Product Owner

Discover the role of the Product Owner: product management, strategy, and the success of digital projects. Specialized training at EDC Paris Business School to excel in this role.

What is a Product Owner?

Role Definition and Function

The Product Owner (PO) is responsible for the product vision and managing the backlog. They act as the liaison between stakeholders (clients, users, internal teams) and the development team, ensuring that priorities align with strategic goals. The PO defines and prioritizes features to be developed, writes user stories, and ensures that the final product meets user needs while maximizing value for the business.

The Importance of the Product Owner in an Agile Team

The PO ensures that the development team's efforts are always aligned with customer needs and the company's strategic objectives. By being the guardian of the product vision, the PO ensures that priorities are constantly reevaluated and adjusted based on user feedback and market changes. The PO is also responsible for managing the backlog, writing user stories, and making informed decisions about the product’s direction. This role enables the development team to focus on high-value tasks while ensuring clear communication among all stakeholders.

What Are the Responsibilities of a Product Owner?

Managing the Product Backlog

Managing the product backlog involves defining, prioritizing, and maintaining a list of features and improvements to be made to the product. The Product Owner writes user stories, prioritizes them based on their value to both the user and the business, and regularly adjusts the backlog based on feedback and project changes. The

PO ensures that the development team focuses on the most important tasks and that stakeholder expectations are considered at each iteration.

Collaboration with Technical Teams and Stakeholders

The PO serves as a bridge between users, clients, and the development team, ensuring that product requirements are clearly understood and aligned with strategic priorities.

With technical teams, the PO clarifies user stories, answers questions, and adjusts priorities based on technical feasibility. At the same time, the PO communicates regularly with stakeholders (clients, managers, users) to gather feedback, adjust the product direction, and ensure expectations are met throughout the project.

Tracking Product Progress and User Feedback

The PO constantly monitors the product’s performance, relying on data and user feedback to identify areas for improvement. They analyze user feedback to adjust backlog priorities and ensure that the product remains aligned with market needs.

Qualities and Skills Required to Be a Good Product Owner

Project Management and Communication Skills

In project management, the PO is responsible for planning, prioritizing, and tracking deliverables throughout the product lifecycle, ensuring deadlines and objectives are met. They use management tools such as Kanban boards or project management software to coordinate and track tasks.

In communication, the PO must be able to clearly convey the product vision to technical teams and stakeholders, gather feedback, and maintain smooth collaboration among all parties.

Analytical Skills and Strategic Vision

The PO must be able to analyze data and user feedback to identify trends and understand market needs. This analysis helps prioritize features that add the most value to the product.

In terms of strategic vision, the PO must align product development with the company’s long-term goals. They make informed decisions to ensure that each product evolution contributes to the overall vision while meeting user expectations and business priorities.

Ability to Prioritize and Make Decisions

The PO must constantly evaluate different product requests and features based on their potential impact on users and the company’s goals. This ability to prioritize involves quickly assessing the value of each task while considering available resources and deadlines.

The PO must also be able to make strategic, sometimes difficult, decisions to balance stakeholder expectations, technical feasibility, and the product's added value, ensuring a clear and consistent direction throughout the project.

What Are the Advantages of the Product Owner Role?

A Key Role in Innovative Projects

The PO is responsible for defining features that meet emerging user needs while ensuring that the developed solutions align with business objectives.

In innovative projects, the PO must be able to navigate uncertainty, make quick decisions based on limited data, and continuously adjust the product based on market feedback. They play a central role in managing expectations and coordinating teams, ensuring that innovation remains relevant, feasible, and truly valuable.

Growth Opportunities and Industry Diversity

The PO role is transversal and found in various industries such as tech, finance, healthcare, e-commerce, and industrial sectors.

Each industry presents unique challenges and opportunities to develop project management, user needs analysis, and product strategy skills.

In ever-evolving environments, such as digital transformation or product innovation, a PO can contribute to the company’s growth by meeting changing market needs.

Product Owner : Salary and Career Progression

Average Salary and Variability Based on Experience

A Product Owner’s salary varies based on experience, industry, and location.

In France, the annual salary for a junior to mid-level PO (1 to 5 years of experience) typically ranges from €35,000 to €55,000.

With more experience (5 to 10 years), a PO can expect a salary ranging from €55,000 to €80,000 or more, depending on the company's size, responsibilities, and project complexity.

In specific sectors like tech or finance, salaries may be even higher, especially for experienced or specialized profiles.

What Studies Are Needed to Become a Product Owner?

Recommended Training for This Profession

Additional Skills to Stand Out in the Market

Technical Skills : Understanding technologies and development tools (e.g., project management tools like Jira, Trello, or Asana) can help a PO better collaborate with technical teams and make more informed decisions.
Data Analysis : Using data analysis tools (Google Analytics, Tableau, etc.) to evaluate user behavior and adjust product direction based on metrics can be a major asset.
UX/UI Knowledge : This allows the PO to design more intuitive products and work more effectively with designers.
Client Relationship Management : The ability to directly interact with clients to gather feedback and understand their needs enables the PO to better define and adjust the product.
Change Management : Being able to manage the impact of direction changes or product evolutions within an organization is essential for maintaining stakeholder and team buy-in.
Agile Certifications : Obtaining certifications such as Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO) or SAFe PO/PM can enhance credibility and recognition in the market.