SOPHiA GENETICS Innovation, Technology & Agility

How do you make sure all teams are on the same page when creating a product roadmap? 

Communication is key. I involve cross-functional teams early on to gather diverse perspectives, identify risks and align everyone from the start. To ensure all teams are on the same page when creating a product roadmap, I start by establishing a clear product vision and objectives, ensuring those on each team understand their role in achieving these goals. 

Efficient documentation is crucial. I capture customer interviews, user needs and feature requests to align teams and establish continuous feedback loops to refine the roadmap based on real-time data and market insights. All this work is only as good as final prioritization. By integrating commercial relevance and the voice of the customer, along with attaching opportunity sizes to prioritized items, I ensure clear prioritization criteria. This approach keeps the team focused on the most impactful work, preventing resources from being spread too thin. By fostering transparency, prioritization and collaboration, teams stay aligned and motivated, leading to a cohesive and successful product development process.

Do project needs change during the development process? When this happens, how do you reprioritize the product roadmap and keep teams aligned?

Yes, project needs often change during development, driven by evolving customer demands, market shifts or new technical insights. As a product manager, it’s my responsibility to ensure we adapt swiftly while keeping the team aligned. When changes arise, I first collaborate with key stakeholders to reassess priorities and evaluate the impact on our overall objectives. Once a new direction is agreed upon, we update the product roadmap to reflect these changes, ensuring it remains a clear and strategic guide. I then communicate the rationale behind the re-prioritization to all teams, emphasizing how these adjustments align with our long-term vision. 

Utilizing tools like Jira and Microsoft Teams, I make real-time updates accessible to everyone, followed by alignment meetings to discuss the implications and recalibrate timelines or resources as needed. Throughout this process, I maintain open lines of communication, regularly checking in with teams to address any concerns. This approach ensures we remain agile, focused and aligned, enabling us to deliver a product that continues to meet market and customer needs, even as priorities shift.