How do you respond?

You are a manager responsible for a product being developed by a Scrum Team. A sales representative wants a particular feature in the product. They believe that it will help close a deal. The Product Owner understands the need but believes that there are more valuable things on the Product Backlog that will lead to more long-term business. The sales representative appeals to you to intervene.

How do you respond? (choose the best answer)
A . Ask the Product Owner to implement the feature anyway since it will close a deal.
B . Reach out to Developers who you think may support your position, in the hope of gaining more
support for the idea.
C . Support the Product Owner’s decision to focus on broader market needs in the long run, even though it may mean loss of short-term business.
D . Lobby other stakeholders to express support for adding the feature, to put more pressure on the Product Owner.

View Answer

Answer: C

Explanation:

The Product Owner is responsible for maximizing the value of the product, and prioritization is key to that responsibility. Even though losing a short-term business opportunity may seem detrimental, the Product Owner’s long-term focus is more in line with the Agile principle of delivering sustainable value. Supporting the Product Owner’s prioritization fosters respect for the role and the overall Agile process​.