriate risk-taking (balance between improving existing products and exploring new opportunities), and accessibility (easily referenceable 'living' format). Engineering leaders will learn to engage actively with product leadership, ask constructive questions, and provide technical feedback throughout roadmap development, ensuring roadmaps are not just strategic documents but practical execution guides that balance challenging goals with realistic expectations.