A recent survey conducted showed that nearly 97% of companies who participated in the survey practice Agile development methods, out of which 54% of the organizations use the Scrum methodology. The main reason for this, according to the survey, was listed to be the acceleration of software delivery. Some other reasons that were given included improving the overall team morale as well as reducing risks in the project.
Scrum methods are also used to improve the management of distributed teams due to increased collaborations, making it a viable option for many. Another important aspect to be considered is that when projects are completed using Scrum, they can reduce costs by a significant margin.
These are the primary reasons why companies choose to adopt Agile methods. It helps teams prioritize their development process and improve their project visibility as well. The increased alignment between the business aspect and the IT aspect of the project is another reason why companies choose to adopt Agile methods. A certified Product Owner plays an important role in a Scrum team, and the likelihood of project success is directly related to the team members’ qualifications. So who is a Product Owner? What are the Scrum Teams made up of?
The Scrum Roles
Product Owner
The Product Owner is responsible for identifying and prioritizing the software development process for any project. He creates a plan for each sprint, prioritizing the features that need to be included. He creates and shapes the roadmap of their project before each sprint. A Product Owner is the one who handles the communication when the team comes to an understanding of the goal of each sprint before it begins.
Scrum Master
The Scrum Master’s role in a Scrum Team can be compared to that of a Project Manager in the traditional software development method. The difference is that the Scrum Master is not responsible for micromanaging all the team deliverables. Instead, his main responsibility includes ensuring that the team stays on track when meeting the goal of each sprint, making sure that code inspections take place, and checking whether or not the development team abides by the codes and processes of the Scrum methodology. He coordinates all Scrum ceremonies and acts as a leader who empowers his team to stay on track with the delivery schedule and eliminate all roadblocks in the process.
The Development Team
Once a team adopts Scrum processes, they automatically become empowered to manage themselves and partake in all the duties that are required to complete their sprint. The team is responsible for all the processes involved in the development, including analysis, design, coding, testing, and documenting every feature, they are working on in the sprint. The team is responsible for staying focused on their tasks and giving diligent reports on their progress.
Who is a Scrum Product Owner?
As mentioned above, the Product Owner is the person who makes sure all the parts of a project and its deliverables are communicated effectively to the Scrum Team. He acts as the voice of the client and communicates the vision of the product to his team. A Product Owner works alongside the customers to check their needs so that the Scrum Team can then create the product to align with their goals. He is in charge of creating the roadmap of the product.
He defines the scope of the product and backlog items that are needed to help the Scrum Team with their development process. He solves all problems related to the product and creates analyses to help the team stay on track with their development. Another responsibility of the Product Owner is to draft key objectives and results of each sprint for the team and create various strategies based on available data to improve the final result.
A certified Product Owner has a fundamental understanding of his customers for the project and works with the stakeholders to develop concepts for the product. He is held accountable for the final product and his role is to assess the value of each feature and prioritize user stories to help the development team with their coding.
A Scrum Product Owner works with the management teams as well so that the product created is aligned with the company’s portfolio. He is responsible for market research and analysis for their customers. A certified Product Owner is also responsible for increasing the understanding of Agile methods for his team.
What is a Certified Scrum Product Owner Certification?
A Certified Scrum Product Owner or a CSPO is someone who has completed the CSPO certification. Once he is accredited, he becomes capable of creating an accurate product vision for his Scrum Team and the Product Backlog. A CSPO has the knowledge and expertise to ensure that his team works efficiently and delivers results that will satisfy the end customer.
After the certification, a Certified Scrum Product Owner will gain the following benefits:
- A CSPO can expand his career opportunities across many industries and sectors that use Agile methods, not just in the software development sector
- A CSPO will be able to motivate his team and maximize their work and deliver the best possible results
- He will understand all the fundamental principles of Scrum and his role as a Product Owner which will help him in guiding his team
- A Certified Scrum Product Owner becomes a part of a global community of Agile practitioners as well and can feel committed to evolving and improving continuously
Why Become a Certified Scrum Product Owner?
There are many benefits to completing the Certified Scrum Product Owner Certification. The average salary in 2020 for a Scrum Product Owner in the United States was listed to be over $120,000, making it a very sought role. A CSPO will be certified to manage various business initiatives for the stakeholders and communicate all Product Backlog items to his team.
CSPO will be talented enough to create a clear product vision for his team and his stakeholders to improve efficiency and product delivery. A certified Product Owner aligns the development and management teams efficiently and increases each product’s business value.
A CSPO is also considered to be a product expert based on his knowledge and expertise and is widely recognized as someone who can deliver results in the organization. He becomes distinguished in the global marketplace and can stand out in his industry compared to his peers and non-certified counterparts. This increases his value to his employer as well because a CSPO is now a highly trained Agile professional.
Requirements to Become a CSPO
There are no prerequisites to complete the Product Owner certification and attend the course. One has the option to complete the training online or in person. The training is conducted by either a Certified Scrum Trainer or a Certified Agile Coach if it’s a personal one-on-one training module. Once the training is complete, the participant has to accept the CSPO License Agreement and complete his Scrum Alliance profile. There is no test to become a CSPO. The training lasts for 14 hours if it is online or 16 hours if it is in-person conducted by the Certified Scrum Trainer. If a Certified Agile Coach is conducting your training, it lasts for 25 hours.
Final Thoughts
The CSPO certification is highly valued in all industries, especially in software development. To become certified means to become an expert in communicating product objectives and creating deliverables that generate value for the customer. This is why more and more working professionals are getting their CSPO certification.
Some of the popular Agile and Scrum Certifications Courses that individuals and enterprise teams can take up are:
