tiekartta

Tiekartta, often translated as "roadmap" in Finnish, is a strategic plan that communicates how an organization intends to reach its goals over a defined time horizon. It weaves together a desired end-state, priorities, and a sequence of initiatives into a coherent path that guides decision-making and resource allocation. A typical tiekartta includes the vision, strategic themes, key initiatives, milestones, a timeline, ownership, and measurable success criteria.

Its main purpose is to align stakeholders, inform customers and partners, and steer investments and capacity planning. It serves as a communications tool and a governance mechanism to monitor progress and adapt to change.

Common components include: vision or goal, strategic themes, initiatives or programs, milestones or releases, a timeline, accountable owners, and measurable criteria for success.

Types commonly seen are product roadmaps (feature releases), technology roadmaps (capabilities and dependencies), strategic roadmaps (long-term directions), and public-sector or policy roadmaps (programmatic priorities).

Process usually begins with strategy clarification and stakeholder input, followed by prioritization and draft creation. After leadership review, the roadmap is published and updated periodically—commonly quarterly or semi-annually—to reflect new information and changing priorities.

Relation to other planning tools: a tiekartta is high-level and strategic, guiding product backlogs, project plans, and budgets without replacing them. Its strength lies in communication and alignment, while its weaknesses can include rigidity in the face of uncertainty.