Agile at Scale with CIPSA: The Chief Product Owner (CPO) – What It Is and What It’s Not!

The CIPSA Framework introduces two primary roles for Agile at Scale: Chief Product Owner (CPO) and Principal Scrum Master (PSM) for Scrum or Principal Flow Master (PFM) for Kanban. The CPO role is new and not available in many scaled Agile approaches. However, it is one of the key roles and is crucial for product success. 

In this post, we will learn more on the CPO role as there can be misconceptions and misunderstandings. It’s presented in the form of what it is and what it is not, in order to have more clarity. Do note again, the CPO role applies both to Scrum at Scale and Kanban at Scale.

The following are some of them. To read all articles of this series use this link: What It's and What It's Not series for CIPSA.

Chief Product Owner – What It’s and What It’s Not

1. Not Delegated Vision, but Owned Vision: The Chief Product Owner does not get the product vision from the top executive team. The Chief Product Owner sets the product vision.

The CPO crafts a clear, compelling vision based on customer insights, market trends and business strategy linked to organizational strategy. The CPO leads the product direction and aligns stakeholders around a shared purpose (and goal), instead of relying on top-down directives.

2. Not Management Role, but Visionary Role: The Chief Product Owner is not a portfolio or program manager. The Chief Product Owner is the visionary for the Product.

Unlike a portfolio or program manager who focuses on scope, budgets and/or timelines, the CPO drives the “why” and “what” of the product at scale. The CPO envisions the product’s future and champion its value delivery across the organization.

3. Not Backlog Maintainer, but Backlog Strategist: The Chief Product Owner is not a backlog maintenance person. The Chief Product Owner is the main backlog strategist.

The product backlog, which is only one, is not a list to be managed. The CPO shapes the backlog as a strategic tool to maximize product outcomes and bring value. The CPO makes sure backlog items reflect the product vision, customer needs as well as business priorities. The product backlog is ordered.

4. Not Isolation, but Collaboration: The Chief Product Owner is not a lone-wolf. The Chief Product Owner works with other Team Product Owners, stakeholders and customers.

The Chief Product Owner thrives through collaboration, not isolation. He or she aligns multiple individual team product owners, gathers stakeholders' inputs and integrates customer feedback. Through cross-team communication, the CPO ensures a cohesive and value-driven product evolution.

5. Not Delivery, but Inspection: The Chief Product Owner does not manage the delivery of CIPSA Integrated Increment. The Chief Product Owner inspects whether the CIPSA Integrated Increment meets the CIPSA Goal. 

The CPO doesn’t oversee execution or delivery logistics. Rather, the CPO evaluates outcomes against strategic objectives of the organization. The CPO's focus is ensuring that what is delivered aligns with the overall Product Goal - hence the CPO inspects the CIPSA Integrated Increment. See here.

6. Not CIPSA Goal Ownership, but CIPSA Goal Alignment: The Chief Product Owner is not the owner of the CIPSA Goal. The Chief Product Owner ensures the CIPSA Goal is aligned with the Product Goal.

Unlike the Product Goal, for the CIPSA Goal, the CPO is not the owner. The CPO ensures that it contributes meaningfully to the overarching product goal/objectives. The CPO acts as a bridge here.

7. Not Management Mindset, but Ownership Mindset: The Chief Product Owner is not the manager of the product. The Chief Product Owner is the owner of the Product and has an ownership mindset.

The CPO doesn't manage tasks or people. The CPO takes full accountability for the product’s success. The CPO thinks long-term, acts proactively and leads with a deep sense of responsibility for product outcomes and success.

Summary Table – Chief Product Owner

The following table contrasts common misconceptions with the true nature of the CPO role, highlighting key differences in focus and approach. It's easy to remember and recall. The complete table and explanation are part of the CIPSA certification course.

