What topics are assessed in the Professional Scrum Product Owner (PSPO) certification?

The Professional Scrum Product Owner (PSPO) certification validates your basic knowledge of the Product Owner accountabilities within the Scrum framework. The certification assesses your knowledge of the following topic areas:

• Artifacts

  In Scrum an artifact is important information needed during the development of a product. 

  Scrum has three artifacts that implement the transparency element of the foundational empirical process: 

  • Product Backlog

  • Sprint Backlog

  • Increment

• Business Strategy       

  The Product Owner is responsible for linking the business strategy to the work of the Developers.

  Agility is a source of competitive advantage.

• Done

  The Definition of Done is a commitment associated with the Increment. It describes the quality standards for the Increment to be considered “done” and in a state that it can be effectively inspected. The Developers commit to it regarding the quality of the Increment.

• Empiricism

  Product development resides in a complex domain. Solving complex problems or doing complex work can only be done using an exploratory (empirical) process rather than relying on predetermined plans.

• Events

  The Scrum events are key elements of the Scrum Framework. They each implement the empirical process through the Inspection and Adaptation of the Scrum artefacts.

  There are five Scrum events:

  • The Sprint

  • Sprint Planning

  • Daily Scrum

  • Sprint Review

  • Sprint Retrospective

• Forecasting & Release Planning

  Product Owners decide what to deliver (release) to customers/users, in what order and when. Product Owners need a release strategy, a release plan and a release forecast.

• Product Backlog Management

  Product Backlog Management is the act of adjusting and ordering items on the Product Backlog so that the Scrum Team can deliver the most valuable product possible. A Product Owner is accountable for managing the Product Backlog.

• Product Value

  Product value refers to the benefit a product delivers to its customers, stakeholders, and the business. It is the measure of how well a product meets the needs, solves the problems, or enhances the lives of its users while achieving organisational goals.

• Product Vision

  The Product Vision describes the purpose of a Product. It expresses who the product is for and what value it delivers.

  The Product Vision is owned by the Product Owner.

• Scrum Team

  A Scrum Team is a team of people who work together, using the Scrum Framework, to create something valuable. The team consists of:

  • Product Owner

  • Developers

  • Scrum Master

• Self-Managing Teams

  The best way to support a team working in a complex environment is to give them the space to determine how to do their work rather than directing them. This space and
  empowerment is the essence of self-management.

• Stakeholders & Customers

  Product owners are accountable for managing the expectations of customers and stakeholders.