Be decisive
A Product Owner is the ultimate decision maker, meaning that they are empowered to make final decisions for the product. This includes decisions related to product vision, strategy, goals and the Product Backlog. In addition, a Product Owner’s ability to make informed and definitive decisions is essential in a fast changing environment. They should be able to evaluate alternatives, analyze trade-offs, and make choices that maximize product value swiftly. They also must be able to say "no" in order to maintain focus on high-value product features.
While the Product Owner is the final decision maker, remember to involve the rest of the Scrum Team in decision-making as a way to build a well informed and successful product and also as a way to create buy-in. Without buy-in from the Scrum Team, a Product Owner can come off as a disconnected manager.
There are different ways for a Product Owner to involve Developers in decision making. For example, Developers can provide technical insights and domain knowledge that the Product Owner might not have. This engagement contributes to a Product Owner’s ability to make well-informed decisions, because Developers can help them understand what is technically feasible and what is not. Additionally, different perspectives can lead to innovative solutions that the Product Owner alone would not consider.
As a Product Owner, you may also decide to delegate some decisions. For example, there may be decisions that you know others are much more qualified to make, or where you feel that your input is not needed and would slow down progress unnecessarily. If you choose to delegate decision authority to others, make that clear and respect it. Regardless of how a decision is made for the product, a Product Owner is and will always be accountable for it.
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