The Evidence Ladder Worksheet

How to use this worksheet

Most roadmap decisions feel like choices when they're actually bets. This worksheet makes the bet visible before you place it, so you can decide whether the odds are worth it.

1. 1) Open your roadmap

   Find the items you have committed to, or are about to commit to, for your next sprint or quarter. Don't use your backlog. Use what's active or imminent. That is where the real risk lives.

2. 2) Type in your top 3–5 items

   One item per card. Write it the way it appears on your roadmap, a feature name, a problem statement, a capability. Don't explain it. If you can't name it in 8 words, that's information too.

3. 3) Score each item honestly

   For each item, pick the evidence level that is honestly true, not where you'd like to be, not where you could claim to be with a generous interpretation. The worksheet only works if you are accurate. 

4. 4) Read your results

   The worksheet gives you an average score and a breakdown. Items at Level 1–2 belong in your discovery backlog. Items at Level 3–4 belong in your delivery backlog. Those are different lists. 

5. 5) Act on the action column

   Each scored item shows a next action. Validate now means stop, talk to customers. Broaden signal means find more independent sources. Seek commitment means get someone to pay or pre-commit. Build with confidence means go.