The Product Owner can delegate developing and communicating the Product Goal and ordering Product Backlog items, while staying accountable for both. Attending events is not “work” that gets delegated in this sense.
Exam Question
A Product Owner is accountable for maximizing the value of the product that is the result of the work of the Scrum Team. Which of the following can be delegated to others, while the Product Owner remains accountable for the work?
(choose the best two answers)
A. Developing and communicating the Product Goal.
B. Attending the Sprint Review.
C. Attending the Sprint Retrospective.
D. Ordering Product Backlog items.
Correct Answer
A and D.
Why This Is the Correct Answer
The Scrum Guide lists the Product Owner’s Product Backlog management work: developing and explicitly communicating the Product Goal, creating and communicating Product Backlog items, ordering them, and keeping the backlog transparent and understood. It then says: “The Product Owner may do the above work or may delegate the responsibility to others. Regardless, the Product Owner remains accountable.” Both A and D come straight from that list.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
B. Attending the Sprint Review. The Product Owner is a member of the Scrum Team and takes part in the Sprint Review with the rest of the team and stakeholders. Sending someone else in their place is not delegation of Product Backlog work.
C. Attending the Sprint Retrospective. The Retrospective is for the whole Scrum Team, Product Owner included, to inspect how they work. It is participation, not a task to hand off.
Exam Tip
When the PSPO exam asks what can be delegated, look for the Product Backlog management activities from the Scrum Guide. Accountability itself never moves.
Key Takeaways
- Product Backlog management work can be delegated; accountability cannot.
- The Product Owner takes part in Scrum events as a team member.
- Delegation still needs the Product Owner’s decisions to be respected by the organization.
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