Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO) Practice Exam

Who is responsible for maintaining the integrity of the Product Backlog?

1. Scrum Master

2. Product Owner

3. Developers

4. Stakeholders

The correct answer is: Product Owner

The Product Owner is responsible for maintaining the integrity of the Product Backlog because they serve as the single point of accountability for the backlog. This role involves ensuring that the backlog is well-defined, prioritized, and clearly communicates the items that need to be worked on according to the vision and needs of the stakeholders and the organization. The integrity of the Product Backlog pertains to not only its content but also its organization and alignment with the overall product goals. The Product Owner must continuously refine the backlog by adding new items, deleting unneeded ones, and ensuring that the items are clearly articulated with appropriate acceptance criteria. This prioritization helps the development team understand what is most important and ensures that the team is always working on the most valuable tasks. While the Scrum Master supports the Scrum process and the team, they do not hold responsibility for the backlog's content. Developers contribute to the backlog by providing input on estimates, technical feasibility, and scope, but they do not maintain the backlog's integrity. Stakeholders, while they have valuable insights and feedback, do not have direct responsibility for managing the backlog, as this could lead to conflicting priorities or diluted ownership. This clear division of roles helps maintain a focused and actionable Product Backlog.