Product Owner vs Scrum Master: Navigating The Agile Landscape

It takes a profound understanding of the Agile landscape to properly implement it in product management and development teams. Unfortunately, as it is still relatively new compared to other methodologies like waterfall, people are often left with numerous unfamiliarities. The product owner vs scrum master comparison is one such example.

While each role brings unique additions to the table, they’re not without similarities. It’s why people assume the two roles are the same when they’re not.

In this blog, we’ll review the distinctions and similarities these two roles have regarding their responsibilities, skills, and authority. But first, what do these roles entail?


Product owner vs scrum master: a brief overview

What is a product owner?

The term “product owner” is used in many contexts, be it in waterfall methodologies or project management. You’ll find that it has pretty much only one meaning.

The product owner is the one who defines or sets the overall direction of the product development process. That rings true in most cases—scrum teams are no exception.

Their core responsibility is to ensure the product brings value to its intended users.

What is a scrum master?

A scrum master is exactly as the name suggests. They are the master, or more precisely, the leader of the scrum development team.

For your reference, the scrum framework consists of clearly-defined rules and principles. It’s easy to deviate from these rules, especially with an inexperienced team.

The core responsibility of scrum masters is to prevent this deviation.

Of course, that’s only their primary responsibility. Each role has other, more specific responsibilities that are equally important to the team, or the scrum, in general.

Product owner vs scrum master responsibilities: key distinctions

A product owner can take their own approach to achieve their core responsibility. But amidst this freedom, they must also fulfil their key product owner responsibilities.

Source: Let’s scrum It!

Key responsibilities of a product owner

#1. Product owners define the product roadmap and vision

Before anything else, note that this responsibility doesn’t always fall on the product owner. In teams with a product owner and manager, this responsibility instead falls on the manager. But let’s assume the team only has a product owner.

In this case, the product owner will be responsible for crafting a compelling product vision. The vision must align with overall business goals and their competitive position.

The product owner must then translate this vision into an actionable roadmap that the development teams must follow. In other words, they must set the wheels in motion.

Of course, to create that vision and roadmap, they must understand market and customer needs. So, they’d often start by performing market research and analysis.

It’s also common practice for product owners to look at user stories—a brief explanation of a product feature from the perspective of a user. Here’s an example of a user story:

As a user, I want the new iPhone to feature an enhanced camera system. It should improve image quality and offer advanced image stabilisation and low-light capabilities.

#2. They communicate with the stakeholders

More often than not, a product management team would have someone communicating with the stakeholders and executives. That someone, in this case, is the product owner.

Source: The Project Group

There are four main reasons why they must communicate with stakeholders:

  • To gather their perspectives regarding business goals or objectives before crafting the product vision and roadmap.
  • To figure out what they want to see from the product and determine which deliverables (product features, security, UX) to prioritise.
  • To make adjustments to the product according to stakeholder feedback.
  • To update stakeholders regarding the product’s progress.

Like the first responsibility, in the case of a team with a product manager and owner, this responsibility falls on the former. In that scenario, the only responsibility that would fall exclusively on the product owner would be managing the backlog.

#3. Product owners manage the product backlog

The product backlog is basically a to-do list for the development teams.

It consists of items that must be done or added by the team that should supposedly improve the product. Suppose your team is developing a new line of smartphones.

Source: smartsheet

The backlog for that specific project may consist of items like:

  • Faster and more powerful processor.
  • Enhanced camera system.
  • Extended battery life.
  • Larger display.
  • Enhanced security features.
  • Expanded storage options.

The backlog isn’t just a simple list. Rather, it’s an ordered list, the top item that will always take priority. The product owner is responsible for coming up with these items or deliverables. In addition, they must also decide in what order they should be added.

They must fulfil all these responsibilities while collaborating with the scrum master.

Key responsibilities of a scrum master

#1. They ensure the team adheres to the standard scrum process

The scrum framework consists of a set of events called ceremonies, all of which are aimed towards creating a successful product.

These ceremonies are what define a scrum process.

A scrum team is supposed to perform these ceremonies regularly.

Of course, that doesn’t always happen, but that’s where the scrum master comes in.

The scrum master’s responsibility is to make sure these ceremonies are held accordingly. The daily scrums, for example, must be held every day of the sprint.

To do that, the scrum master orchestrates or organizes these meetings.

