Proxy PO

A Proxy Product Owner, also known as a "Representative Product Owner," is a person who acts as a kind of intermediary between the development team and the actual Product Owner. The Proxy PO typically takes on only the essential tasks of the Product Owners in the Scrum process and is not fully responsible for the product.

The proxy PO participates in the meetings of the Scrum Team, including sprint planning, the Daily Stand-Ups, and sprint reviews, supporting the Product Owner in fulfilling their tasks. This often includes creating and managing tickets, prioritizing backlog items, and coordinating requirements with the development team and stakeholders.

Although the proxy PO does not carry full responsibility for the product, they are typically an important support for the Product Owner and can help reduce the workload and increase the effectiveness of the Scrum team.

When time is tight

An example of using a proxy Product Owner could be when the actual Product Owner is unable to fully participate in all meetings and tasks of the Scrum process due to time constraints or other commitments. In this case, an experienced member of the development team or another person from the company could be appointed as a proxy PO to assist the Product Owner in fulfilling their tasks.

The proxy PO could then take on tasks such as prioritizing backlog items, monitoring the progress of the development team, and communicating with stakeholders.
However, the actual Product Owner would still bear responsibility for the final product and the ultimate decision regarding requirements and priorities.

In this example, employing a proxy PO can help relieve the Product Owner and improve the effectiveness of the Scrum team without compromising product quality or accountability.

At Beyonder, we also appoint proxy POs in special cases. However, we strongly recommend placing the PO directly with the customer. Customer POs always have the advantage of shorter communication paths to all stakeholders and a better understanding of the industry in which they operate.