Roadmapping Roadmapping: Strategic planning for roadmapping systems

doi:10.1007/s42524-024-4072-0

Front. Eng

2024, Vol. 11

Issue (3) : 516-527 https://doi.org/10.1007/s42524-024-4072-0

Technology and Innovation Management

Roadmapping Roadmapping: Strategic planning for roadmapping systems

Robert PHAAL(

), Clemens CHASKEL, Ricardo GONZALEZ Nakazawa, Jonathan ROSS

Institute for Manufacturing, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0FS, UK

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Abstract

Roadmapping is a well-established technique in the context of innovation and strategy, with the potential to support organizations address the complex transformative challenges facing humanity in the 21st century. This is enabled by its systems-based architecture and visual form of roadmaps, supporting communication and reduction of information asymmetries in complex sociotechnical systems. This paper focuses on an adaptation of the roadmapping method to support strategic planning for roadmapping systems in organizations, addressing implementation challenges. This represents a novel application of roadmapping to business processes and systems, demonstrating the flexibility of the roadmapping approach. A workshop template (‘R2’) and process for supporting the roadmapping of roadmapping systems is presented, developed and refined through a series of six industrial cases, and illustrated with an application example in the additive manufacturing sector.

Keywords roadmapping strategic planning innovation management

Corresponding Author(s): Robert PHAAL

Just Accepted Date: 02 August 2024 Online First Date: 05 September 2024 Issue Date: 26 September 2024

Cite this article:

Robert PHAAL,Clemens CHASKEL,Ricardo GONZALEZ Nakazawa, et al. Roadmapping Roadmapping: Strategic planning for roadmapping systems[J]. Front. Eng, 2024, 11(3): 516-527.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/fem/EN/10.1007/s42524-024-4072-0
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fem/EN/Y2024/V11/I3/516

Fig.1 Roadmap as dynamic systems framework and knowledge integrator (Phaal and Muller, 2009).

Fig.2 Example roadmap from the International Space Exploration Coordination Group (ISECG) for a mission scenario (NASA, 2018).

Fig.3 General form of roadmap framework, highlighting fundamental strategic questions that structure roadmaps as knowledge integrators.

Fig.4 Roadmapping Roadmapping (R2) workshop template, overlaid with reference process steps (green text in template); see Table 1 for process prompts (light gray text in template).

When?	Past Learning	Phase 1 (date) Short-term needs and outputs	Phase 2 (date) Medium-term needs and outputs	Vision Long-term needs and outputs ('what does good look like?)
Why do it? Business context, value proposition and strategic ambition, themes, needs, benefits and deliverables associated with roadmapping Corporate; Business units; Products and services; Other	Past roadmapping, strategy and innovation management process investment? Strengths and weaknesses?	Business needs that roadmapping will address? Decisions and processes that roadmapping will enable? Stakeholder needs, interest and engagement? Where to focus first?	Changing strategic context and requirements? Measure and demonstrate impact? Alignment with needs and gaps in other business processes and systems? Where to focus next?	Focus and scope of roadmapping? Types of roadmaps for what purposes? Demonstrate benefits to business? Vision and goals for impact of roadmapping system? Level of investment?
What to do? Roadmapping and related activities for application in the business Links to other business processes, tools and systems	Past roadmapping, strategy and innovation management processes, systems and tools? Strengths and weaknesses?	Review / initiation of roadmapping process? Process maturity? Implementation status? Process ownership? Documentation? Communications? Links to decision-making processes? (e.g. strategy, innovation)	Updating roadmaps? Sustaining momentum? Process learning and improvement? Template and visual design? Key roadmapping performance indicators?	What will the roadmapping process and system look like? What will the roadmaps look like? Who will be involved in what ways? Relationships between roadmapping and other processes and tools? Digital enablement?
How to do it? Required capabilities and resources for roadmapping system	Past roadmapping, strategy and innovation management capabilities and resources? Strengths and weaknesses?	Prior experience? Perception of roadmapping in business? Culture and organizational barriers and enablers? Skills and capabilities? Change management?	Process review and consolidation? Exemplars and success stories? Integration with and improvement of other business processes and tools? Training, guidance and capability building? External partners, suppliers, customers, technology providers?	Resources and capabilities? Skills and competences? Community of practice? Organization and governance? Templates and standards? Software / ICT infrastructure?

Tab.1 Roadmapping Roadmapping (R2) template process prompts

Tab.2 Roadmapping Roadmapping (R2) template and cases

Tab.3 Roadmapping Roadmapping (R2) template average test results (5-point Likert scale)

Fig.5 Roadmapping roadmapping (R2) template test, Case C.

Fig.6 Representative participant comments received, Case C.

Fig.7 Use of R2 template in Star Rapid.

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