Product Owners Drive Strategy, Not Just Backlogs
Explains how effective Product Owners shape product strategy using accountability, awareness, acceptance, access, and adaptability, not just backlog …
TL;DR; Many companies misunderstand the Product Owner role, treating it as simple backlog management or assigning it to any business analyst, which leads to weak products and misaligned teams. Effective Product Owners are strategic leaders who own the vision, make tough decisions, and use evidence to guide development. Development managers should ensure they are hiring or empowering true Product Owners with the right skills and authority, not just filling a position.

Most companies still get Product Ownership wrong. They either treat it as a glorified backlog manager or assume any business analyst can do the job. But a real Product Owner isn’t just an order taker. They are a product strategist, decision-maker, and stakeholder wrangler, responsible for maximising product value.
The misconception that a Product Owner is a “requirements gatherer” leads to weak products and misaligned teams. Instead, the best Product Owners own the vision, drive outcomes, and use evidence to steer development, not just shuffle tickets in a backlog.
A Product Owner isn’t a stepping stone role. It’s an accountability that demands business acumen, leadership, and the courage to make tough calls. If your PO is just managing lists, your product is already in trouble.
How does your organisation approach Product Ownership? Are you hiring for it, or just hoping the right person emerges?
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We partner with businesses across diverse industries, including finance, insurance, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, technology, engineering, transportation, hospitality, entertainment, legal, government, and military sectors.

ProgramUtvikling

Lean SA

Ericson

Kongsberg Maritime

Freadom

Emerson Process Management
CR2

Philips

Xceptor - Process and Data Automation

Jack Links

Higher Education Statistics Agency

Bistech

Lockheed Martin

Brandes Investment Partners L.P.

DFDS

Slicedbread

Graham & Brown

Akaditi

New Hampshire Supreme Court

Department of Work and Pensions (UK)

Royal Air Force

Washington Department of Transport

Ghana Police Service

Washington Department of Enterprise Services

SuperControl

MacDonald Humfrey (Automation) Ltd.

Freadom

Milliman

Deliotte

Akaditi