Most product roadmaps are feature lists in disguise. They organize work. They do not communicate strategy.
In this episode of How I PM, Michael Ionita — CEO of LFG Solutions, VP of Product, and General Manager of R&D — draws a clear line between the roadmap and the backlog and explains why most teams blur them.
Michael’s argument is straightforward: roadmaps should contain goals, outcomes, and the metrics you are trying to move. Features are how you get there. They belong in the backlog, connected to those goals, but not on the roadmap itself.
This reframing changes the conversation with stakeholders. Instead of debating which feature ships next, you are agreeing on what success looks like. That agreement drives focus, reduces noise, and keeps teams solving problems instead of just shipping tickets.
“You can keep your team focused on solving problems and not just implementing features.” – Michael Ionita
Connect with Michael: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelionita/
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