Product ownership in Scrum methodology is all about interacting with stakeholders, defining a clear product vision, determining desirable product features, and managing the Product Backlog. The complexity of these responsibilities effectively increases as the size of the product or project scales up. It can become a challenging task for a single Product Owner to deal with. Therefore, different patterns and models are proposed in the agile community to solve the scaling issue. This article will compare and contrast two such patterns: the Proxy Product Owner pattern and the Hierarchical Product Owner pattern.
1. Proxy Product Owner (Multi-level Model)
In the Proxy Product Owner or Multi-level model, multiple Product Owners work on the same project, each with their distinct responsibilities. These Product Owners typically work as a team where one is considered the Chief Product Owner (CPO) and others become Proxy Product Owners (PPO). The CPO liaises with the stakeholders and focuses on the strategic aspects of the product like vision, roadmap etc. Meanwhile, the PPOs take care of the tactical aspects of the product like managing the Product Backlog, adding user stories, defining acceptance criteria, etc.
Let’s consider a global e-commerce platform development project with numerous teams working on various product components such as inventory management, payment gateway, customer profile, etc. In such cases, having a single Product Owner struggling to manage all the intricate details can be replaced with multiple PPOs, each assigned to a component, with the CPO overseeing the overall progress and ensuring consistency.
| Useful Aspect | Proxy Product Owner Model |
|---|---|
| Stakeholder Management | Managed by the Chief Product Owner. |
| Product Backlog Refinement | Handled by Proxy Product Owners. |
| Scalability | Suitable for large projects with discrete, distinguishable components. |
| Consistency | Maintained by Chief Product Owner. |
2. Hierarchical Product Owner (Decentralized Model)
The Hierarchical Product Owner model works on decentralization. Here, there’s a hierarchy of Product Owners with varying levels of authority and scopes of responsibilities. The hierarchy could be established based on the complexity of the product or on the organizational structure.
Suppose, an organization is doing a digital transformation initiative with different teams working on transforming sales, marketing, customer support, and HR divisions. Having one Product Owner could create havoc, hence assigning different Product Owners for each of these functions could be beneficial. Each such Product Owner oversees a strategic unit or “area” and is in charge of delivering value for that unit. At the top of this interlocked hierarchy is a Lead Product Owner, similar to the Chief Product Owner, who is accountable for the overall product vision and coordinating the efforts of each area’s Product Owners.
| Useful Aspect | Hierarchical Product Owner Model |
|---|---|
| Stakeholder Management | Each Area Product Owner deals with stakeholders of their area. |
| Product Backlog Refinement | Each Area Product Owner refines their area backlog. |
| Scalability | Suitable when the organization or product structure are categorically separated with clear hierarchies. |
| Consistency | Maintained by the Lead Product Owner overseeing individual Area Product Owners. |
In conclusion, each scaling pattern has its unique pros and cons and the appropriateness of a specific model can greatly depend on the context and characteristics of the project or product. Hence, an understanding of different patterns is essential especially when preparing for the Certified Scrum Professional – ScrumMaster (CSP-SM) exam.
Practice Test
Which of the following are patterns for scaling the Product Owner role?
- A. Chief Product Owner
- B. Feature Team Product Owner
- C. Area Product Owner
- D. All of the above.
Answer: D. All of the above.
Explanation: All of these are patterns that can be used for scaling the Product Owner role in a Scrum setup.
Which of the following patterns for scaling the Product Owner involves the PO prioritizing the Product Backlog for multiple teams?
- A. Chief Product Owner
- B. Feature Team Product Owner
- C. Area Product Owner
Answer: A. Chief Product Owner.
Explanation: In the Chief Product Owner pattern, a single PO is responsible for prioritizing the overall Product Backlog for multiple teams.
True or False: In the Area Product Owner pattern, each Product Owner is responsible for a specific functional area within the product?
Answer: True.
Explanation: The Area Product Owner pattern is used to divide the responsibilities of the PO based on different functional areas within the product.
How many teams can be managed by a single product owner in Chief Product Owner pattern?
- A. One
- B. Two
- C. More than two
- D. All of the above
Answer: C. More than two.
Explanation: Chief Product Owners typically manage the product backlog for multiple teams.
In the Feature Team Product Owner pattern, each PO is responsible for:
- A. Functional areas
- B. User Stories
- C. Specific set of features
- D. Organizational wide tasks
Answer: C. Specific set of features.
Explanation: In the Feature Team Product Owner pattern, each PO is responsible for a specific set of features being developed by a team.
True or False: The Product Owner is a part-time role in Scrum.
Answer: False.
Explanation: The Product Owner is a full-time role in Scrum, continuously engaged with the team and stakeholders to maximize the value of the product.
True or False: Scaling the Product Owner role is not necessary for big scale agile projects.
Answer: False.
Explanation: For large-scale projects with multiple teams and complex products, scaling the Product Owner role may be necessary to manage the work effectively.
The best-suited pattern for scaling the Product Owner role for complex enterprise-level products is:
- A. Chief Product Owner
- B. Feature Team Product Owner
- C. Area Product Owner
Answer: A. Chief Product Owner.
Explanation: The Chief Product Owner pattern is often used for complex, enterprise-level products where multiple teams are working on different areas of the product.
