The Ghost Product Owner
What is it?
The Product Owner is unavailable to the team, does not actively participate in key Scrum events, or provide quick feedback on work done or questions.
Common symptoms (how does it manifest?)
- Team waits days for answers from the PO.
- PO delegates attendance at Scrum events.
- Product Backlog is not refined or prioritized before Planning.
- Important decisions are postponed due to lack of PO vision.
Impact and consequences (why is it a problem?)
- Unclear or non-existent Sprint Goal.
- Development of incorrect or non-priority features.
- Low morale and frustration in the team.
- Deliveries of low business value.
Frequent root causes (why does it happen?)
- PO has too many responsibilities outside the team.
- Lack of understanding of the PO role and its required dedication.
- Organization does not empower the PO to make decisions.
- PO assigned to multiple teams simultaneously.