A Product Goal is the commitment for the Product Backlog: it describes the target future state of the product, gives the Scrum Team a long-term objective to plan against, and sharpens focus. It does not need every stakeholder’s approval and it is not a contract with the business.
Exam Question
Which of the following are characteristics of a Product Goal?
(choose all that apply)
A. It has the approval of all stakeholders.
B. It is a commitment contained in the Product Backlog.
C. It enhances focus.
D. It forms a contract with the business, allowing change to be better managed.
E. It communicates the target future state of the product.
F. It provides a long-term objective for the Scrum Team to plan against.
Correct Answer
B, C, E and F.
Why This Is the Correct Answer
The 2020 Scrum Guide made the Product Goal the commitment attached to the Product Backlog. It says “The Product Goal is in the Product Backlog” and that it “describes a future state of the product which can serve as a target for the Scrum Team to plan against.” It also calls it “the long-term objective for the Scrum Team.” Because the team must fulfill or abandon one Product Goal before taking on the next, the goal narrows attention to the outcome that matters now. That is why focus appears among the correct answers. The Product Owner develops and communicates the goal, so it reflects their decisions, informed by stakeholders but not dependent on everyone signing off.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
A. It has the approval of all stakeholders. The Product Owner is accountable for the Product Goal. Waiting for unanimous approval would slow decisions and is not a requirement anywhere in Scrum.
D. It forms a contract with the business, allowing change to be better managed. Scrum treats goals as commitments that guide adaptation, not as contracts. Contract thinking resists change instead of embracing what is learned.
Exam Tip
When an option uses words like “contract” or “approval of all stakeholders,” treat it as a red flag. Scrum artifacts carry commitments that support empiricism, never fixed agreements.
Key Takeaways
- The Product Goal is the commitment for the Product Backlog.
- It describes a future state of the product the team plans toward.
- The Product Owner owns it; stakeholders inform it but do not approve it.
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More PSPO II exam questions
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- As a Product Owner you become aware that the quality assurance criteria, defined in the Definition of Done, were not met for the latest Increment. Which of the following statements are true?
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- Which of the following is required by Scrum?” (PSPO II)
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