1. MythBusters :
Product Owners Myth vs Realities
Geeta Pahalajani

2. Disclaimer
This presentation is meant for edutainment purposes only.
All characters appearing in this presentation are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is
purely and actually incidental.
The views and opinions expressed in this presentation are solely of the author based on personal project
experiences and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any company.
After all Perception is Reality !! or Is Reality a Perception ??

3. A Product Owner is A
 Tester
 Project Manager
 Product Owner
Scrum Master
Super Hero

4. Tester
 Myth : There is no title like a “Software Tester” in
Scrum teams
Reality : Product Owner is the unofficial tester of
the team.

5. PO vs Tester Team Member
Product Owner Team Member
 Get Business sign off on the  Write the test cases for QA
acceptance criteria
 Identify Test Scenarios after  Implement code and
gathering requirements. execute the identified test
scenarios
 Manual testing
 Automated Testing, Unit
testing, Regression Testing

6. Project Manager
 Myth : A Product Owner is a Project Manager.
Reality : A Product Owner is a collaborator,
mediator, negotiator.

7. PO vs Project Manager
Product Owner Project Manager
 Collaborator , Negotiator.  MicroManager.
Relationship is trust based.  Relationship is control based.

8. Product Owner
 Myth : “The Product Owner is the one and only person responsible for managing
the Product Backlog and ensuring the value of the work the team performs. This
person maintains the Product Backlog and ensures that it is visible to everyone”
 Reality : Reality Bites !! Different flavors of a Product Owner
 The Underpowered Product Owner
 The Overworked Product Owner
 The Proxy Product Owner
 The Partial Product Owner
 The Distant Product Owner

9. Scrum Master
 Myth : Scrum has three roles: Product Owner,
Scrum Master and Team.
Reality : A single person performs the role of a
Product Owner and Scrum Master at times.

10. PO vs Scrum Master
Product Owner Scrum Master
 Product Owner protects the  Scrum Master protects the
customers interests and team interests and coaches
ensures ROI
 Mindset: External  Mindset: Internal
 Focus: What/When  Focus: How
 Main exceptions: Scope  Main exceptions : General
changes (internal or external) impediments (internal
or external).

11. PO vs Scrum Master

12. Super Hero
 Myth : An ideal Product Owner would be a super
hero, complete with cape and spandex.
Reality : Alas! Super heroes are extremely difficult
to find, perhaps even mythical.

14. Debate
 There is a conflict of interest that is beautifully
separated when PO and SM roles are performed by
different people.
VS
Putting one person in charge who owns the entire
value stream unites authority and responsibility,
helps remove impediments and waste such as
handoffs.