The Product Owner takes part in the Daily Scrum only when actively working on Sprint Backlog items, and then attends as a Developer. Impediments, stakeholder views or a Scrum Master request do not make attendance required.
Exam Question
When must the Product Owner participate in the Daily Scrum?
(choose the best answer)
A. When the Product Owner is actively working on items on the Sprint Backlog; however, they participate as a Developer.
B. When there are impediments to discuss.
C. When the Product Owner needs to represent the stakeholders’ point of view to the Developers.
D. When the Scrum Master asks the Product Owner to attend.
Correct Answer
A. When the Product Owner is actively working on items on the Sprint Backlog; however, they participate as a Developer.
Why This Is the Correct Answer
The Scrum Guide describes the Daily Scrum as “a 15-minute event for the Developers of the Scrum Team.” It then adds “If the Product Owner or Scrum Master are actively working on items in the Sprint Backlog, they participate as Developers.” That is the only case where the Product Owner takes part in the event itself. Otherwise the Product Owner may attend if the Developers find it helpful, but the event is not theirs to run. Stakeholder input and impediments are handled through other channels, such as conversations during the Sprint and the Sprint Review.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
B. When there are impediments to discuss. Developers raise impediments, and the Scrum Master helps remove them. The Product Owner does not have to join for that.
C. To represent stakeholders’ views to the Developers. The Product Owner can share stakeholder views at any time. The Daily Scrum is the Developers’ planning event, not a stakeholder update.
D. When the Scrum Master asks. The Scrum Master cannot make attendance mandatory. The Scrum Guide only links participation to actively working on Sprint Backlog items.
Exam Tip
For “who must attend the Daily Scrum” questions, remember the event belongs to the Developers. Anyone else participates only if they are doing Sprint Backlog work.
Key Takeaways
- The Daily Scrum is for the Developers.
- A Product Owner doing Sprint Backlog work joins as a Developer.
- Stakeholder input is shared outside the Daily Scrum.
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