A Benefits Roadmap by Status
A benefits roadmap is a powerful addition to the project or programme delivery roadmap.
But you need to be able to distinguish between those benefits that are locked in and those that are yet to be confirmed, agreed, or decided.
This adds a useful level of clarity and helps manage expectations, but also lets you not lose sight of the things that are possible, and on the horizon, but we don’t have a true benefits realisation timeline for yet.
Doesn’t matter what you call them in name; its about the meaning behind the different statuses. Just call them something instantly descriptive (overly clever, creative or cool sounding descriptors work less well)
Here’s some simple and effective descriptors I use to categorize them:
Define the different statuses
Realised
Definition: The benefit has been delivered and measured, with evidence showing that expected outcomes have materialised.
Use Case: For reporting, ROI analysis, and lessons learned.
Enabled
Definition: The initiative to deliver the benefit is complete, and conditions for the benefit exist. Monitoring is underway to confirm actual impact.
Use Case: Post-delivery phase where adoption, behavioural change, or external factors influence benefit realisation.
Characteristics:
Initiative delivered and operational.
Measurement plans active for 6–12 months.
Impact expected but not yet fully evidenced.
Planned / Expected
Definition: The benefit is validated, agreed upon, and scheduled for delivery as part of an approved initiative, with a clear timeline and scope agreed.
Use Case: Benefits linked to projects in delivery plans or roadmaps where funding and resources are confirmed.
Characteristics:
Stakeholders have signed off - on the benefit and initiative to deliver it
Benefits analysis is backed by data or pilot results.
Resources are in place to deliver
Delivery timeline in place, and the project is actively being worked upon
Subject to normal delivery risks (e.g., delays, resource shifts).
Indicative
Definition: The benefit is conceptual or exploratory, identified during early-stage discussions but not yet committed to delivery, or lacks a fully agreed timeline.
Use Case: Benefits linked to initiatives in business cases, roadmaps, or early-stage delivery planning. Early-stage discovery, often during workshops or strategy sessions. Useful for innovation ideas, exploratory benefits, or those dependent on future decisions.
Characteristics:
Delivery is anticipated, but dependencies, scope, or timing may still be under discussion.
Not yet agreed or approved by stakeholders
Delivery assumptions may still need validation through pilots, stakeholder alignment, or feasibility checks.
Subject to change based on evolving priorities, resource availability, or external factors.
Retired / Rejected
Definition: The benefit is no longer being pursued due to changes in strategy, feasibility, or relevance.
Use Case: Benefits that fail validation, become obsolete, or are deprioritised.
Characteristics:
No active initiative or future plan.
May have documented rationale for removal.
May inform lessons learned or future planning.
Use Visual Tags or Icons
Use icons or colour codes to visually distinguish, quickly.
use Columns or Swimlanes
Group benefits into sections, swimlanes, columns - whatever tool or product you are using to define the roadmap.
You don’t need a specialist tool. Microsoft Planner, available within Teams, can do it - certainly for someone starting with a benefits roadmap for the first time. I would use the column feature of the Board to do this. Easy to share, easy for everyone in the org to have access.
Add an optional Confidence Score
You can also assign a confidence rating (e.g., 90%, 60%, 30%) to help stakeholders understand the likelihood of realization.