Dual Roles Of A Product Owner – The Stakeholders And The Team, How To Balance Them?

A product owner has several responsibilities, and is required to focus upon certain important aspects while scrum framework is being implemented in the project:

• To think about the end users, market conditions, and the stakeholders on one hand,
• And to represent the scrum team on the other.

It is not an easy job to carry out. Quite often, the product owner may face dilemmas while carrying out the responsibilities on behalf of the stakeholders – to convince the team members to deliver successful product increments, and to act in their best interests. It can be a challenging position indeed.
 

The outward view: Users, customers, and stakeholders

The first and the foremost priority of the product owner is to understand the primary needs of the end users and customers. The basic purpose of having a scrum project and implementing scrum methodology in it is to develop an “acceptable” product. The end users are important for the project since they determine whether the product is going to succeed in the market, and, what the ideal product should really offer to be successful. The person may be required to conduct personal and group interviews to understand their needs in depth, and avail a clear vision as to what kind of product they really desire and expect. As is the case, many times users have their own ideas as to what the end product should typically offer in terms of features and functionalities. The product owner is forced to review their expectations and ideas at a macro level and ascertain the practical aspects pertaining to the product to be developed. If the users have varying requirements, or differing perspectives, as to what the product should consist of, it is eventually up to the product owner to decide which of the aspects discussed are really important and feasible, and which can be incorporated in the project.
 

The stakeholders are important since they invest into the project. The product owner receives the actual product related requirements from them. However, their priorities and perspective are focused more upon generating a profit out of the project, and it is up to the product owner to deliver the project – nicely wrapped up and ‘ready for sale’. The stakeholders also remunerate the efforts of the entire scrum team including the product owner. It is therefore essential that the product owner complies with their instructions and act in their direct interests.
 

The product owner has to respond to the questions put forward by the users, customers, and the stakeholders. He or she has to advise them, and maintain a vision that can best convey what is important and profitable to them. 
 

The inward view: The scrum team – scrum master and the development team

While the stakeholders and the end users are important, the development team and the scrum master too are important to the product owner since they are directly responsible for developing the project. Scrum supports collaboration, and the entire team collaborates with the product owner while scrum is implemented in the project. Needless to say, without their help, it is not possible for the product owner to deliver anything.
 

In most cases, the product owner acts as a facilitator and ensures the team is properly working at all times. He or she has to remain close to the actual development work, and be available whenever the team faces any problems or issues with the acceptance criteria linked with the user stories, and resolve the issues when they occur. The product owner has certain responsibilities towards them. Apart from being a product owner, the person also acts as their mentor, guide, and a good friend whenever his or her role so demands. 
 

Balancing the views: Switching the role as per requirement

Even though the role played by a product owner is a difficult one, it is not an impossible. One does not have to be a specially gifted person to tackle both the aspects faced while executing the project. It is essential, and very much required, to balance both the aspects and switch the roles depending upon the situations you face. Flexibility of the thought processes, ability to communicate in an effective manner, and negotiating with people can go a long way in making the work easy as a product owner. The PO is required to keep a firm eye, peruse the market conditions, and handle the stakeholders when his or her role demands. Simultaneously, keeping a humane attitude while interacting with the team members can go a long way in keeping the person popular.
 

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