Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I)People & TeamsHard
The Product Owner on a Scrum Team frequently bypasses the Developers to communicate directly with individual stakeholders, sometimes making commitments for features that are not yet refined or estimated. This creates confusion and disrupts the Developers' focus. How should the Scrum Master address this situation?
- ACoach the Product Owner on their role as the sole voice of the Product Backlog and the importance of engaging the Developers.
- BInform the stakeholders that all communication regarding product features must go through the Scrum Team as a whole.
- CSchedule a meeting with the Product Owner and Developers to establish clear communication protocols.
- DEncourage the Developers to politely redirect stakeholders to the Product Owner for all feature-related discussions.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. Coach the Product Owner on their role as the sole voice of the Product Backlog and the importance of engaging the Developers.
The Product Owner is accountable for maximizing product value and managing the Product Backlog. Coaching the Product Owner on their role, especially their accountability for Product Backlog content and stakeholder management, is crucial. This helps them understand the impact of bypassing the Developers and fosters better collaboration within the Scrum Team.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. This is a directive to external stakeholders, which may be necessary eventually, but the primary focus should be on coaching the Product Owner about their role first.
- C. While communication protocols are good, the core issue is the Product Owner's understanding and enactment of their specific role accountabilities within Scrum.
- D. While Developers should be empowered, this is a reactive measure and puts the burden on them. The Scrum Master should proactively coach the Product Owner to prevent the issue.
Product Owner Accountability
The Product Owner is accountable for maximizing the value of the product resulting from the work of the Scrum Team, and for effective Product Backlog management.
- Solely accountable for the Product Backlog and its ordering.
- Manages stakeholders and their expectations regarding the product.
- Collaborates closely with the Developers and Scrum Master.
Memory trick: One voice, one backlog, one happy team.