Product owner or project manager?

Product owner or project manager?

In the agile software development method SCRUM (www.scrum.org), the role of the project manager is no longer foreseen. One reason for this is that development takes place in short, regular cycles (iterations). The actual progress achieved is constantly monitored in this way. The project can react more flexibly to changes in the market.

The product owner defines the work packages (user stories) with priorities for the development team. In this sense, the product owner replaces the project manager.

To start a project, stakeholders still need a business plan with costs and deadlines and, as the project progresses, regular reporting.

In addition, coordinating the work before and during iterations requires many project management skills, such as stakeholder and risk management, leadership, teamwork. The latter are partially subsumed under the product owner role in SCRUM.

This means that certain project management tasks are indispensable for the product owner.

On the side of the “classical” project management, the project manager role is provided, which often includes tasks and competencies that are assigned to the product owner in SCRUM. For example, the project manager must address the concerns of the business, define the work packages and prioritize them.

Ultimately, the person who takes the lead role is essential to the success of a project. She should be passionate about the project and / or the product and take full responsibility towards the stakeholders. She should focus on the project and / or product vision and continually inspire the team and project stakeholders.