A practical way to manage multiple teams is through the art of delegation. While the Scrum guide emphasizes a single product owner for a product, managing multiple scrum teams may require partitioning the responsibilities of the Product Owner role.
Feature or Component Teams
Firstly, responsibilities can be divided among Product Owners based on feature or component teams. This method splits the work based on the features the product has or its components. Each Product Owner then becomes responsible for a set of features or components. This way, they can ensure that their teams are aligned regarding its specific component or feature.
| Single-PO Team | Feature or Component Teams | |
|---|---|---|
| Pros | Clear leadership, single voice, and vision for product. | Each team can focus on inherent and technical details of their part. |
| Cons | Single point of failure, high workload, potential for bottlenecks. | Coordination between teams can be challenging, oversight required to ensure integrated functioning. |
Example: For instance, in the development of a CRM system, one Product Owner could focus on the sales module, another on customer service, and another on the reporting function.
Hierarchical Product Ownership
Another form of delegation is hierarchical. A Chief Product Owner (CPO) can be appointed who will manage and make final decisions regarding the product as a whole. The CPO can have several Product Owners under them, each assigned to a scrum team.
| Single-PO Team | Hierarchical Product Ownership | |
|---|---|---|
| Pros | All information is focused, can build strong team-product owner relationship. | Effective when teams have a clear demarcation of responsibilities. A CPO ensures overall alignment of the product vision. |
| Cons | The workload can be overwhelming, impacting efficiency and effectiveness. | Coordination and communication between the CPO and team Product Owners require more effort. |
Example: In the development of an e-commerce platform, the CPO will ensure the overall alignment of the platform vision. Product Owners could manage specific aspects such as customer experience, order processing, vendor onboarding, etc.
Regular Synchronization
In addition to effective delegation, regular synchronization meetings can significantly mitigate the challenges of multi-team scenarios. Being proactive in facilitating these meetings among the members of the different Scrum teams will aid in addressing cross-team dependencies, conflicts, and ensuring aligned understanding.
Scrums of Scrums
Scrums of Scrums meetings have proven to be effective when Product Owners manage multiple teams. In this meeting, a representative from each team discusses progress, obstacles, and interdependencies, ensuring better synchronization across teams.
Product Owner Sync
Another approach is having a Product Owner Sync meeting, where POs from each Scrum team can meet to discuss concerns, align on priorities and synchronize the overall product goal. It’s a proactive way to identify potential conflicts or challenges and address them before they escalate.
Example: In an application-building project, regular synchronization meetings across UI, Backend, and QA teams can help in maintaining the consistency of the build and release cycles.
In conclusion, the effectiveness of a Product Owner lies in being able to manage not just the product but also the connected dynamics of multiple teams involved. Effective delegation by feature or hierarchy, and consistent communication through regular synchronization meetings are two strategies that POs can employ when managing multiple Scrum teams.
Remember, the key is to drive focus, foster better understanding, facilitate swift conflict resolution, and ensure a cohesive and aligned objective across all teams. These strategies aren’t guarantees but guidelines that can create roadmaps to better management and higher productivity.
Practice Test
1) True or False: A Product Owner can never successfully manage multiple Scrum Teams.
• True
• False
Answer: False
Explanation: Even though it’s challenging, a Product Owner can manage multiple Scrum Teams by implementing certain strategies such as empowering the team, efficient communication, and prioritization of tasks.
2) Single Select: What is a key strategy for a Product Owner managing multiple Scrum Teams?
• a) Ignoring smaller teams
• b) Micromanaging every task
• c) Giving all teams independent authority
• d) Prioritizing tasks
Answer: d) Prioritizing tasks
Explanation: Prioritizing tasks ensures that all teams are working on the most important features of the product at any given time.
3) Multiple Select: Which techniques can a Product Owner employ to manage multiple Scrum Teams?
• a) Delegation
• b) Micromanagement
• c) Regular synchronization meetings
• d) Ignoring feedback from less important teams
Answer: a) Delegation, c) Regular synchronization meetings
Explanation: Delegation and regular synchronization meetings help a Product Owner to better manage workload and streamline communication between various teams.
4) True or False: Ignoring smaller teams can help a Product Owner concentrate on larger teams while managing multiple Scrum Teams.
• True
• False
Answer: False
Explanation: Every team, no matter their size, is equally important in Scrum. Ignoring smaller teams can lead to overlooked errors and reduce overall productivity.
5) Single Select: When a Product Owner is managing multiple teams, which of the following should they do?
• a) Prioritize which teams they pay attention to
• b) Engage with all teams and stakeholders equally
• c) Overload one team with all the critical tasks
Answer: b) Engage with all teams and stakeholders equally
Explanation: Engaging with all teams equally ensures efficient communication and better product development.
