In the fast-paced world of startups and small teams, getting work out quickly is often a top priority. The need to innovate, iterate, and deliver products efficiently means that sticking to a rigid, long-term roadmap with deadlines and dates might not always be the best approach. That’s where the Now/Next/Later roadmap method comes in—an approach designed to help teams focus on what matters most, make effective use of resources, and adjust priorities with the speed that small teams require.

As someone who has worked in various product management and UX/UI roles, including in small, early-stage startups, I can attest to the struggles of navigating the complex and ever-evolving landscape of product development. Whether you’re working with limited resources, dealing with shifting customer feedback, or responding to new market trends, a Now/Next/Later roadmap can help you stay agile while ensuring that you’re always working on the most impactful tasks.

Here’s why this method works so well for smaller teams, particularly when applied to the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) and product development.

Understanding the Now/Next/Later Roadmap

The Now/Next/Later roadmap is a lean approach to planning work, particularly useful for teams that need to deliver on short timelines and quickly adapt to new information. It divides projects into three categories:

  1. Now – Work that’s currently in progress. This should be limited to a small number of active tasks, typically 1-2 projects per team, to ensure focus and efficiency.
  2. Next – Work planned for the near future (2-8 weeks out). This work is fully scoped, agreed upon, and ready to be picked up as soon as the current tasks are completed. Often called “fast follows.”
  3. Later – Work that is further out (2-6 months), but still on the team’s radar. These are initiatives that need more refining and might change as new data and customer feedback come in.

Some teams may also use an extended category called “Much Later,” which outlines projects 6-12 months out. These projects have a higher likelihood of changing, but they serve as a long-term view of what might be on the horizon.

Why Now/Next/Later Fits the SDLC

The Now/Next/Later roadmap aligns perfectly with the SDLC, designed to guide the development of software from conception through delivery and maintenance. In a typical SDLC cycle, a team moves from planning and analysis to design, implementation, testing, and deployment, followed by post-launch activities.

  • Now: In the Now category, teams are deep in the implementation and testing stages of active projects. This aligns with the “development” phase of the SDLC. By limiting the number of projects in progress, teams can maintain a high level of focus, ensuring quality and efficiency throughout the process.
  • Next: The Next category corresponds with the planning and preparation stages of the SDLC. While the team works on the current project, they’re already preparing for the next one. This might include user stories, wireframes, technical specifications, and gathering feedback to ensure that the transition from “Now” to “Next” is smooth and seamless.
  • Later: Later projects often coincide with the early phases of product ideation, feasibility studies, or strategic planning in the SDLC. They give teams the space to assess long-term priorities without locking them into rigid timelines or overly detailed plans. When the time comes to move a Later project into the Next category, it’s fully scoped and ready for execution.

This approach allows teams to stay focused on delivering high-priority tasks while also maintaining flexibility and adaptability to new insights or changes in the market.

Why Startups and Small Teams Love Now/Next/Later

Startups and small teams face unique challenges that require speed and flexibility. Traditional project management approaches, such as waterfall or rigid quarterly roadmaps, can slow teams down, especially when dealing with constant change, iterative development, and limited resources. Here’s how the Now/Next/Later method benefits these teams:

  • Focus on What Matters Now: Startups are often working with a tight-knit team, meaning each person wears many hats. By limiting the number of projects in the Now category, you ensure that everyone is focused on the tasks that will have the most immediate impact. This eliminates the need for multitasking and reduces the risk of burnout, especially in small teams with limited bandwidth.
  • Flexibility for the Future: Startups need to pivot quickly as customer needs and market trends evolve. The Now/Next/Later method allows you to maintain flexibility without losing sight of long-term goals. By reserving Later projects for work that is not immediately critical, teams can adapt to changing priorities and adjust their roadmaps without derailing progress.
  • Manage Resources Efficiently: In a startup, resources are often constrained, and it’s easy to spread your team too thin. The Now/Next/Later approach helps manage this by limiting both Work In Progress (WIP) and what’s in the pipeline. This ensures that the team isn’t overwhelmed with too many priorities and that each project has adequate resources dedicated to it before moving on to the next.
  • Quick Feedback Loops: Startups live and die by feedback. The Now/Next/Later roadmap allows teams to get immediate feedback on what’s currently in progress (Now) while already planning and scoping the next project. This iterative approach helps improve product quality and allows teams to build products that truly meet customer needs.
  • Encourages Collaboration: In small teams, every voice matters, and collaboration is essential. The Now/Next/Later method encourages collaboration between different departments (design, development, product management, etc.) in both planning and execution. Everyone is involved in the conversation about what comes Next and what should be a priority for Later, ensuring that decisions are based on the most current information.
  • Avoids Over-Promising: Small teams often have to wear many hats and juggle multiple priorities. Deadlines can be overwhelming and often result in over-promising. With a Now/Next/Later approach, you can commit to work that’s realistically achievable within the time and resources available. This results in a culture of integrity and accountability, where commitments are made based on real capacity, not arbitrary deadlines.

The Now/Next/Later roadmap is an ideal fit for small teams, particularly startups, looking to navigate the complex landscape of product development. It provides the structure needed to stay focused on high-priority tasks, while also offering the flexibility to adapt to new challenges, data, and market shifts. By aligning with the SDLC and enabling teams to work more efficiently and collaboratively, the Now/Next/Later approach helps ensure that your startup can maintain momentum and deliver on its product vision quickly and effectively.

This adaptable, agile method can give your team the roadmap to success, without the stress of rigid deadlines and long-term commitments that may change before they even become relevant.