HKSM
product owner
The person who owns the product outcome and is accountable for the final result, guiding priorities and decisions so the product delivers the highest possible value.
Key Points
- Owns the product vision and aligns it with stakeholder needs and business goals.
- Orders and refines the product backlog to focus on the highest-value work first.
- Defines acceptance criteria and accepts or rejects completed work.
- Provides timely decisions and feedback to the team to minimize delays.
Example
On a project to launch a new mobile banking app, the product owner collaborates with stakeholders to emphasize security and onboarding features for early release. They prioritize user stories in the backlog, clarify acceptance criteria with the team, and at the sprint review accept the increment that meets the defined criteria.
PMP Example Question
During a sprint, a senior stakeholder requests an unplanned feature that could delay the current release. Who should decide whether to include it now or defer it, based on value and impact?
- Scrum Master
- Product Owner
- Development Team
- Project Sponsor
Correct Answer: B — Product owner
Explanation: The product owner is accountable for product outcomes and prioritizes the backlog to maximize value, making the call on what to include and when.
