What is the Product Owner accountable for in Scrum?

The accountability of the Product Owner in Scrum revolves around creating and sustaining a Product Backlog that maximizes value. This responsibility is fundamental to the role, as it directly impacts the product’s success and ensures that the Development Team is working on the most important tasks that align with stakeholder needs and business objectives.

The Product Backlog serves as a dynamic list that prioritizes work based on factors like customer feedback, market changes, and business priorities. The Product Owner's role involves constant refinement and prioritization of this backlog, ensuring that the team is focused on delivering the highest value items in each Sprint. By doing so, the Product Owner not only addresses immediate needs but also adapts the backlog based on evolving insights and requirements, fostering a continuous improvement mindset.

Other roles, such as managing project budgets or supervising the Development Team, do not fall under the Product Owner's responsibilities in Scrum. The Product Owner must maintain a clear separation of accountability to ensure that the Development Team has the space to self-organize and make technical decisions independently. Thus, the primary focus of the Product Owner remains on maximizing product value through effective backlog management.