Project management requires tools to manage both the extended vision and the immediate tactical work necessary to achieve it. Successfully navigating this dual requirement depends on utilizing distinct, yet complementary, instruments. This article defines and differentiates two primary tools used for this purpose: the product roadmap, which guides the overall direction, and the burndown chart, which tracks the immediate execution.
Defining the Product Roadmap
A product roadmap functions as a high-level strategic document that visually outlines the future direction and intent of a product. It is not a detailed list of tasks but rather a communication tool that articulates the “why” and “what” behind the development efforts. This document details the major product themes, goals, and initiatives that will drive value for the business and the customer.
The roadmap’s primary purpose is communicating the product strategy, aligning diverse internal teams, and setting expectations with stakeholders regarding future development. It generally operates on a long-term time horizon, often spanning months, quarters, or even years. This strategic focus ensures that all development work connects directly to overarching business objectives.
Defining the Burndown Chart
A burndown chart is a tactical, graphical representation used to monitor the remaining work against the time available within a fixed timeframe. This tool is widely used in Agile methodologies, particularly Scrum, to track progress within a specific iteration, known as a sprint. The chart visually plots the total outstanding work, often measured in units like story points or hours, on the vertical axis against the days of the iteration on the horizontal axis.
The function of the burndown chart is to provide a real-time measure of the team’s progress and delivery velocity. It features an ideal progress line and an actual progress line, allowing the team to quickly identify potential roadblocks and forecast the completion of the current workload. Due to its focus on daily progress within a short iteration, the burndown chart is tactical, emphasizing execution rather than long-term strategy.
Comparing Strategic Focus and Level of Detail
The fundamental difference between the two tools lies in their scope and the granularity of the information they present. The product roadmap is concerned with the strategic “Why” and the high-level “What” of product development. It organizes information around large themes, initiatives, and Epics—major features that contribute to a business goal—without detailing the specific tasks required to build them.
In contrast, the burndown chart focuses entirely on the execution-oriented “How” and the quantitative “How Much” of work remaining. It tracks the individual tasks and user stories that make up the Epics defined in the roadmap. The roadmap uses broad timeframes like “Next Quarter” or “Future,” while the burndown chart uses precise measurements like remaining story points over a fixed period.
The roadmap’s high-level view allows for flexibility, as features planned for the distant future may change based on market conditions. The burndown chart, however, represents a fixed commitment of work for a short period, demanding precision in tracking the reduction of the remaining effort. This distinction reflects the tool’s purpose: strategy for the roadmap versus immediate, measurable delivery for the burndown chart.
Who Uses Each Tool and Why
The audience for each tool is distinct, reflecting the different decisions they are designed to support. The product roadmap is primarily a communication instrument for executives, product managers, marketing teams, and external stakeholders. These groups use the roadmap to guide significant business decisions, such as investment planning, resource allocation, and market positioning. The high-level view allows stakeholders to align their departmental strategies with the product’s projected evolution.
The burndown chart is an internal, operational tool used by the development team, the Scrum Master, and the Product Owner. Its purpose is to facilitate the self-management of the team’s daily work and capacity. Team members use the chart to monitor their pace, identify capacity issues, and determine if they are on track to meet the commitments made for the current iteration.
How Roadmaps and Burndown Charts Work Together
While the product roadmap and the burndown chart serve different functions, they are complementary and interdependent tools within the overall product development lifecycle. The strategic initiatives defined in the roadmap are broken down into the user stories and tasks that populate the product backlog. This backlog is the source of the work selected for short-term iterations.
The burndown chart then tracks the successful delivery of those specific slices of the backlog during the sprint. By measuring the team’s velocity through the burndown chart, product leadership gains the data needed to assess whether the team is progressing at a rate that will meet the strategic goals set out in the roadmap. This provides the tactical feedback loop that confirms execution is aligned with the overall product direction.