Effective Conditions for Managing Multiple Scrum Teams Building One Product
In scenarios where multiple Scrum Teams are working together to build a single product, establishing the right conditions is critical for ensuring coordination, alignment, and successful delivery.
Exam Question
You have been assigned as the Scrum Master of six new Scrum Teams that will build one product. What conditions should you strive for in this scenario?
(choose the best two answers)
A. The product has one Product Backlog.
B. There should be six Product Owners, one for each Scrum Team.
C. Each Scrum Team should have a separate Product Backlog.
D. There should be only one Product Owner who is accountable for the success of the product.
E. There should be six Product Owners, one of whom is chief Product Owner.
Correct Answers
A. The product has one Product Backlog.
D. There should be only one Product Owner who is accountable for the success of the product.
Explanation
Correct Answers
A. The product has one Product Backlog:
Having a single Product Backlog ensures that all work is centralized and ordered, providing clarity and alignment for all Scrum Teams. This approach helps avoid confusion and duplication of effort, and ensures that the teams are working towards the same product goals and priorities.
D. There should be only one Product Owner who is accountable for the success of the product:
A single Product Owner is essential to maintain clear accountability for the product’s success. This individual is responsible for maximizing the value of the product and ensuring that the Product Backlog is transparent, visible, and understood by everyone involved.
Why the Other Options Are Less Effective
B. There should be six Product Owners, one for each Scrum Team:
Having multiple Product Owners can lead to conflicting priorities, lack of alignment, and confusion about who is ultimately accountable for the product’s success. It fragments the decision-making process and can create silos among the teams.
C. Each Scrum Team should have a separate Product Backlog:
Separate Product Backlogs for each team can lead to fragmentation and misalignment. It becomes challenging to maintain a unified vision and consistent priorities across all teams. A single Product Backlog ensures that all teams are focused on the same goals.
E. There should be six Product Owners, one of whom is chief Product Owner:
While having a chief Product Owner might help in some cases, it still introduces multiple layers of decision-making that can complicate communication and alignment. A single Product Owner simplifies the structure and maintains clear accountability.
Benefits of a Single Product Owner and Product Backlog
- Unified Vision: Ensures that all teams are working towards the same product vision and goals.
- Clear Prioritization: Provides a clear and consistent order of work items, reducing confusion and conflict.
- Enhanced Collaboration: Facilitates better collaboration and communication among the teams.
- Accountability: Maintains clear accountability for the product’s success.
Relevance to the SPS Exam
Understanding the importance of a single Product Backlog and a single Product Owner is crucial for the SPS exam. It demonstrates the ability to manage multiple Scrum Teams effectively, ensuring that they are aligned and working towards common goals.
Key Takeaways
- A single Product Backlog ensures centralized and clear prioritization for all teams.
- One Product Owner maintains clear accountability and avoids conflicting priorities.
- These practices foster better collaboration, alignment, and efficiency among multiple Scrum Teams.
Conclusion
In a scenario where multiple Scrum Teams are building a single product, having a single Product Backlog and one Product Owner is essential for maintaining alignment, prioritization, and accountability. This structure supports effective collaboration and ensures that all teams are working towards the same goals. For more information on preparing for the SPS exam, visit our Scaled Professional Scrum SPS™ Exam Prep.
