Product Strategy Canvas
Creating a product strategy is a job that most product folk do quite rarely, often under pressure and with not enough time.
Why?
Creating a product strategy is a job that most product folk do quite rarely, often under pressure and with not enough time. Because PMs don't create strategies regularly, many of them aren't natural at the process, so when we need to create one, there’s a good chance we freeze. When we recover from the foetal position, we wonder, “where on earth do I start?”
What!
Enter the Product Strategy Canvas: a tool designed to be repeatable, flexible, and lightweight. Drawing inspiration from various successful models, we aimed to simplify the intricate process of strategy creation, catering to those who find it daunting or simply lack the time.
We're mindful that one size doesn't fit all. This might be a lot to wrap your head around for junior product professionals or those just starting out in product management. Having said that, knock yourself out and give it a go. If nothing else, you’ll learn a lot. For seasoned directors of product, CPOs, or experienced strategists, you likely have your own approach, but there might be something useful here for you as well.
How?
By streamlining the process and focusing on three critical areas (the state of the business, market and product), you can concentrate on the substance of your strategy and the collaboration it demands.
The canvas serves as a beacon, lifting you from the quagmire of your backlog to provide a clear view of the bigger picture, enabling you to chart a strategic course for your product.
Who?
The Product Strategy canvas is a MIRO template that helps product leaders craft a product strategy by following a step-by-step process of gathering data and then using that data to articulate key focus areas that help inform goals, roadmaps, and plans.
This canvas is ideal for Product Managers and Product leaders who wish to follow a repeatable process in order to gather the insights needed to make difficult prioritisation decisions in the form of a Product strategy. This is helpful when you're low on time, do this process rarely and/or wish to approach it collaboratively.
FOSS!
We’ve tested and iterated our canvas with clients, workshop participants, and industry mates and we now proudly share the Product Strategy Canvas in Miro for free under a Creative Commons Licence.
More hows!
To make the most of this canvas, create a copy and try to fill in each frame without getting stuck. If you don't know the answer, capture the name of someone who does. Once all three input frames are filled in, you should have enough insights to decide on what your team(s) will focus on, in other words, to create a product strategy.
Finally, we've woven in an example from the author's experience setting strategy for Spotify's desktop product for Mac & Windows, to help you understand and contextualise the questions. Good luck!
Thanks!
Love, Brendan & Sandra from Organa.com.au
Get started with this template right now.
Sprint Planning with Jira Template
Works best for:
Sprint Planning, Agile
The Sprint Planning with Jira template in Miro is a powerful tool designed to streamline and enhance your sprint planning sessions. One of the key benefits of this template is its Jira integration, which saves time and effort when planning and aligning teams. By integrating directly with Jira, the template allows for seamless import and management of tasks, ensuring that all your Jira tickets are up-to-date and easily accessible within Miro. This reduces the need for manual updates and minimizes errors, making the planning process more efficient and effective.
All-in-one PI Planning
Works best for:
Agile
The All-in-one PI Planning template streamlines the SAFe Program Increment (PI) Planning process by providing a comprehensive framework for teams to collaboratively plan and align on objectives and dependencies. It integrates essential elements such as PI Objectives, Team Breakouts, and Program Board, enabling teams to visualize, prioritize, and coordinate work effectively. This template empowers Agile Release Trains to deliver value predictably and efficiently, driving alignment and synchronization across the organization.
Project Timeline Builder
Works best for:
Timeline, Planning
The Project Timeline Builder template is a powerful tool for planning and managing project timelines. It helps you break down projects into manageable tasks, set deadlines, and track progress. This template ensures you stay organized and meet your project goals efficiently.
Starfish Retrospective
Works best for:
Retrospectives, Agile Methodology, Meetings
The Starfish Retrospective template offers a structured approach to retrospectives using the metaphor of a starfish. It provides elements for identifying what to start, stop, continue, do more of, and do less of. This template enables teams to reflect on past iterations, identify actionable insights, and prioritize improvements. By promoting clarity and focus, the Starfish Retrospective empowers teams to drive meaningful change and continuous improvement effectively.
Backlog Refinement with Jira Template
Works best for:
Agile, Backlog Refinement
The Backlog Refinement with Jira template in Miro improves collaboration among team members. It provides a visual and interactive space for teams to review, prioritize, and clarify upcoming work items together in real time. This collaborative approach ensures alignment on priorities and details, leading to a more organized and efficient workflow. The seamless integration with Jira automatically syncs all changes, reducing the need for manual updates and keeping both platforms up-to-date.
Communication Matrix Template
Works best for:
Project Management, Project Planning, Meetings
The Communication Matrix Template serves as a structured framework for businesses and projects to streamline their communication strategies. By mapping out types of communication, their purposes, mediums, frequencies, and intended audiences, the template ensures that every stakeholder remains informed and aligned. One of its key benefits is the enhanced clarity it brings. By laying out the specifics of each communication touchpoint, the matrix eliminates ambiguity, ensuring that all involved parties know exactly what to expect and when leading to more efficient collaboration and fewer misunderstandings.