In the Area Product Owner pattern, the handoff between different Product Owners can lead to:
- A. Increased collaboration
- B. Slower decision-making
- C. Conflicts
- D. All of the above
Answer: D. All of the above.
Explanation: When multiple Area Product Owners are involved, it can lead to increased collaboration but also slower decision-making and potential conflicts.
True or False: A Feature Team Product Owner has the responsibility of coordinating with other Product Owners to ensure alignment.
Answer: True.
Explanation: In a scaled setup, Feature Team Product Owners need to coordinate with other POs to ensure alignment on the integrated product increment.
Which pattern for scaling the Product Owner role creates a hierarchy of Product Owners?
- A. Chief Product Owner
- B. Feature Team Product Owner
- C. Area Product Owner
Answer: A. Chief Product Owner.
Explanation: The Chief Product Owner pattern can create a hierarchy of Product Owners, with the Chief Product Owner overseeing one or more Area or Feature Team Product Owners.
True or False: In the Area Product Owner pattern, a single Product Owner can manage multiple areas of the product.
Answer: False.
Explanation: In the Area Product Owner pattern, each Product Owner is responsible for a specific functional area within the product.
What is a common risk involved in the Chief Product Owner pattern?
- A. Information overload
- B. Slow decision-making
- C. Miscommunication
- D. All of the above
Answer: D. All of the above.
Explanation: In the Chief Product Owner pattern, risks include information overload, slower decision-making, and miscommunication due to multiple teams and overlapping responsibilities.
True or False: The Feature Team Product Owner pattern is best suited for products with a well-defined set of features distributed across teams.
Answer: True.
Explanation: The Feature Team Product Owner pattern is often used with products that have a well-defined set of features distributed across different teams.
The Area Product Owner pattern for scaling the Product Owner role is particularly effective when:
- A. The product is complex
- B. The organization is large
- C. The product has clearly defined functional areas
- D. All of the above
Answer: C. The product has clearly defined functional areas.
Explanation: The Area Product Owner pattern is efficient when the product has distinctly defined functional areas that can each be managed by a separate Product Owner.
Interview Questions
What is the main function of the Product Owner role in Scrum?
The Product Owner is responsible for the final product’s look, order of features, and timing of releases. They are the primary stakeholders in terms of business value and profitability.
How does the Pattern “Product Owner Team” scale the Product Owner role?
The Product Owner Team pattern scales the role by establishing a team of Product Owners, typically led by a Chief Product Owner. This group shares responsibilities that would originally belong to one product owner.
What is the benefit of the “Product Owner Team” pattern?
This pattern allows for the distribution and delegation of tasks to handle more complex projects. It relies on collaboration and effective communication to make sure that everything gets done.
What are the downsides of the “Product Owner Team” pattern?
The drawbacks may include increased overhead due to the need for coordination among the Product Owners, the risk of inconsistency if not well-managed, and possible dilution of ownership.
How does the “Hierarchical Product Owners” pattern scale the Product Owner role?
In a Hierarchical Product Owners structure, responsibilities are divided between multiple product owners based on hierarchical levels. At each level, Product Owners focus on different degrees of detail.
What are the advantages of the “Hierarchical Product Owners” pattern?
It provides a clear hierarchy and accountability structure, reduces the workload of any single Product Owner by sharing responsibilities and allows for specialization among Product Owners based on the product’s features or layers.
What potential downsides might be associated with the “Hierarchical Product Owners” pattern?
Downsides can include the risks of bureaucratic inefficiencies, miscommunication between hierarchical levels, and a possible disconnect between different levels of the product’s vision.
Which pattern is most effective when the size of the product or team is significantly large?
The ‘Product Owner Team’ pattern could be more effective in such cases because it allows for delegation and shared responsibilities which could handle the complexity and size of the project more effectively.
Why is it crucial to clearly define roles and responsibilities in both Product Owner scaling patterns?
Clearly defining roles and responsibilities helps to minimize miscommunication, ensure each task is accounted for and prevents duplicate work or overlooked tasks.
How often should Product Owners at different levels or from different teams communicate in a scaled Scrum setting?
They should communicate continually to ensure alignment and that the product vision is consistent and coherent. Ideally, teams must have daily interactions for seamless coordination.
Which scaled Product Owner pattern may be best for an organization just beginning to scale Scrum?
The Hierarchical Product Owners pattern might be more suitable as it keeps most of the existing structure intact and introduces fewer complexities compared to the Product Owner Team.
Can the ‘Product Owner Team’ and ‘Hierarchical Product Owners’ patterns be mixed?
Yes, it is possible to mix these patterns as long as there is adequate communication and coordination to ensure that everyone understands their roles, responsibilities, and the overall project vision.
How can teams maintain a unified vision when scaling the Product Owner role?
Regular and effective communication between all involved parties, clear definition of tasks and roles, and a shared understanding of the product’s overall strategy and objectives can help maintain a unified vision.
How does scaling of the Product Owner role impact backlog management?
Scaling the Product Owner role often requires scaling backlog management to ensure that priorities are effectively communicated, and that backlog items are clearly defined and understood across multiple teams.
How does the Chief Product Owner role function in a scaled Scrum environment?
A Chief Product Owner leads other Product Owners, ensures a unified product vision, resolves conflicts and takes final decisions on priority and ordering of complex product backlogs.
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