A product owner is a key component of a Scrum team. The PO needs to have a vision of the product that needs to be developed and facilitate the development team to achieve that vision. He needs to be acquainted with the product’s business for a successful Scrum software development. The product owner also plans the product backlog and sprint timeline. But, even though the PO plans the backlog, it’s the development team who decides how much product update can be delivered by them in the next sprint. Simply put, the PO manages the development team and is the primary decision-maker in any project. If you have a technical background a good knowledge of Scrum, you can advance your career by taking the Certified Scrum Product Owner course to understand the roles and duties of a PO.
Scrum product owner role
The role of a product owner is the most significant in the Scrum team. A product owner is responsible for the entire product development cycle, including planning the product timeline, collaborating with stakeholders, etc. Here are some of the roles associated with a Scrum product owner.
Keeping track of backlog
Building and maintaining product backlog is one of the responsibilities of a PO. Backlogs are prioritized as per user value and time, and managing the backlog timelines is the product owner’s job.
Joining in the team demo
The product owner is accountable for user stories, which also includes reviewing and accepting the stories by the development team. This makes it essential for the product owner to participate in the team demo.
Overseeing development
Once the vision and priorities are set, the product owner also needs to ensure that the development is going as planned. This involves refining the product developments and addressing any issues of the development team.
Acting as a link between the development team and stakeholders
A PO is the primary liaison between the development team and the stakeholders and customers. As such, the product owner needs to have good communication skills as well.
Difference between product owner and ScrumMaster
A Scrum framework consists of three roles: the product owner, ScrumMaster, and the development team. The role of a ScrumMaster and Product Owner are different, but they complement each other.
Responsibilities of a ScrumMaster
- Improving efficiency of the development team and facilitate better vision.
- Managing Scrum processes by coordinating with the Scrum team.
- Helping product owner plan product backlog so it’s ready for the next Sprint.
- Moving impediments hindering the development progress.
- Helping the development focus on the product and keeping them away from distractions
- Ensuring adoption and proper use of processes by conducting inspection meetings.
Responsibilities of a product owner
- Understanding the customer’s product and its business value.
- Being available for the development for solving issues and implementing features.
- Should be able to solve problems with adequate analysis and decision making.
- Guiding marketing and sales persons to achieve goals.
- Understanding the product from an end-user’s perspective and implementing updates accordingly.
- Updating the stakeholders about the product’s progress regularly.
Steps to become a certified Scrum product owner
A scrum product owner needs to have business as well as technical knowledge. A basic knowledge of Scrum is also an asset if you want to be a product owner. Here’s the path to be a successful product owner:
Educational requirements: Bachelor’s degree
Skills: Communication and interpersonal skills, technical knowledge, analytical and organizational skills
Having a product management background can also help you advance your PO career faster. Taking a CSPO training can also help you get a foot in the door, especially if you have extensive Scrum knowledge.
Career scope for a Scrum product owner
The average salary for a Scrum product owner in India is Rs. 20,00,00 annually, according to Glassdoor. There is an increase in demand for a product owner not just in India but globally. A survey by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 12% growth for Computer and Information managers in 2016-2026.
The average salary for this job is $81,000 in the US, according to Payscale.
A Final Word
Understanding the client’s business is a large part of being a product owner, but an individual needs many other skills as well to be a successful product owner. These skills include communication, decision-making, business savvy, problem-solving, and more. If you have these skills and are interested in the business part of product development, then taking a CSPO course will give you a stepping stone in your career.
