In web development, we can’t assume we fully understand either our users or how their product will be used. The only true way to success: get the product out there, get people using it, observe and interact with them, and fine-tune appropriately.

A working product roadmap and the concept of an MVP, or minimal viable product, are vital to smart product management. Developing a product roadmap helps us determine what should be included in each successive MVP: only the essential functional elements. Reviewing each MVP, in turn, helps us prioritize the next set of features to come.

These documents are never set in concrete. They evolve at every stage of development. And they’re essential to keep everyone’s eyes on the prize: a beautiful finished product.