Information Technology (IT) Roadmap
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A Information Technology (IT) Roadmap is an organizational roadmap plan for the development, adoption, and potential obsolescence of technology systems to achieve organizational needs/organizational goals.
- Context:
- It can (typically) have a time range of 2 or fewer years.
- It can (often) be instantiated in a IT Roadmap Document.
- It can (often) be summarized in a IT Roadmap Presentation or an IT Roadmap Diagram.
- It can (often) be referenced by an IT Strategy and a Product Roadmap.
- It can (often) go through regular maintenance through a Technology Roadmap Planning Task (possible part of technology planning).
- It can (often) link Technology Timelines to Organizational Goals (including and product roadmaps).
- It can help reach a consensus about a set of Organizational Needs and the Technology Solutions required to satisfy those needs.
- It can provide a mechanism to help Forecast Technology Developments.
- It can provide a framework to help plan and coordinate Technology Developments.
- It can account for dependencies between technology additions/upgrades.
- It can indicate retirement timelines for legacy systems.
- ...
- Example(s):
- An Legal Tech IT Roadmap for a Legal Tech Company.
- An AI Technology Roadmap for the planned adoption of AI technologies.
- A LegalTech LLM-focused Technology Roadmap that accounts for the progressive implementation and enhancement of Large Language Model technology in LegalTech, such as on: legal research, legal documentation, case study analysis, and the overall digitization of legal practice.
- A Semiconductor Industry-related Roadmap that accounts for advancements such as the introduction of new processing methods or materials.
- A Healthcare Industry-related Roadmap that accounts for the implementation of new health information technology systems, like electronic health records (EHRs) or telemedicine capabilities.
- An Internal IT roadmap.
- A DevOps roadmap.
- An Infrastructure roadmap.
- An Architecture Roadmap.
- A Software Roadmap.
- An Internal Systems Roadmap.
- A Hardware Procurement Roadmap.
- ...
- Counter-Example(s):
- See: Product Management, Requirements Analysis, Corporate Stakeholder, Software Release Plan, Technology Forecasting, Technology Scouting, Emerging Technologies.
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References
2023
- (Wikipedia, 2023) ⇒ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/technology_roadmap Retrieved:2023-8-5.
- A technology roadmap is a flexible planning schedule to support strategic and long-range planning, by matching short-term and long-term goals with specific technology solutions. It is a plan that applies to a new product or process and may include using technology forecasting or technology scouting to identify suitable emerging technologies. It is a known technique to help manage the fuzzy front-end of innovation. It is also expected that roadmapping techniques may help companies to survive in turbulent environments[1] and help them to plan in a more holistic way to include non-financial goals and drive towards a more sustainable development. Here roadmaps can be combined with other corporate foresight methods to facilitate systemic change. Developing a roadmap has three major uses.[2] It helps reach a consensus about a set of needs and the technologies required to satisfy those needs, it provides a mechanism to help forecast technology developments, and it provides a framework to help plan and coordinate technology developments. It may also be used as an analysis tool to map the development and emergence from new industries.
2023
- (Luo et al., 2023) ⇒ Y. Luo, M.R. Abidian, J.H. Ahn, D. Akinwande. (2023). “Technology Roadmap for Flexible Sensors." In: ACS Publications.
- QUOTE: "Humans rely increasingly on sensors to address grand challenges and to improve quality of life in the era of digitalization and big data. For ubiquitous sensing, flexible sensors are …"
- NOTE: It provides an insight into the future direction of flexible sensor technologies and their potential to address global challenges and improve human life in the digital age.
2022
- "What Is a Technology Roadmap?." Lucidchart.
- QUOTE: A technology roadmap is a display, document, or diagram that illustrates the technology adoption plan at a given organization. Technology roadmaps are created to help business leaders plan and strategize which, when, and why certain technologies will be onboarded while avoiding expensive mistakes and even plan for technologies becoming obsolete. An effective technology roadmap should also outline a strategy to reach short- and long-term digital transformation goals, if applicable.
- There are numerous methods and models for technology roadmapping. However, this type of visual usually falls into two categories: IT systems roadmaps and technology roadmaps.
- IT systems roadmap: An IT systems roadmap is a diagram or model designed to set the parameters that enable key functioning across the business or organization. An effective IT roadmap will lay out current IT capabilities, projected IT needs, and any improvements you plan to make to execute against your business strategy. Generally, IT roadmaps are meant to communicate plans about the major systems that keep your business running. These systems include, but are not limited to, customer relationship management systems (CRM), enterprise resource planning systems (ERP), data analytics systems, identity management systems, cybersecurity systems, and more.
