Scrum Master vs Product Owner; Which Certification is for You?

Different methods of project management are evolving day by day, but the two most important methods include agile and traditional methods. But, the agile method of project management has become more popular, and more and more companies are using this method of project management for running their businesses. It has led to the increasing demand of product owners and scrum masters.

If you want to make a career choice between the two, you must read this article to know the difference between the two and make the right choice. We will learn more about the differences between scrum masters vs. product owners to know the roles played by them and the skills required by them.

Job Description of a Scrum Master

The scrum master plays an important role in product development. They are assisted by other team members and the product owner. They are responsible to ensure that the scrum principles are applied while working on the given project. The scrum master has to ensure that the project follows the scrum framework which is made by using the agile methods. A scrum master has to teach the Scrum principles and methods to the entire team so that they become familiar with the technology and use the same while working on a project.

Some scrum masters also work as team leaders and use Kanban. This helps them to deliver the project on time and deal with all the problems that may occur during the completion of the project. Scrum masters have to play different roles when working as team leaders. They work hard to enhance the efficiency of the entire team and they overlook the entire project management process. If any changes are needed they can suggest the required changes. They coordinate with the engineering and development team to work efficiently and quickly for delivering high-quality products.

Job Responsibilities of a Product Owner

A product owner is also a member of the scrum team. Many people believe that the product owner and a product manager play the same role in a company, but they are entirely different from one another. Product owners have to use agile methods for developing a product. Their main role is to plan everything and get a clear understanding of product development. They use their knowledge and understanding for product development.

The product owner is also responsible for managing the backlog, which includes the past characteristics of the product. He/she also writes the changes made in the product development. It is the most important work done by a product owner. A product owner will issue the date for releasing the project on time. They can also cancel the fixed date anytime if they feel that the product is not ready to be released in the market.

Another role played by a product owner is the management and planning of the project. A product owner can use sprints because that can help him/her to find the right characteristics for a product, any changes to be done, and to ensure if the product is ready for launch or not. They have to ensure that the product is ready for a successful launch or not.

Comparison between a Scrum Master vs Product Owner

Now, we will do a comparison between the roles played by a scrum master vs a product owner in a team. This will help you to choose your career.

Responsibility

The responsibility of the scrum master is to ensure that the team is using the Scrum framework and using the scum strategies effectively. They also help the team remove any hurdles that may occur during the development of the product. On the other hand, the responsibility of the product owner is to make a cordial relationship between the team and the customers. They have to understand the needs of the customer and make sure that the development team is working on the same pattern to fulfill the needs of the customer.

Type of Work to be Managed

The main work done by a scrum master is to guide the team to achieve the successful launching of the product. They help to make connections between the development and management team.

A scrum master acts as a guide for the team and provides help when needed. The product owner has to monitor the working of the e-commerce website development team in case of a web development involved and ensure that the team is working hard to develop the product. A product owner has to play a difficult role as compared to the scrum master.

Qualities

The scrum master is the team leader and they should be able to solve the problems effectively that may arise during the product development. They should be able to communicate with the other team members efficiently and listen to them with patience. A product owner should also be a good communicator because They have to communicate between the customers and the team. They have to explain the ideas and needs of the customers to the team so that the team can work upon the same and give the desired product to the customer. A product owner should be capable of looking at the product backlog and taking action to fulfill the requirements.

Accountability

The scrum master is responsible for using the scrum principles in the right manner and helping the team to understand the scrum principles as well. The product owner is only accountable to manage the product backlog. They have to encourage the team to finish the project on time and have to give exact information to the customer.

Reporting

A scrum master does not have to prepare a report but he only has to discuss the process of product development. The product owner is responsible for sending the report of the product development to the higher authorities as well as to the customer.

Salary

The average salary of a scrum master is more than that of a product owner. There is not much difference but still, a slight difference in the salary makes people choose Scrum Master^® certification as the better option than the product owner certification.

Conclusion

Both the positions Scrum Master vs Product Owner uphold their distinct features and advantages in providing value to a company or organization. The final choice eventually boils down to you. Considering the above differences in both the professional choices, we hope you will make an informed decision.