What Does It Take To Be A Scrum Product Owner?

The Agile methodology has been very influential in bringing about a positive change in the workflow management of the IT industry as well as other organizations and companies. With so much buzz around it, organizations are leaving no stone unturned to make themselves Agile ready in a market that is highly dynamic and different from the market situations of the past years.

As a subset of the Agile framework, the Scrum methodology has gained popularity with courses, such as CSPO (Certified Scrum Product Owner) and CSM (Certified Scrum Master) training, garnering increasing demands. Although both these certifications grant enormous benefits in terms of knowledge and experience, it is crucial to analyze their contributions towards future growth. So, let us look into the details of CSPO or Certified Scrum Product Owner training.

Why Agile is here to stay?

The Agile approach is no more limited to just software development and management. It has rapidly spread to all parts and types of organizations. A significant reason for Agile’s emergence as a massive global movement is that more and more industries are coming to terms with the powerful and unpredictable customer-driven marketplace, which in turn, is encouraging companies to adopt Agile. In a market that is volatile, ever-evolving, and often puzzling, only Agile practices can help companies to cope up. Agile is not going away soon and is here to stay. Let’s see why:

Markets and customers are continually evolving at a rapid pace. Agile processes help companies to cope with the changes, be responsive, and in the process, leverage their skills and expertise for higher growth.
The Agile culture guarantees the satisfaction of customers through continuous and rapid product delivery.
The Agile model lays much more emphasis on people-to-people interactions than on mere tools and processes. While it bridges the traditional gap between the boss and the employees, the organization thrives on a culture of collaboration, openness, and unhindered communication.
When cooperation and communication are strong within an Agile organization, innovation and progress are sure to follow. Agile initiatives and changes not only impact the business people-developer relationship but also create a positive influence on customers through products and services.
Adopting the Agile framework is no Herculean task. With the right set of tools and solutions, almost any organization can tap the potential of Agile. Secure communication within the Agile team, efficiency, real-time data generation, and cost-effectiveness make Agile a long-term player.

What is a CSPO?

Now let’s talk about a Certified Scrum Product Owner or CSPO in detail. So, who or what exactly is a CSPO?

A Scrum team is a group of individuals who collaborate to deliver the necessary product increments and comprises three defined roles – Product Owner, Scrum Master, and Development Team. The CSPO is a certification for those aspiring to assume the role of Product Owner within a Scrum team.

Scrum Alliance provides the authentic CSPO certification that is globally accepted in several industries, including IT, infrastructure, automobile, manufacturing, and more. A CSPO training course primarily aims to impart an in-depth understanding of the roles and responsibilities of a Product Owner by covering the following topics:

Fundamentals of Agile and Scrum
Product Discovery, Vision, and Roadmap
Release Planning and Estimation
Use stories
Burndown and burn-up charts, and more

In a nutshell, a CSPO credential will prepare you for the following roles and responsibilities associated with a Product Owner:

Defining products’ features
Incorporating the feedback of stakeholders so that product increments of the highest value are created
Maintaining the product backlog that includes clearly expressing and ordering the product backlog items
Optimization of the work performed by the development teams
Maintaining clarity and transparency of the product backlog
Ensuring that the development team has the requisite level of understanding of the items in the product backlog

Benefits of getting CSPO Certification

So, what are the benefits that come with Certified Scrum Product Owner training? Let’s have a look.

Having a CSPO certification adds validation to your knowledge of core Scrum concepts.
It is an excellent opportunity to expand your career opportunities across sectors that adopt Agile practices.
It will help you understand the concept of iterative and incremental product delivery using the Scrum framework.
The CSPO course will train you in maintaining a work balance between stakeholders and development teams.

How to become a CSPO?

Scrum Alliance is one of the premier accreditation organizations that offer the Certified Scrum Product Owner certificate. The certification requires mandatory completion of a classroom training of two days. However, the certification is valid for only two years, after which, you can opt for either of two ways – one, you can go in for the next level A-CSPO which will automatically renew your CSPO and CSM (if you have any) or two, you can earn Scrum Education Units (SEUs) that will renew your CSPO certification every two years.

Scrum Alliance has laid down the following requirements for a CSPO certification:

You have to attend either an in-person or live online course taught by a CST or a Certified Scrum Trainer. Alternatively, you can also choose to get private coaching from a CAC or a Certified Agile Coach.
After you have completed your course, your next steps will be to accept the CSPO License Agreement and complete your membership profile with Scrum Alliance.

So, which individuals are eligible for the CSPO training? Well, anyone who wants to take ownership of defining the product vision can sign-up for the CSPO course. To be more specific, product owners, product managers, chief operating officers, managers, business analysts, developers, and testers can further their knowledge and skills by participating in the CSPO training and getting certified.

The online Certified Scrum Product Owner training is for anyone who wants to wear the hat of a Product Owner. The CSPO certification not only enhances one’s skills and knowledge but also validates a candidate’s genuine interest in the field and his/her focus on continuous growth and progression. After all, in times when every organization is striving to be Agile-driven, what can be better than a CSPO certification?