Title: Tailoring Product Ownership in Large-Scale Agile,
Abstract: In large-scale agile projects, product owners undertake a range of
challenging and varied activities beyond those conventionally associated with
that role. Using in-depth research interviews from 93 practitioners working in
cross-border teams, from 21 organisations, our rich empirical data offers a
unique international perspective into product owner activities. We found that
the leaders of large-scale agile projects create product owner teams. Product
owner team members undertake sponsor, intermediary and release plan master
activities to manage scale. They undertake communicator and traveller
activities to manage distance and technical architect, governor and risk
assessor activities to manage governance. Based on our findings, we describe
product owner behaviors that are valued by experienced product owners and their
line managers.