These include:

  • Daily scrums.
  • Sprint planning.
  • Sprint reviews.
  • Sprint retrospectives.

Source: scrum Evolution

If a product owner sets the wheels in motion, the scrum master ensures those wheels keep moving. Moreover, they take measures so the wheels stay on the right track. 

But if they see a better route, so to speak, it’s their responsibility to take the detour.

#2. Scrum masters act as the mentor to the development team

In addition to ceremonies, a scrum also consists of a set of tools that help manage the project and solve problems. The tools are often referred to as artefacts.

There are primarily three scrum artefacts, namely:

  • Product backlog.
  • Sprint backlog.
  • Increments.

A scrum master coaches the development team on effectively utilising these artefacts. In addition, the scrum master must also teach and encourage the development team to faithfully follow scrum principles and values.

To sum it up, a product owner handles the external aspects of the scrum, while the scrum master handles its internal aspects. They’re both part of the scrum, nonetheless.

Collaborative partnership: shared responsibilities and synergies

Though the product owner’s responsibilities may differ from that of a scrum master, it’s important to note that they actually have a collaborative partnership. As such, there are certain responsibilities that they both share. These responsibilities are as follows.

#1. They must both reinforce Agile principles

Agile principles define the Agile methodology in the same way scrum principles define the scrum methodology.

The four core principles are as follows:

  • Individuals and interactions over processes and tools.
  • Working software over comprehensive documentation.
  • Customer collaboration over contract negotiation.
  • Responding to change over following a plan.

Source: QuestionPro

Unlike the scrum principles, these apply not only to members involved in the scrum framework but to every scrum team member involved in product development.

As such, the product owner and the scrum master must reinforce these principles.

#2. Product owners and scrum masters must attend

Scrum ceremonies, or meetings, in general, that require brainstorming, and as the saying goes: two heads are better than one.

That’s why both the product owner and scrum master must attend these ceremonies. 

Their combined insights are necessary to make the most out of these scrum meetings. The only meeting that doesn’t require both is daily scrums or stand-up meetings.

#3. They must both ensure a seamless Agile product development

It’s inevitable for roadblocks to pop up during the entirety of the scrum.

Agile teams refer to these as blockers or impediments. To ensure a seamless scrum, the product owner and scrum master must take steps to identify these obstacles.

In doing so, they can resolve these roadblocks before they become a problem for the development team. Otherwise, they can significantly hinder progress.

#4. Product owners and scrum masters act as the bridge between their respective teams

The product owner and scrum master are akin to ambassadors representing their respective countries.

Like an ambassador, the product owner represents the interests of stakeholders, customers, and other relevant parties.

Similarly, the scrum master represents the interests of the development or scrum teams.

Both are responsible for ensuring that the interests of those they represent align. In most cases, compromises are made to achieve this. Take the following as an example.

The stakeholders of a smartphone manufacturer want their product to feature extended battery life. But due to the financial constraints of using higher-quality components, the plan isn’t viable. In this case, a compromise would be to add battery-saving modes.

These negotiations are facilitated by the product owner and scrum master. They’re also responsible for answering questions they may have for each other.

#5. They must both foster continuous improvement

The Agile methodology strives for continuous improvement. Even if it seems your operations are as perfect as they can be, there’s likely room for improvement.

Both the product owner and scrum master must remind the team of this principle. More specifically, they have the responsibility of identifying opportunities for improvement.

When it comes time to take these opportunities, the product owner and scrum master are both responsible for leading scrum teams. In most cases, they do so through experimentation.

However, some would go for a more extensive approach, such as through training programs.

At this point, it’s no longer a mystery why scrum master vs product owner comparisons is prevalent. They do, after all, share more responsibilities than you’d initially expect.

The same can be said for their skills.

Product owner vs scrum master skills: Key differences

Before an employer hires someone to be a product owner or scrum master, they would often look for a specific skill set. Naturally, the skill set of two different roles will vary.

Product owner’s unique skills

Source: Facebook

Certified product owner is typically sought-after due to their business-oriented skills rather than their scrum or Agile expertise. But that’s not to say a product owner certificate wouldn’t help.

  • Strategy-crafting
  • Market awareness
  • Stakeholder management
  • Requirements analysis
  • Product backlog management
  • Negotiation
  • User-centric mindset

Scrum master unique skills

Source: MunnaPrawin

Scrum master, on the other hand, is sought after because of their hard skills. In particular, companies require their familiarity and expertise with scrum and agile.

