Product backlog management responsibility
Hi All,
I wanted to gain clarification regarding two statements in the scrum guide.
The guide says "The Product Owner is the sole person responsible for managing the Product Backlog" , however, it also says "The Product Owner may do the above work, or have the Development Team do it. However, the Product Owner remains accountable.".
Therefore, is it not right to say that the work of managing the product backlog does not solely belong to the product owner??
It's important to be clear about where responsibility lies irrespective of how the execution of work occurs.
@Ian, If asked if the product backlog is managed solely by the product owner -True or False, then based on what the scrum guide says, wouldnt it be appropriate to say False?
Not necessarily, because the Product Owner can authorize the Development Team to work on the Product Backlog. This may or may not be seen as "managing" it. Hence it is important to be quite clear about the actual responsibility for Product Backlog management (i.e. in the sense of accountability), which always lies with the Product Owner.
Managing the product backlog is the sole responsibility of the Product Owner. It may or may not be solely performed by the Product Owner.
For your hypothetical question, I would answer True. Having the option to delegate work does not change the intent of the activity, or the responsibility of who maintains, monitors and manages that activity. Yes, there is a possible scenario where someone other than the product owner can manage the backlog, but that is an allowed exception, rather than part of the core definition.
Fantastic guys !! read through the comments I am forced to say great clarifications..