# From Vision to Reality: Product Roadmaps in Embedded Development

- Show: [The Pragmatic Embedded Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast)
- Published: 2026-08-04
- Length: 43m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast/2026-08-04-from-vision-to-reality-product-roadmaps-in-embedded-development
- Listen: https://agileembeddedpodcast.com/episodes/from-vision-to-reality-product-roadmaps-in-embedded-development-eorY_x0B

## Summary

Hosts Jeff Gable and Luca Ingianni discuss the hierarchy of planning artifacts, moving from product vision to roadmaps and backlogs, emphasizing that roadmaps are alignment and discovery tools rather than static commitments. They identify common mistakes such as the 'progress by PowerPoint' trap, where teams list milestones like 'specification complete' instead of value delivery, and the danger of over-committing to dates before understanding the problem space, particularly in VC-funded startups. The conversation covers tailoring roadmaps for different audiences, the importance of prioritization, and the 'iceberg principle' of granularity, concluding with a discussion on the iron triangle of project management and why varying resources is often the least effective lever when a project is late.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast/2026-08-04-from-vision-to-reality-product-roadmaps-in-embedded-development#t=0) Introduction: The hierarchy of planning artifacts from vision to roadmaps
- [3:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast/2026-08-04-from-vision-to-reality-product-roadmaps-in-embedded-development#t=185) Defining product vision using Kennedy's moon landing speech as a model
- [6:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast/2026-08-04-from-vision-to-reality-product-roadmaps-in-embedded-development#t=394) Roadmaps as alignment and discovery tools, not static commitments
- [10:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast/2026-08-04-from-vision-to-reality-product-roadmaps-in-embedded-development#t=652) The prototyping phase and managing uncertainty in early-stage planning
- [14:58](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast/2026-08-04-from-vision-to-reality-product-roadmaps-in-embedded-development#t=898) Common mistake #1: Putting the wrong things on roadmaps ('specification complete' vs. actual value milestones)
- [20:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast/2026-08-04-from-vision-to-reality-product-roadmaps-in-embedded-development#t=1219) The danger of over-committing to dates before understanding the problem (especially in VC-funded startups)
- [24:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast/2026-08-04-from-vision-to-reality-product-roadmaps-in-embedded-development#t=1484) Tailoring roadmaps for different audiences (internal, customer-facing, investor-facing)
- [30:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast/2026-08-04-from-vision-to-reality-product-roadmaps-in-embedded-development#t=1838) The failure to prioritize and its impact on roadmap execution
- [34:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast/2026-08-04-from-vision-to-reality-product-roadmaps-in-embedded-development#t=2094) Finding the right level of granularity: the iceberg principle for roadmaps
- [39:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-pragmatic-embedded-podcast/2026-08-04-from-vision-to-reality-product-roadmaps-in-embedded-development#t=2374) The iron triangle of project management and why varying resources is the least effective lever

## Topics

- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Jeff Gable (other)
- Luca Ingianni (other)
- John Odo (other)
- Kennedy (other)
- Edge and Embedded Academy (other)
- Embedded AI Podcast (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [S1 E7: Level Up Your Hardware Product Pitch with Haje Kamps](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-builder-circle/2023-06-27-s1-e7-level-up-your-hardware-product-pitch-with-haje-kamps) (The Builder Circle)
- [216: 5 Key Tips For Starting Your Product Development Journey](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2024-03-11-216-5-key-tips-for-starting-your-product-development-journey) (Product Startup)
- [269: Ultra-Precise Death Ray (Repeat)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-07-02-269-ultra-precise-death-ray-repeat) (Embedded.fm)
- [IDology #11 - Most common mistakes in product development](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/idology/2023-03-28-idology-11-most-common-mistakes-in-product-development) (IDology)
- [The Importance of Defining Project Milestones with Dave Millman of SalesDev.Global](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-08-24-the-importance-of-defining-project-milestones-with-dave-millman-of-salesdev-glob) (Predictable Designs Podcast)

## Citing this page

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