- Technology roadmap: A technology roadmap illustrates the technology presently available and emphasizes scheduled improvements. A technology roadmap should also consider which technologies will become obsolete or are scheduled for end of life. For example, a technology roadmap will show when the previous system will sunset and when the new one will be implemented. As organizations lay out their strategy and implementation to help execute on their vision, a technology roadmap will help them determine which technologies to invest in and how to implement them. Technology roadmaps should enable technological infrastructure improvements to meet both long-term and short-term targets of the business or organization in mind.
- Why do you need a technology roadmap? The overall function of a technology roadmap is to align your target stakeholders, like IT, software engineering, operations executives, and even sales teams, by creating a course of action to onboard new technology solutions or maintain existing ones. This method helps teams visualize, prepare for, and execute the desired outcomes for the organization. Creating a thorough technology roadmap gives you the ability to:
- Have a clear picture of your company’s IT infrastructure abilities and how they align with business outcomes.
- Address any current IT issues.
- Cut costs by removing any unnecessary technologies and applications.
- Increase productivity by implementing technology that serves your immediate needs.
- Improve IT and cybersecurity.
- Avoid or mitigate against system failures by learning any weaknesses in your IT infrastructure.
- Resolve any conflicts around business priorities.
- Prepare for digital transformation.
2022
- https://www.productplan.com/learn/three-example-technology-roadmaps/
- QUOTE: A technology roadmap is a high-level, visual plan that communicates an organization’s technology strategy. It’s also known as an IT roadmap, technology roadmaps help internal teams make strategic decisions around their technical infrastructure. There are several kinds of technology roadmaps:
- Roadmaps are not just for product managers. Many teams can benefit from a strategic roadmap guiding their work. This includes IT teams using a technology roadmap. Roadmaps can serve many different purposes and be organized in a variety of ways. To spark your inspiration, read on to see the three example ways we’ve created technology roadmaps.
2015
- (Wikipedia, 2015) ⇒ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/technology_roadmap Retrieved:2015-1-21.
2015
- (Ferrari et al., 2015) ⇒ A.C. Ferrari, F. Bonaccorso, V. Fal'Ko, K.S. Novoselov. (2015). “HTML Science and Technology Roadmap for Graphene, Related Two-Dimensional Crystals, and Hybrid Systems." In: Nanoscale, Pubs RSC.
- QUOTE: "We present the science and technology roadmap for graphene, related two-dimensional crystals, and hybrid systems, targeting an evolution in technology, that might lead to impacts …"
- NOTE: This work presents a roadmap for the development of graphene and related two-dimensional materials, aiming at technological advancements that can have significant impacts.
2011
- (Amadi-Echendu et al., 2011) ⇒ J. Amadi-Echendu, O. Lephauphau, M. Maswanganyi, M. Mkhize. (2011). “Case Studies of Technology Roadmapping in Mining." In: Journal of Engineering and Technology Management. 28 (1–2): 23–32. DOI:10.1016/j.jengtecman.2010.12.002. HDL:2263/15838.
- NOTE: It includes case studies about the use of technology roadmapping in the mining industry.
2002
- (Arden, 2002) ⇒ W.M. Arden. (2002). “The International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors—Perspectives and Challenges for the Next 15 Years." In: Current Opinion in Solid State and Materials Science, Elsevier.
- QUOTE: "The definition of a technology roadmap for the semiconductor industry started as a national ... , which is now called the International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors (ITRS). The …"
- NOTE: It outlines the origins, perspectives, and challenges of the International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors (ITRS).
1997
- (EIRMA, 1997) ⇒ "Technology Roadmapping: Delivering Business Vision." EIRMA. (1997).
- NOTE: This publication discusses the role of technology roadmapping in delivering business vision.
1997
- (Groenveld, 1997) ⇒ P. Groenveld. (1997-09-01). “Roadmapping Integrates Business and Technology." In: Research-Technology Management. 40 (5): 48–55. DOI:10.1080/08956308.1997.11671157. ISSN 0895-6308.
- NOTE: The work explores how roadmapping integrates business strategies and technology development.
1987
- (Willyard & McClees, 1987) ⇒ C.H. Willyard, C.W. McClees. (1987-09-01). “Motorola's Technology Roadmap Process." In: Research Management. 30 (5): 13–19. DOI:10.1080/00345334.1987.11757057. ISSN 0034-5334.
- QUOTE: "Technology and is referred to as the Emerging Technology Roadmap, which we will describe briefly. The other is called a Product Technology Roadmap, and will be the main thrust of …"
- NOTE: The work describes Motorola's technology roadmap process, including the Emerging Technology Roadmap and the Product Technology Roadmap.