What's the difference between a product strategy and a product roadmap?
Model answer
Model answerStrategy answers 'why' and 'where.' Roadmap answers 'what' and 'when.' A strategy without a roadmap is a vision with no execution plan. A roadmap without a strategy is just a to-do list. The test: if I delete 3 items from your roadmap, does your strategy still make sense? If yes, the strategy is real. If no, your strategy is actually just your roadmap described at a higher level of abstraction.
Framework · PMF Signals
- RReal strategy
Strategy makes explicit bets and says what you're NOT doing — both matter - OOutcomes over outputs
Roadmap should link to outcomes, not just list features to ship - AAlignment test
Can every engineer explain how their current work connects to the strategy? - DDynamic, not static
Roadmap should update quarterly; strategy should update annually at most
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