Product Roadmap Frameworks - Now / Next / Later

When it comes to Framework selection, Product roadmaps are very abundant one. It has many roadmap determining frameworks, sometimes it becomes burdensome to select the one that fits your needs. Now / Next / Later is a framework where innovative and fast-pacing teams determine their activities so quick adjustment is necessary when it is needed. 

On that note, you might say "Which work environment is slow-moving these days?" And I would nod on this statement. But there are some environments stakeholders are more inclined to see every details of the product roadmap, regulations are so strict you need to define every milestone or this product has very strict budget and time constraints, you have no option but to create detailed product roadmap. 

However, Now / Next / Later advocates for quick adjustments if necessary based on Strategic Priorities, New Opportunities, Market Conditions and User Feedback. 

In this framework, you categorize what you will work on 3 distinct categories : "Now", "Next", "Later". 

Now items are the ones that we're currently working on and we will be focusing on them for a foreseeable future. 

Next items are the ones that we try to achieve in the short term. 

And Later items are sweet dreams we have. They require more time, more energy in that sense. But if they're produced they have potential to change the game. 

Use it when your environment is complex ( like most software environment -although it can be applied in many industries ), you do not want to adhere to strict timelines that leads to high-level scrutiny and you want to tune in to market for quick, modern opportunities to seize the moment.