Facilitate toward value

Facilitation in Scrum is often seen as a Scrum Master responsibility. However anyone in the team can act as a facilitator, and it is an especially good skill for a Product Owner to develop.

Here are some situations in which a Product Owner’s facilitation skills come in handy:

  • To facilitate interactions and enable strong collaboration between a variety of stakeholders and Developers 
  • To create an environment where everyone feels inspired to share feedback and ideas
  • To gather and incorporate valuable feedback from stakeholders, including customers and users in Sprint Reviews 
  • To make better informed decisions by leveraging the expertise, experience and perspectives from others
  • To gain strong buy in on an idea or initiative 
  • To lead effective meetings and workshops with stakeholders from different backgrounds.This may include events such as the Sprint Review.

Everyone in the organization should respect the Product Owner’s decisions for the product, creating shared understanding, exploring diverse opinions and ideas. Additionally, achieving strong buy-in among stakeholders and the Scrum Team can have a great impact on the success of the product. Effective facilitation can help a Product Owner with these interactions.


 

Resources:

Blog Post
Picture for Wilbert Seele Wilbert Seele
In this blog, PSTs Sjoerd Kranendonk and Wilbert Seele explain how to achieve more and risk less by being a less visible Product Owner. In the Scrum Guide the following is written about the role of the PO: "The Product Owner is responsible for maximizing the value of the product and the work of the ...
4.8 from 2 ratings
April 19, 2018
Blog Post
Picture for Stas Pavlov Stas Pavlov
This blog explores the crucial role of a Product Owner (PO) in managing the Product Backlog. Through facilitation, a PO can enhance team and stakeholder understanding of the Product Backlog, turning it into a narrative that drives everyone towards a shared vision and product goal. We discuss how the...
5 from 3 ratings
September 28, 2023
 

What did you think about this content?

Included In

Learning Series
This learning series highlights 9 ways a Product Owner can boost their effectiveness.