They can be.
In start-up environments, they often are.
The CEO or founder has an idea and then sets about creating the product or service in alignment with their vision and mission for the product.
In Scrum, the product owner is a role rather than a specific position so it’s relatively straightforward for a product owner to be a member of the development team.
It does carry a lot of responsibility and it is an important role so it could impact the workload of a developer.
A product owner is a big role. It involves discussions with customers, stakeholders, and members of the development team.
It can be very difficult for the product owner to focus on multiple roles within the organization so if you are a developer and like the idea of being a product owner, be prepared to manage expectations around your workload.
Some of the more famous examples of people who are developers and engineers despite being the CEO or founder include Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, and Elon Musk.
As the product owner, they are focused on ensuring that the best version of a product or service is being built and that what is being built will continuously delight customers.
If you are interested in becoming a Product Owner, visit our Certified Scrum Product Owner course page and Advanced Certified Scrum Product Owner course pages for an idea of progression within the product owner role.
Product Owner Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the difference between a Product Owner and a Project Manager?
- How is a product owner different to a product manager?
- Is a product owner a member of the development team?
- Do you need project management experience to be a Product Owner?
- How does a Product Owner integrate into a Scrum Team?
- Do project managers traditionally make great product owners?
- Is the product owner role a great fit for people in creative industries?
- Is there different levels of seniority for product owners?
- What are career opportunities for a Product Owner?
- What do Product Owners do?
- Do you need to be a developer to be a product owner for a software company?
- Can you create a Product Ownership role in a company that doesn’t do Scrum?
- What are some great traits of a product owner?
- How will I know if a product owner role is a great fit for me?
- Do product owners attend daily scrums?
- Do product owners interact and engage with project stakeholders?
- How does a product owner integrate into a marketing team?
- Do entrepreneurs make great product owners?
Frequently Asked Product Owner Training Question
- What is a Certified Scrum Product Owner?
- Will I be able to lead product development after doing a CSPO course?
- What will you learn on a CSPO course?
- How well recognised and respected is the CSPO course?
- What do you need to know to sign up for the CSPO course?
- How well does a CSPO course prepare you to be a product owner?
- Do I get textbooks and course materials as part of my CSPO course?
- What would be a good certification path for a Product Owner?
- Are there different CSPO certifications and how do they differ?
- How long is the CSPO course and how is it configured?
- Is the CSPO course theoretical or practical?
- Do companies invest in CSPO courses or is it primarily individuals?
- How do I progress as a Product Owner?
- Would you recommend the CSPO course for entrepreneurs?