Product Owner vs. Scrum Master: Check out can they are the same person or share each other’s roles or responsibilities. What happens if they do?
Product Owner is the prime stakeholder in Agile methodology. He is basically the network for all other persons involved in a project. Scrum master is on the hand bound to the Scrum team. His job is to remove impediments and ensure implementation happens successfully.
Product Owner vs. Scrum Master in Agile
There are a lot of debates on whether the product owner and scrum master can be the same person or not.
Can the Product Owner and Scrum Master be the Same?
The straightforward answer is ‘No.’ The reason is that the role each of them performs in the Scrum team is quite contradictory.
What happens if they do?
The ScrumMaster focuses on supporting and protecting the team. He helps the team to achieve a sustainable pace so that they can accomplish their tasks. Removes any impediments that may hamper the team’s progress, and facilitates meetings.
Thus, he is the one who puts in every possible effort to help the team perform at their best. He will never try to force the team to over-commit. in fact, he protects the team members in such situations. In short, he works as a servant leader for the group.
On the other hand, the Product Owner focuses on prioritizing the tasks and getting the Backlog ready. He can any time ask the team to increase productivity for the benefit of the business. As the project progresses, there may be disagreements between the PO and the Scrum Master on various matters.
These kinds of conflicts are healthy as well as essential for the success of the project. But, when the same person plays both roles, he may get inclined towards one position doing injustice to the other, thus ending up with issues.
The above are some essential roles of a Product Manager and Scrum Master in an Agile Scrum framework. Hope, you would now have a better idea of how both of them operate. If you also wish to groom yourself in any of these roles, then read this article thoroughly.
Please note that both roles require you to be good at communication, but a solid technical background would help immensely.
Check out – Product Manager Role and Responsibilities
