Must the Product Owner be present at the Sprint Retrospective?

The correct answer is that the Product Owner must be present at the Sprint Retrospective because their involvement is beneficial for the overall success of the Scrum Team and the project. The Sprint Retrospective is a key opportunity for the Scrum Team to reflect on their processes, identify areas for improvement, and discuss how to make adjustments for future sprints.

Having the Product Owner at this meeting fosters collaboration, ensures that the team can share feedback directly with them regarding the product backlog and the prioritization of work, and allows for a clear understanding of how to better meet stakeholder needs. Their presence helps facilitate a transparent conversation about the product and how different aspects of the Scrum process can be enhanced.

This interaction between the Development Team and the Product Owner ensures that any insights or concerns raised during the retrospective can be addressed in a timely manner, which ultimately contributes to continuous improvement within the team and the product being developed. The absence of the Product Owner may lead to missed opportunities for alignment and understanding between the team and the stakeholder perspective.