6) True or False: Developing a distinct vision for each Scrum team is a strategy a Product Owner can use to manage multiple teams.
• True
• False
Answer: True
Explanation: Each team should have a clear understanding of the project’s vision and its role in achieving it. This will keep teams aligned and focused on the goals.
7) Multiple Select: As a Product Owner, which, among the following, are beneficial strategies for managing multiple Scrum Teams?
• a) Establishing clearly defined roles
• b) Avoiding regular meetings
• c) Prioritizing the backlog
• d) Ignoring feedback from the teams
Answer: a) Establishing clearly defined roles, c) Prioritizing the backlog
Explanation: Establishing clearly defined roles ensures every team member knows their responsibilities. Prioritizing the backlog ensures the most important tasks are tackled first.
8) Single Select: Predictability in delivery is key when a Product Owner manages multiple teams. How can this be achieved?
• a) By clearly defining goals
• b) By ignoring smaller tasks
• c) By using one backlog for all teams
• d) Both a and c
Answer: d) Both a and c
Explanation: Clearly defining goals gives teams a clear direction, and using one backlog ensures all teams can see what tasks are at high priority.
9) True or False: A Product Owner for multiple Scrum Teams should focus less on communicating with stakeholders.
• True
• False
Answer: False
Explanation: Good stakeholder communication is essential for product development and addressing any issues or changes that arise in the process.
10) Multiple Select: As a Product Owner managing multiple teams, which measures can help achieve consistent delivery?
• a) Following a common Definition of Done
• b) Assigning unrelated tasks to each team
• c) Allowing each team to operate in silos
• d) Having regular cross-team meetings
Answer: a) Following a common Definition of Done, d) Having regular cross-team meetings
Explanation: Following a common Definition of Done ensures everyone understands when a task is completed. Regular cross-team meetings facilitate collaboration and issue resolution.
Interview Questions
What is one challenge of a Product Owner managing multiple Scrum Teams?
One big challenge is maintaining clear and consistent communication between multiple teams. This can lead to misunderstandings and discordance in the teams’ work.
What can be done to overcome the communication challenge when a Product Owner is managing multiple Scrum Teams ?
The Product Owner has a key role in setting up regular communication channels, such as scheduled meetings, to ensure consistency and clarity of communication.
What is another challenge of a Product Owner managing multiple Scrum Teams?
Another challenge can be ensuring a consistent product vision across all teams.
How can a Product Owner ensure a consistent product vision across all Scrum Teams?
The Product Owner should create a clear and compelling product vision and communicate it effectively to all teams. Regular check-ins can help ensure all teams understand and are working towards the same vision.
What strategy can a Product Owner employ to manage workload while managing multiple Scrum Teams?
The Product Owner must be skilled at prioritizing and delegating tasks efficiently. This includes the use of tools and processes such as a product backlog to manage work.
What role does a Scrum Master play in helping a Product Owner manage multiple Scrum Teams?
Scrum Masters can help facilitate communication, resolve conflicts and remove obstacles, making it easier for the Product Owner to manage the team.
What challenge can come from having multiple Product Owners rather than one Product Owner for multiple teams?
Having multiple Product Owners can potentially lead to conflicting visions or priorities, which can cause confusion and slow down progress.
How can the issue of conflicting visions from multiple Product Owners be resolved?
All Product Owners need to align on a single product vision and prioritize together to avoid conflicts and ensure consistency.
What must a Product Owner avoid when managing multiple Scrum Teams?
A Product Owner must avoid favoring one team over another to prevent any conflict or demotivation among teams.
How can the Product Owner ensure consistency in product backlog handling across multiple teams?
The Product Owner should standardize the process of product backlog handling. This includes creating a transparent process for adding, changing, and prioritizing backlog items.
How does effective stakeholder management help a Product Owner manage multiple Scrum Teams?
Effective stakeholder management ensures that the teams get timely feedback and helps in managing scope and priorities more efficiently.
What role can training play in helping a Product Owner manage multiple Scrum Teams?
Training can help in imparting the necessary skills and knowledge required for team members to understand the product vision and their roles effectively.
What steps should a Product Owner take to build trust among multiple Scrum Teams?
The Product Owner should promote open communication, respond positively to feedback, and consistently support team members in their roles.
Why is it important for a Product Owner to handle conflicts quickly and effectively when managing multiple Scrum Teams?
Quick and effective conflict resolution maintains the harmony of the team, ensures smooth workflow and prevents any possible negative impact on the product.
What can help a Product Owner overcome the challenge of distance or time-difference when managing multiple Scrums Teams?
Using technology to facilitate communication, such as conference calls or virtual meetings, can help to overcome challenges of distance or time-difference.
extutorials.com