Product Owner

The Product Owner (PO) works according to SCRUM methodology, itself derived from the Agile project method. The PO's mission is to maximise the value of the product they are in charge of (a website, an application, etc.) by managing the product backlog, which is the prioritised list of tasks to be carried out by teams to ensure the design, development and monitoring of the product.

The job description of a Product Owner includes the following tasks:

• Analysing business, client, and user experience requirements;
• Defining the product’s priority features;
• Managing the product backlog;
• Defining and monitoring the budget;
• Providing technical insights;
• Collaborating with the development team;
• Validating the product and the delivery of its various features.

To become a Product Owner, the expected skills include:

• The ability to prioritise;
• Flexibility and adaptability;
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills;
• An in-depth understanding of the relevant market and user needs;
• Strong data analysis skills to develop a strategic vision of this data.

The product owner's training can be in various fields: technology and digital, e-business, as well as digital marketing. Several training options are possible:

• At least obtaining a bachelor’s degree (e.g. a B.Tech in MMI).
• Higher education to master’s degree level (e.g. an MBA).

The Product Owner can evolve into:

• Strategic leadership roles in product development; 
• An Agile/Scrum Master or Technical Leader position.

While a Product Owner focusses on the product (features, evolution, etc.), a project manager is responsible for a project’s overall management, from planning to execution and monitoring.

It is sometimes difficult to distinguish between the roles of each. While the PO is responsible for defining and prioritising a product’s features, the Scrum Master is responsible for the working methodology to facilitate the Scrum process (structuring work into short cycles, called sprints), notably by removing obstacles encountered by the development team.

While the Product Owner manages the product backlog and defines priority developments, the Product Manager is responsible for the strategic vision of the product and its alignment with overall business objectives.

In a typical day, the Agile Product Owner participates in meetings with various project stakeholders to discuss product requirements, backlog management and backlog updates. They ensure collaboration among teams, especially the development team, and decide on features according to expected requirements.

The average salary of a Product Owner varies depending on experience, geographical location, company size, and industry. Thus, a junior Product Owner can expect a salary of between €40,000 and €50,000 per annum, while a senior product owner can earn up to €65,000 per annum.