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The Product Owner asks the Scrum Master's recommendation; when the the Scrum Team waits for a specific component software which has to be supplied by external supplier & without that there wouldn't be enough work for the Development Team to perform

Last post 09:14 pm October 17, 2021 by Reshma Anand
5 replies
03:55 pm December 14, 2020

The Product Owner asks the Scrum Master's recommendation; when the the Scrum Team waits for a specific component software which has to be supplied by external supplier & without that there wouldn't be enough work for the Development Team to perform in the next Sprint. 

As a Scrum Master what would you opine to the Product Owner?

 

> Make the Product Owner to Recall that his one of the responsibility is to maintain a consistent flow of value which must reflect in the ordering of the Product Backlog items

 

> Recommend the Product Owner to re-order the Product Backlog items so that the work that needs the involvement of specific component software can be taken up in the next Sprint

 

> Recommend the Product Owner to order the Product Backlog items in such a way that it maximizes the utilization of Development team effort

 

Note - I feel the 2nd option makes sense, what's your point of view!

 

 


10:26 pm December 14, 2020

If a Product Owner is accountable for maximizing value, do you still think the 2nd option is best? If so, can you explain why?


10:33 pm December 14, 2020

The Product Owner asks the Scrum Master's recommendation; when the the Scrum Team waits for a specific component software which has to be supplied by external supplier & without that there wouldn't be enough work for the Development Team to perform in the next Sprint. 

What would that tell you about the effectiveness and timeliness of Product Backlog refinement, if this dependency was uncovered just before the next Sprint?


06:41 pm January 23, 2021

The first answer is the correct one.  Another point that is not mentioned though is that the SM should then coach the PO on their scrum responsibilities.


03:04 pm May 11, 2021

If going beyond these few possible answers, what would be the best recommendation?

I would say that PO should bear in mind that her main concern is value, but the same time she should reflect the external dependency (potential delay of component) in the backlog order, right?

 


02:30 pm October 17, 2021

no where in the scrum guide it mentions that the Scrum Master TELLs the Product Owner what to do so and what he cant so His job is totally to remind the Product Owner that his job is to represent the flow of VALUE !!


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