Technology Roadmaps (TRMs) have become indispensable tools for aligning research and development efforts with strategic objectives. Highly graphical in nature, TRMs often receive criticism for their static nature and designs. In this study, we propose the integration of visual analytics (VA) techniques to enhance the usability, insights, and interactivity of TRM applications. Following a user-centered design approach, we collected requirements from seven stakeholders and developed two interactive prototypes: a flat-style Dashboard design and a nested-style Drill-down design. Comparative user evaluations revealed differing strengths, favoring Dashboard design particularly for its simplicity and ease of access. Based on our findings, we present a set of generalized design guidelines and introduce a Three-Stage Design Model that guides developers from structuring data to enabling user sensemaking in TRMs.
Betz et al. (Wed,) studied this question.