The Product Owner is the VOC, and as such, is the representative of all the stakeholders for the team. He has to understand this and shelve his “normal” role for the duration of the project. He must also be a frequent and proactive communicator to stakeholders, as he is the external voice of the project. He must also ensure that stakeholders are active participants in the project; after all, if the project fails, he has a heavy responsibility.
The stakeholders must understand and agree to the commitment required from them, from inception to completion. The involvement described above is the minimum requirement, every stakeholder is welcome to become more involved, if he feels it will add value.
In companies that are experienced in agile development, stakeholders know their role and what their responsibilities are. Companies that are new to Agile and/or Scrum and are used to traditional projects with minimal stakeholder involvement may not realise the additional commitment that is required for a successful Scrum. The Product Owner may find that some additional coaching and meetings are required with stakeholders in such organisations, until the message is absorbed and the new way of working is adopted.
Recommended Further Reading
The following materials may assist you in order to get the most out of this course: