Who owns the Sprint Backlog in a Scrum Team?

The Sprint Backlog is owned by the Development Team. This is because the Sprint Backlog represents the work the Development Team commits to completing during the Sprint. The Development Team is responsible for selecting the backlog items from the Product Backlog that they believe can be completed within the Sprint timeframe and they break these items down into actionable tasks.

Ownership implies not only the authority that comes with being responsible for what is in the Sprint Backlog but also the accountability for delivering and achieving the Sprint Goal. The Development Team has the autonomy to manage its work and make decisions about how best to accomplish the tasks outlined in the Sprint Backlog. This fosters self-organization and allows the Development Team to adapt their plans as necessary based on progress and emerging insights throughout the Sprint.

In contrast, while the Product Owner is responsible for managing the overall Product Backlog and ensuring that it is accurately prioritized according to stakeholder needs, they do not own the Sprint Backlog. The Scrum Master supports the Scrum Team in adhering to Scrum principles but does not own any part of the artifact. Stakeholders provide input and feedback that inform the Product Backlog but do not have ownership over the Sprint Backlog. Thus, the exclusive ownership of the Sprint Backlog resides with the Development Team.