On the team level in SAFe, the same role names are used as in Scrum. This creates some confusion. Until the version SAFe 6.0, the process inside the team was called Scrum XP, and now it’s called SAFe Scrum. Both of these names suggest a kind of continuity, but one should not expect a perfect resemblance. Even entities with the same names differ in content between SAFe Scrum and regular Scrum. To draw your attention to these differences, we are starting a series of posts describing the features of SAFe Scrum. Today we will talk about the role of the Product Owner.
The role of the Product Owner (PO) stands as a pivotal point of influence in delivering value to customers. Two prominent frameworks, SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework) and Scrum, have their unique approaches to defining and executing the responsibilities of a Product Owner. Here, we will delve into the core differences between the Product Owner role in SAFe and Scrum. We will shed light on their distinct scopes, responsibilities, required skills, and common aspects.
Product owner in SAFe Scrum:
Scope:
- Enterprise Level: Within SAFe, the Product Owner operates on a broader canvas, functioning at the Program and Portfolio levels. This means dealing with larger-scale solutions involving multiple Agile Release Trains (ARTs) and teams.
- Alignment with Business Strategy: SAFe places significant emphasis on aligning the product development with the overarching business strategy of the organization. This ensures that every product increment contributes to the broader organizational goals.
Responsibilities:
- Portfolio Backlog: In SAFe, the Product Owner’s scope extends to the Portfolio backlog, making strategic contributions to the entire enterprise. This includes managing a portfolio of value streams, products, or solutions.
- Coordination with Other POs: Collaboration is a cornerstone of SAFe. SAFe Product Owners work closely with other Product Owners and stakeholders, ensuring a cohesive strategy across various teams and value streams. This collaborative approach is essential to achieve alignment and coherence at scale.
Skills:
- Business and Strategic Acumen: To navigate the complexities of the enterprise, SAFe Product Owners need a deep understanding of the business, market dynamics, and strategic goals. This knowledge enables them to make informed decisions that impact the organization’s bottom line.
- Stakeholder Management: Managing stakeholders becomes more intricate in SAFe, as it involves coordination with multiple teams, business units, and sometimes external partners. Effective communication and diplomacy are vital skills in this context.
Product Owner in Scrum:
Scope:
- Team Level: In contrast to SAFe, Scrum confines the Product Owner’s sphere of influence to a single Scrum Team, focusing primarily on team-level product development.
- Product Backlog: Scrum Product Owners own the product backlog, which is specific to the product being developed by their Scrum Team. The product backlog contains the prioritized items that the team will work on in the upcoming sprints.
Responsibilities:
- Sprint Planning: Scrum Product Owners are actively involved in sprint planning sessions. During these collaborative meetings, they work closely with the development team to select backlog items for the upcoming sprint, ensuring that the team has a clear understanding of what needs to be built.
- Close Collaboration with Development Team: Continuous communication and collaboration are pivotal in Scrum. Product Owners maintain an open channel with the development team, answering questions, providing clarifications, and ensuring that the product increment aligns with the desired goals.
Skills:
- Vision and Prioritization: Scrum Product Owners must possess a strong product vision and the ability to prioritize effectively. This ensures that the team maximizes the value delivered within each sprint.
- Communication and Collaboration: Effective communication with the team and stakeholders is paramount for Scrum Product Owners. Clear articulation of priorities and close collaboration with the development team ensures that the product increment aligns with customer needs and business objectives.
Common Aspects:
Customer Focus:
Both SAFe and Scrum place a strong emphasis on understanding and meeting customer needs. In both frameworks, the Product Owner must ensure that the delivered product provides tangible value to the end-users.
Empowerment:
Product Owners in both SAFe and Scrum make decisions about the product backlog and its priorities. It is their responsibility to steer the development efforts in the right direction.
Continuous Improvement:
Both SAFe and Scrum encourage a culture of continuous improvement. Regular feedback loops and retrospectives allow teams to adapt and refine their product development processes, enhancing their ability to deliver value effectively.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, the role of the Product Owner is a critical element of success in Agile frameworks. Understanding the key differences between the Product Owner role in SAFe and Scrum is crucial for right framework implementation. While both frameworks share a focus on customer satisfaction, empowerment, and continuous improvement, the scope, responsibilities, and required skills of a Product Owner differ significantly, making it essential to select the most suitable approach based on the organization’s context and goals. Whether operating at the enterprise level in SAFe or within a single Scrum Team, a capable Product Owner is the linchpin in delivering products that meet customer expectations and drive business value.