You may have heard of "agile working" in relation to software development. With this approach, you assume that circumstances can change during development, you respond to that and that way you ensure a good end result. One form of agile working is the scrum method. This is an effective and flexible method of developing software in teams, which is many benefits offers.
My role on the scrum development team is that of product owner. My job is to maximize the team's performance for the best end result for the customer. A challenging and varied role. These are the key skills you need to possess as a product owner:
1. COOPERATION; As a product owner, you work with many different people and parties; the scrum master, the development team, the customer, the project managers and the consultants. Giving your opinion, listening well, discussing and communicating clearly are very important.
2. PRIORITIZING; Every day new ideas come along that are interesting to develop in software. But development capacity is limited. So it is crucial to distinguish main and side issues and decide where the precious development time is best spent.
3. ORGANIZING; The scrum method involves structure; everyone must clearly know his/her roles and responsibilities. As product owner, you determine WHAT happens (not HOW), provide feedback in the review meeting, involve the right people in the work and monitor progress.
4. VISION FORMS; Software development requires a long-term vision. You have to know where you want to be in the future with the software, keep an eye on what new technologies play a role and what the developments are with customers.
5. STAND FIRM; As a product owner, you want top-quality software for the end customer. To achieve that goal, you have to say "No" often, stick to your course and not blow with all the winds.
The role of product owner is comprehensive and requires a strong personality. But it is also a fun challenge that gives you a lot of energy. It is a great feeling to work with your team every time to deliver a great result that makes the customer happy.
Tamara de Jong is Product Owner at Dysel and in that role responsible for software development. She gathers ideas, determines the roadmap, sets priorities and monitors progress.
