Agile Software Delivery: Unlocking Your Team’s Full Potential. It’s not the Product Owner

In this episode, the AI hosts deep dive into the notion that agile teams need more than simply a product owner or the redistribution of scrum master skills to truly thrive. It emphasizes the vital role of an agile leader or scrum master in fostering collaboration, resolving conflicts, and maintaining the team’s overall well-being. The author introduces a model in which the product owner concentrates on features, the technical lead addresses technical debt and risk, and the agile leader facilitates communication and enhances team performance. The article underscores the significance of shared understanding and collaboration between product and technology teams, advocating for a “T-shaped” skill set, where team members possess deep expertise in one area while maintaining a broad comprehension of related fields

Link to the article: Agile Software Delivery: Unlocking Your Team’s Full Potential. It’s not the Product Owner, originally published December 29, 2022.

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Show note, Since the article was published in January 2023, it was reported that Capital One cut over 1,100 Agile roles as part of its strategy to integrate Agile practices into its core engineering and product management functions. This change indicates a maturation of their tech organization. The company noted that while Agile roles were important during earlier transformation phases, they became redundant as the organization evolved. This decision reflects a broader trend where companies are moving away from traditional Agile roles and instead embedding Agile skills into existing positions. However, I believe this shift may lead to Role Cognitive Overload and put essential team behaviors at risk. The Agile leadership role offers far greater value than merely serving as a facilitator.