What is the least productive technique for the Scrum Master to encourage communication between the Development Team and the Product Owner?

Acting as a go-between for the Development Team and the Product Owner can be seen as the least productive technique because it potentially hampers direct communication and collaboration between the two parties. In Scrum, fostering an environment where the Development Team and Product Owner communicate directly is crucial for creating a shared understanding of the product goals, backlog priorities, and ongoing progress. When the Scrum Master becomes a go-between, it can lead to dependency on the Scrum Master for every piece of information, which might create bottlenecks, increase misunderstandings, and diminish the stakeholders' ability to engage effectively with one another.

In contrast, facilitating regular meetings creates structured opportunities for dialogue, encouraging direct communication fosters transparency and problem-solving, and providing tools for collaboration equips the teams with the resources necessary to communicate efficiently. These practices align with the principles of Scrum, which emphasize collaboration, self-organization, and empowerment within the team dynamics.