How to Write Key Takeaway Slides (with Examples and Free Template)
This guide, written by an ex-McKinsey consultant, teaches you how to create best-practice key takeaway slides based on a proven framework.
Sep 2, 2024
Roadmap slides are found in almost every strategy and consultation presentation, but they can have very different layouts and levels of detail. In this short post, we will explore various roadmap slides and offer a few tips and tricks for building your own.
Roadmap slides are visual representations of a strategic plan, typically used in presentations by consultants, businesses, and project managers. They function like a map, laying out the key milestones, goals, activities, and timelines for achieving a particular objective.
While both roadmap slides and Gantt charts are commonly used visual representations of a plan, they typically serve different purposes.
A Gantt chart is a project management tool that assists in planning and scheduling projects of all sizes. It shows project timelines, tasks, and dependencies, making it ideal for detailed planning and visualization of complex projects. Gantt charts often serve as a shared blueprint for various departments, keeping everyone aligned and focused on their roles and overall goals.
Conversely, a strategy roadmap typically presents a broader, less granular plan focused on visualizing the steps toward a vision or goal. It helps clarify the "how" and "when" of achieving strategic objectives. Unlike Gantt charts, which follow a number of fixed design principles, there is a large degree of freedom regarding what a Strategy roadmap can look like (as seen in the examples below).
Utilize these three tips to ensure your roadmap slides are clear and engaging:
Crafting detailed roadmap slides takes time. Having a library of robust and flexible templates can speed up the process.
The Slideworks' Consulting Toolkit Template' for PowerPoint contains a range of 'consulting grade' roadmap slides, providing a solid foundation for your strategic presentations.
Here are a few examples of commonly used roadmap template slides:
Roadmap for market roll-out - Slideworks Consulting Toolkit template
Roadmap for market roll-out - Slideworks Consulting Toolkit template
Roadmap example - New digital venture. Slideworks Business Case Template
Four-phase high-level roadmap - Roadmap for the creation of a new digital venture - Slideworks Business Case Template
...And a few more examples collected across McKinsey, BCG, and Bain:
BCG Germany - 9 week project roadmap with workstreams and milestones
McKinsey - Long-term technology roadmap for an automotive OEM
Bain - High-level implementation roadmap with priorities
BCG - project roadmap with phases and high-level timelines