A development team and product owner disagree on a user story in the product backlog. What should the agile practitioner do?

Question

Options

• AHave the development team follow the product owner's direction
• BOpenly challenge the product owner in an effort to poke holes in their approach
• CFacilitate a conversation about the user story between the development team and the product
• DServe as a nonpartisan evaluator of each option, and provide direction to the development team

• A
  10% (3)
• B
  7% (2)
• C
  80% (24)
• D
  3% (1)

Explanation

The agile practitioner (often functioning as a scrum master or coach) is a servant-leader and facilitator - not a decision-maker or judge. When conflict arises between the team and the product owner, the right action is to facilitate a constructive conversation that allows both sides to share their perspectives and reach a shared understanding or agreement. Option A (follow the PO's direction blindly) undermines the team's autonomy and may miss valid technical concerns. Option B (challenge the PO publicly) is confrontational and damages trust. Option D (serve as a nonpartisan evaluator and provide direction) oversteps the practitioner's role - they should facilitate, not direct.

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