How to use the Now, Next, Later roadmap

Prioritization is a critical task for product managers due to limited time and resources, and the Now, Next, Later framework offers a streamlined approach to organizing and visualizing product roadmaps. This roadmap tool categorizes tasks into immediate (Now), upcoming (Next), and future (Later) priorities, aiding teams in resource management, short and long-term planning, and maintaining flexibility, especially during unforeseen events like the pandemic. The framework allows product managers to align with stakeholders by defining priorities and using various tools such as Google Sheets, Trello, and JIRA to create their roadmaps. Now, Next, Later is particularly useful for smaller projects and provides a versatile alternative to traditional methods like Gantt charts and waterfall roadmaps, which may not suit agile projects. The approach is applicable across different industries and can be customized using templates, making it an effective tool for aligning teams and stakeholders on product development priorities.