Can we have more than one Product Owner? cover image
Product Ownership

Can we have more than one Product Owner?

Using s a metaphor to illustrate the potential impact of having more than one product owner per product.

Profile image of Johannes Geske Profile image of Oliver Monneke
Johannes Geske, Oliver Monneke
Apr 30, 2020 • 5 min read
4.55 (11)
Product Ownership
Backlog Management
Feature Prioritization
Roles & Responsibilities
Roles

Summary

Learn why the Scrum guide emphasizes that a product owner should be one person, not a committee. Using a boat and crew metaphor to answer the question '' Can we have more than one product owner',' it concludes that a single accountable person whose decisions are respected by the entire organization brings clarity and speed that significantly increase your chances of success.

Takeaways

  • If you are a Product Owner, a Development Team, or a manager working with a Scrum Team struggling with this, you shouldn't hold back. Whatever your role, you can use this metaphor to start a conversation that might lead to improvements and optimized value.
  • If you are a Scrum Master, you are responsible for the implementation of Scrum. It's your accountability to make this situation and the (potential) implications transparent.

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