I hadn’t planned to write about vision, strategy and roadmaps until a LinkedIn post challenged my understanding of strategy. I’d always thought of it as too detailed for an elevator pitch. But the post argued that every employee should be able to explain their company’s strategy without a slide deck. Was I confusing strategy with a roadmap? Or was the author actually talking about vision?
Upon further discussion and research, I realized that I was combining strategy and roadmap into one unified document. This approach isn’t wrong; it was born out of necessity. In small to mid-sized organizations and local governments, budget constraints mean you don’t always have the luxury of building two separate artifacts. So, I created something that functioned as both.
Vision, Strategy and a Roadmap all Matter
Regardless of what each element is called or whether they are combined or separate, it is essential for every business to have a vision, strategy, and roadmap.
- A vision without a strategy or roadmap is just an aspiration with little chance of success.
- A strategy or roadmap without a vision is directionless; it leads nowhere.
Think of a rocket trying to break free from the gravitational pull of the Earth. It has to reach escape velocity. Organizations trying to break free from the status quo and reach new heights need to achieve velocity. Do this by building your strategy on a clear vision and design your roadmap to deliver it in practical stages.
Sell the Destination First
One of the best pieces of advice that I’ve received was at a networking event. We were discussing how to get buy-in for IT initiatives, and someone said, “Sell the destination first.”
Most people don’t get excited about a business transformation because they expect it to cause disruption and challenges with no apparent benefit. If you want people to embrace transformation, help them understand not only why it’s necessary but also the benefits to expect at the end. That’s the destination or vision.
For example, a local government might want to combat climate change by becoming carbon neutral. Their vision: “Protect our community’s health, safety, and economic future by addressing climate change locally through smart infrastructure that delivers cleaner air, reduced flooding, and long-term resource security.” describes the destination they are aiming for. It’s something everyone, from senior leadership to frontline staff, can connect to.
My Strategy Meets Roadmap Approach
When I create what I still call a strategy, it takes the form of a swim lane diagram. Each row represents a function or department. One column shows the current state, another shows the envisioned future. Often, the details refer to a system or application but in reality, there may be aspects that aren’t a technology and those still need to be included.
In between, I insert interim columns to represent meaningful progressions. Sometimes one function changes at a time, other times multiple shift together based on interdependencies. This visual framework helps everyone understand the journey.
In this model:
- The strategy is the delta between current and future states.
- The roadmap is the sequence of interim stages.
It’s simple, adaptable and grounded in how real teams work. At the end of this article, I’ve provided a simple example based on the example of a local government vision above. Click here to jump to the example.
Agile doesn’t mean Aimless
Anyone who’s developed a strategy and roadmap knows how much effort goes into doing it right. That doesn’t mean it has to be slow. People throughout your organization already know what needs to change; listen to them and involve them in the creation process. That kind of inclusion builds momentum faster and creates buy-in as you go.
My rules:
- Spend just enough time to confirm you’re pointed in the right direction, even without all the answers.
- As each phase approaches, then dig in for the details.
- Conditions will shift. Stay flexible. Anchor your plans in vision so every pivot remains strategic.
One of the advantages of this approach has is that you don’t need to overhaul a large document when something changes. Need to handle additional work? Insert a new column. Do two similar functions need different outcomes? Insert a new row. Keep is simple, make it yours while always keeping the vision in view.
Where Braided Strategy Comes In
Many internal teams are so consumed by daily operations that efforts to develop a vision and strategy get postponed or become an exercise in an annual retreat and quickly forgotten.
That’s where Braided Strategy helps. We work alongside your executive team and across your organization to:
- Articulate a clear, resonant vision that is rooted in your priorities and culture.
- Break down silos to co-create a strategy and roadmap that delivers on that vision.
- Ensure that technology is integrated into business transitions, from M&A to modernization.
- Turn internal insights into informed, actionable plans that move with purpose.
Escape velocity isn’t about rushing—it’s about moving with direction, clarity and unity at every level. At Braided Strategy, we help you move not just faster, but smarter, by braiding together vision, strategy and execution into a cohesive, forward-driving rhythm.
Learn more here: www.braidedstrategy.com and schedule a time to talk here.
| Function | Current State | End of Phase 1 | End of Phase 2 | Future State |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Works | Fossil-fueled fleet | Begin replacing vehicles with hybrid/electric models Install fleet charging hubs | Complete fleet electrification. Deploy fleet management software; optimize routes with real-time data | Fully electric fleet powered by renewables with IoT-enabled route optimization and maintenance monitoring |
| Facilities Management | Manual building controls, low-efficiency HVAC and lighting | Conduct energy audits Pilot smart thermostats and lighting systems Install solar on city buildings. | Upgrade insulation, lighting and HVAC Install IoT sensors for real-time monitoring of HVAC, lighting, and occupancy | Fully automated building energy systems that adjust usage based on demand and occupancy Net-zero energy across municipal buildings |
| Planning & Zoning | Traditional permitting, car-centric design | Embed smart infrastructure into building codes Update zoning for density | Use digital twins to model environmental impact of developments Launch walkable, transit-oriented development pilot | All development aligns with smart growth, energy performance metrics and reduces vehicle miles |
| Utilities / Energy | Fragmented metering, mixed energy sources | Partner on solar fields and other renewable energy investments Pilot AMI (Advanced Metering Infrastructure) and monitor usage patterns | Integrate community solar into neighborhoods Implement demand-response tech and smart grid tie-ins | Real-time energy balancing with community solar, storage, and dynamic pricing |
| Community Engagement | Reactive, one-way communication | Launch climate awareness campaign with schools and residents. Develop a mobile app for sustainability engagement and reporting | Form a community advisory council on climate planning with a commitment to implement reasonable proposals In the mobile app, provide dashboards and alerts on personal and citywide energy usage | Residents co-manage sustainability through transparent digital engagement and other community programs |
| IT / GIS / Innovation | Disconnected data across departments, limited automation | Centralize environmental and energy usage data Prototype dashboards showing emissions, energy usage, etc. | Integrate IoT data into a unified analytics platform for tracking progress | Real-time carbon tracking dashboard for transparent governance Unified climate intelligence system with predictive modeling and AI-based tools |