  • Scrum expertise
  • Agile expertise
  • Leadership skills
  • Adaptability
  • Coaching and mentoring

Due to their diverse skills, a scrum team cannot operate without the scrum master and the product owner.

Synergistic skills: common competencies of product owners and scrum masters

Just like their job description and responsibilities, there are also skills or competencies that the product owner and scrum master share. These include:

  • Problem-solving
  • Decision-making
  • Conflict resolution
  • Communication skills
  • Knowledge of Agile practices

Their common competencies, excluding the last one, are mostly soft skills that all workers would ideally possess.

Product owner vs scrum master authority: Key distinctions

Lastly, those with the product owner and scrum master role are each granted authority they can enforce during the scrum process.

Product owner authority

#1. Define the direction of the product development process

It’s the responsibility of a product owner to define the product’s vision and roadmap. At the same time, the development team is obliged to follow the roadmap faithfully.

Simply put, the product owner has the authority to define the overall direction of the scrum process.

#2. Decide which deliverables in the product backlog take priority

The product owner also has the authority to decide which deliverables to put at the top of their product backlog. And again, the development team must adjust their operations to cater to this backlog and ensure these deliverables are added on schedule.

While it doesn’t happen frequently, there are scenarios where this authority is used in full force. In particular, it happens when there’s a sudden change in backlog priority.

Suppose the current sprint of the scrum teams is focused on improving battery life. 

During the sprint, market demand for expanded storage arose. As a result, stakeholders now want the team to focus on that particular feature instead.

The product owner can make this sudden but strategic adjustment to their product backlog priority.

Scrum master authority

#1. Eliminate blockers and impediments

A scrum master can eliminate what they think is a potential blocker or impediment to the scrum. Here’s a scenario where this authority comes in full force:

The scrum teams lack the necessary resources to complete their work. In this case, the scrum master can procure these resources, even if it means allocating more budget to the project. Of course, they’d require approval from executives.

#2. Facilitate and orchestrate sprint meetings

The interval between each scrum ceremony (i.e., stand-up meetings, planning, review, retrospective) is typically not set in stone. It can be every two weeks or every month.

The authority to decide that interval is granted to the scrum master.

Source: nTask

They also have the final say on what the team should discuss during these meetings.

#3. Adopt different scrum practices and techniques

It’s not unusual for scrum teams to switch from one scrum technique to another. It depends entirely on what the scrum master deems to be necessary.

It is, after all, one of the authorities they hold.

Collaborative decision-making: shared authorities and synergies

#1. Define the sprint deliverables

While the product owner has the sole authority to decide which features or items to include as product deliverables, that’s not the case for sprints. Rather than deciding by themselves, they must work closely with scrum masters.

#2. Accept or reject product increments

Though it is rare for product owners or scrum Masters to outright reject the end-result team’s sprint, it’s not at all impossible. It usually happens due to the following reasons:

  • The delivered increment doesn’t align with user stories
  • There’s a deviation from stakeholder requirements
  • The delivered increment raises legal or compliance issues
  • The performance or quality isn’t up to standard

In any case, they can quite literally decide whether scrum teams get to move on with the next sprint or start over.

#3. Identify and take opportunities to enhance the agile process

Product owners and scrum masters both have the responsibility of fostering continuous improvements among the team. For that reason, they share the authority to identify and take opportunities if it means enhancing the agile or scrum processes.

For instance, if they think higher-quality tools would result in improvements, they can demand them. Of course, they’d require approval from the executives.

While product owners and scrum masters have a lot of authority, it’s important to exercise it responsibly. They must also collaborate with one another while doing so.

If a scrum master wants to allocate more budget to the team, for instance, it’s vital that the product owner is aware of this plan. It also works the other way around.

Product owner vs scrum master: conclusion

The scrum master vs product owner comparison is a common topic among product managers. After all, these two roles are both closely related to theirs. However, at this point, it’s apparent that they’re actually a lot more different than you would expect.

The responsibilities, skills, and authority that each role entails have several distinctions. And the same can be said to pretty much any other role, such as product managers.

Here at Mambo, we’re dedicated to helping project managers maximize the value of their products to the end-user through gamification. Contact us today and learn how our gamification solutions can amplify the productivity in your agile sprints.

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