Sub-Par product ownership usually shows up in one of two ways:
- The product owner will submit incomplete requirements – meaning more time will need to be spent in the long run as gaps will need to be filled in further down the line
- After implementation has begun, the product owner will suddenly make changes to their request – meaning deadlines get missed
However, it may be a challenge to recognize the signs. Here’s how.
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Recognizing the Signs of Weak Product Ownership
If you’re facing sub-par ownership, you’ll notice the pattern when you begin to experience recurring scope creep that’s driven by the same owner(s). One way to detect weak product ownership is to note a significant expansion in code not driven by code review in the back of the sprint.
Make Sure the Issue Isn’t Ambiguity
It’s important to not immediately jump to the developer being the problem. Look for ambiguity in the tasks or the sprint. Is the issue that the goals are not clear? Could poor communication be tripping up your developers? Are tasks not spread evenly between team members, and if not, why not? Remember that scope creep could have a lot of culprits, and it’s essential to understand what is happening before jumping in to solve the problem at hand.
How to Handle the Pattern Once You’ve Recognized It
Changing requirements or making requirements ambiguous may signify that the product owner is pulled in too many directions. There might be too much in front of them to focus clearly on one thing, which means that nothing gets their full attention. This translates into sub-par ownership.
If this is a management issue, bring data into the mix to depersonalize the problem and help all parties get right into the problem to discuss how to resolve it effectively so that the product owner no longer feels stretched thin and deadlines aren’t missed.
If the issue really is too much work, rebalancing the workload will go a long way to re-empowering ownership and removing undue stress from a developer’s plate. However, if too much work is not the issue, it may be an opportunity to refocus on coaching around overlooked areas to help them refocus and deliver as expected and on time.
Conclusion
Don’t be afraid to dig beneath the surface to see if there’s a communication issue or an overworked product owner in the mix. By doing your due diligence, you’ll be helping instill a sense of trust in your team while rooting out causes for holdups or less-than-stellar code areas.
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