Can the scrum master also be the product owner?

Technically, yes, but not recommended.

Can the scrum master also be the product owner?

The two roles balance each other, thus placing you in tension with yourself. You you hold both roles, you must be mindful of how you communicate with the development team. Holding both positions can also impact how much agency the dev team feels they have.

Learn more about playing both roles of scrum master and product owner. Then browse the most common terms in a Scrum glossary and learn what is Scrum.

Interested in becoming a Professional Scrum Master?

What does it take to pass the PSM?

The Professional Scrum Master is a great first step to those learning to practice Scrum.

Our affordable self paced course will prepare you to pass the test with confidence.

Related FAQs

Scrum master and product owner

Can the scrum master also be the product owner?

The two roles balance each other, thus placing you in tension with yourself. You you hold both roles, you must be mindful of how you communicate with the development team. Holding both positions can also impact how much agency the dev team feels they have.

Learn more about playing both roles of scrum master and product owner. Then browse the most common terms in a Scrum glossary and learn what is Scrum.

How does the scrum master help the product owner?

They help remove obstacles such as unclear requirements, interpersonal conflict, organizational impediments, and dependencies on other teams.

Find out more about how the roles on a scrum team work together. Then browse the most common terms in a Scrum glossary and learn what is Scrum.

How does the product owner help the scrum master?

The product owner works with the scrum master to look ahead to future sprints, evaluating significant milestones to ensure they deliver critical features on time. They also check to see if the work needed to get there matches the capacity or velocity of the team.

Find out more about how the roles on a scrum team work together. Then browse the most common terms in a Scrum glossary and learn what is Scrum.

How is the product owner different from the scrum master?

The product owner products the product vision by balancing the needs of both the business and the customer. The scrum master protects the team’s health by balancing the product owner’s drive to complete the product with the team's long-term effectiveness.

Keep exploring the relationship between the product owner and the scrum master or you can look over the role of the product owner and the role of the scrum master.

Then browse the most common terms in a Scrum glossary and learn what is Scrum.

Are the scrum master and the product owner part of the scrum team?

The scrum team includes the following roles

  • scrum master 
  • product owner
  • development team

Either the scrum master or the product owner can also be part of the development team. However, it’s not recommended for the scrum master and product owner to be the same person.

Learn more about the roles and responsibilities of a scrum team. Then browse the most common terms in a Scrum glossary and learn what is Scrum.

Developing a rhythm of focus and growth

Making an impact is hard

It’s easy to feel stuck or uncertain about how to move ahead. Maybe you feel overloaded or like you’re just spinning your wheels.

What if you had someone alongside you on the journey?

Related FAQ Themes

Related Guides

Ready to level up your company? Get in touch today!