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Product Owner and Scrum Master at the same time

Last post 09:41 pm August 29, 2017 by Timothy Baffa
3 replies
05:39 pm August 29, 2017

Is it advisable to be a Product owner and a Scum Master at the same time?


08:29 pm August 29, 2017

It is not stated in the Scrum Guide, but it is definitely one of the main unofficial "rule" that the Scrum Master should not be also the PO for the same product.


08:54 pm August 29, 2017

While it is not explicitly denied by the scrum guide, it is for sure not advisable for various reasons.

Have a read here to find out more about the conflicts which may arise by having one person doing both roles:

https://www.mountaingoatsoftware.com/blog/scrummasters-should-not-also-…


09:41 pm August 29, 2017

If you like sports, then I propose the following analogy:

 

Think of a Scrum Master as a personal trainer, with a deep understanding about athletic performance, physiology, etc., and dedicated to helping the athletes and the "team" perform better, get stronger...

Now, think of the Product Owner as a head coach, developing the game strategy, and "managing" the work (plays) that the team performs both in practice and on the field.

 

While a head coach and a personal trainer can theoretically be the same person, what are the potential benefits to such an approach?   What are the drawbacks, if any?

 


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