Technology roadmaps clearly communicate service value propositions and multi-year strategies to manage the technologies that underpin them. They provide visibility into the services for use at multiple levels in the organization.

Roadmaps are Used at Multiple Levels

Senior Leaders: Use roadmaps to help make effective investment decisions, to inform strategic planning, and to guide business and IT operations.

IT Directors: Use roadmaps to engage senior leaders in aligning, planning, prioritizing, and resourcing services.

Service Teams: Use roadmaps to regularly adjust service alignment to University priorities, to identify strategic changes, to plan implementation, and to communicate with departments participating in the implementation.

Creating a Technology Roadmap

Example: Alumni Affairs and Development Technology Roadmap

How Much Effort Does it Take?

Roadmaps are generally completed through ten to twenty hours of effort in a one-month timeframe. Part of that time is spent in structured meetings to develop a strategy with the service team. The balance is spent developing and documenting the implementation plan. Teams that are clear about what their functional partners and/or clients require from their service and those revisiting existing roadmaps often find that they spend just a few hours.

Support is Available

Creating a roadmap for the first time may feel daunting. That is natural. ITS has ample support available to help service teams benefit from this important activity. The Enterprise Architecture team will coordinate assigning an architect to guide each team through the process. Once through, most teams find annual reviews to be second nature. A how-to guide and template are available: Technology Roadmaps Guide.

References

McGovern, J., & Allega, P. (2018). Best Practices for Delivering Targeted and High-Impact Roadmaps [Analysis]. Retrieved from https://www.gartner.com/document/3893598?ref=solrResearch&refval=244567047
McGovern, J. (2020). Create Roadmaps that Support Decision Making and Communicate Strategy Effectively [Analysis]. Retrieved from https://www.gartner.com/document/3980415?ref=solrResearch&refval=244912054