What is the function of a roadmap in APM?

The function of a roadmap in Application Portfolio Management (APM) is crucial for establishing the strategic direction for application management. A roadmap serves as a guide that aligns application initiatives with business objectives, helping organizations to visualize their current application landscape and plan for future enhancements, replacements, or retirements of applications.

By outlining the strategic direction, the roadmap provides a framework for decision-making, enabling stakeholders to prioritize applications based on their alignment with business goals and the overall value they bring to the organization. This strategic approach ensures that resources are allocated efficiently and that the application portfolio evolves in a way that continues to support the changing needs of the business.

Other options, while they address important aspects of APM, do not capture the overarching purpose of a roadmap. Tracking individual application usage mainly focuses on operational metrics, benchmarking against competitors emphasizes external comparisons, and documenting user feedback deals with specific user inputs rather than the broader strategic framework necessary for effective application management.