Some of the highest-performing teams I have ever worked with were part of a Product team. A Product team is when multiple Scrum teams support a single product. Product teams share a single Product Backlog and create a combined, done increment at least once per Sprint. They share ownership of product delivery and are aligned toward a common vision. By consolidating efforts and resources, Product teams foster an environment conducive to delivering substantial value with each Sprint.
With a single Product backlog and Product vision serving as the North Star, Product teams use their collective experience and expertise to deliver value to every Sprint. Product teams minimize redundancy because instead of operating in isolated bubbles, they synergize their efforts and collaborate to deliver value. Product teams minimize hand-offs, bottlenecks, and delays, enhancing agility and responsiveness. Teams operate with autonomy, empowered to make informed decisions and adapt to evolving requirements swiftly.
Addressing Common Concerns
It can be confusing for a new Scrum Master to support multiple Scrum teams working together to support a single Product. Here are a few frequently asked questions.
Q: Can teams pull work from each other’s Sprint backlog?
A: Absolutely. Product teams can collaborate around value delivery every Sprint. This could happen in several different situations. For example, If one of the teams finishes the work in their Sprint Backlog earlier than expected, they could help the other Scrum team. Or, if one of the Scrum team members is struggling, team members from either Scrum team could step in to help based on their skills, the priority of the work, and any other factor that the Scrum team chooses to consider.
Q: How many Scrum Masters and Product Owners are needed?
A: A Scrum Master can support multiple teams, fostering consistency and alignment. However, there should be only one Product Owner. The Product Owner is accountable for the content and ordering of the Product Backlog as well as the Product vision and Product Goal.
Q: How can a single Product Owner support multiple teams effectively?
A: Delegation! The Product Owner can delegate the completion of Product Backlog items to Scrum team members. Many organizations choose to staff Scrum teams with Business Analysts for this purpose. Remember, the Scrum team should be cross-functional with all of the skills necessary to do the work of the Scrum team. Sometimes, some of that work is business analysis.
Conclusion
More and more organizations are adopting the product model, shifting away from siloed teams and towards teams aligned around a single Product working together from a single Product Backlog. Organizations unlock newfound agility, resilience, and value delivery capabilities by transcending the constraints of siloed structures. Embracing the ethos of Product teams is not merely a strategic choice but a transformative journey toward sustainable excellence in the ever-evolving landscape of product development.
If your organization would like to learn more, contact Rebel Scrum for a facilitated workshop on defining products for your organization.
Rebel Scrum is the host of the 2024 Scrum Day conference scheduled for October 23, 2024, in Madison, Wisconsin. The theme for this year’s conference is Delivering Products of Value.