Closing Remarks

It’s the CPO who first presents the refined Product Backlog to the CIPSA team in the CIPSA Planning meta-event. Only then does the actually planning start, leading to the work items that can be broken down into individual tasks, and finally, execution is done by the CIPSA team to deliver the CIPSA Integrated Increment. See here.

You can also read the unique article - two key roles and goals in CIPSA. See here.

The CPO is indispensable with his/her responsibilities for the success of the product by meeting the Product Goal and hence the Organizational Goals.

The above list of “what it’s and what it’s” is a brief one. 

• Want to know in-depth about the CPO?
• Want to learn with hands-on, practical software tool?
• Want to see how the backlog items are prioritized? 
• Want to learn how to break down features in a hands-on manner?

Consider being a CIPSA professional. It’s worth every penny. 

What It's and What It's Not Series:

All Articles in What It's and What It's Not Series - CIPSA

CIPSA Sample Videos and Questions:

[1] CIPSA Sample Video List (Choose a Video)

[2] CIPSA Video Playlist (Complete Playlist)

CIPSA Sample Questions:

[1] CIPSA Certification Sample Questions (Part - 1)

[2] CIPSA Certification Sample Questions (Part - 2)

CIPSA Certification:

[1] NEW Scaled Agile Certification Course: Certified In Practical Scaled Agile (CIPSA)

[2] Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - CIPSA Certification  

[3] Scrum at Scale: CIPSA Key Roles and Goals with MS Project Agile

[4] Understanding the CIPSA Scrum Framework – Practical, Hands-on Scrum at Scale

ManagementYogi’s CIPSA Certification: The CIPSA Team – What It Is and What It’s Not!

The concept of the CIPSA Team is new, but it's explained as part of the CIPSA Framework Guide. You'll also get a complete hands-on  demonstration of it in the CIPSA certification course. The guide defines the CIPSA Team as follows:

“The CIPSA Team is the sum of all individual teams. This team consists of the CPO, PSM (or PFM), POs, SMs (or FMs), and most important of all, the developers, who are generalizing specialists.” 

The guide is available for free download – no sign-in required. Download here.

In this article, I'll explain more clearly the aspects of the CIPSA Team. An in-depth explanation with hands-on demonstration is part of the CIPSA Certification course. You’ll learn practically with software tool:

• How to have resources for the CIPSA Team. 
• How to segregate and distribute resources across individual Scrum or Kanban Teams.
• How to organize resources into various groups (very important for reporting).
• How to create and apply custom groups for the resources.
• How to assign and move various resources efficiently.
• How to resolve overallocations in the CIPSA team.
• How to track individual Scrum or Kanban teams as well as the entire CIPSA team, among others.

Learn more here. With this course, you will have mastery over scaling using Agile approaches.

There are many important differentiations. The following are some of them. To read all articles of this series use this link: What It's and What It's Not series for CIPSA.

CIPSA Team – What It’s and What It’s Not!

1. Not Many Teams, but One Team: The CIPSA Team is not just a sum of individual Scrum or Kanban teams. The CIPSA Team is a single, cohesive unit.

The CIPSA Team isn’t just a group of separate Scrum or Kanban teams working in parallel. It acts as a unified, cohesive team aligned toward a common purpose and goal. See the next point!

2. Not CIPSA Sprint Goal, but Product Goal: The CIPSA Team's final goal is not the CIPSA Sprint Goal. The CIPSA Team's final goal is the Product Goal.

While individual Scrum teams may focus on respective Team Sprint Goals, the CIPSA Team is aligned with the overarching Product Goal - not the CIPSA Sprint Goal. This ensures long-term value delivery.

Similarly, for CIPSA Kanban, it'll be Product Goal, not CIPSA (Kanban) Goal or individual Team Goals.

3. Not Task-Focused, but Goal-Focused: The CIPSA Team is not task-oriented. The CIPSA Team is goal oriented. 

Considering the CIPSA Scrum framework, the short-term goal for the CIPSA Scrum Team is the CIPSA Sprint Goal and for long-term it's the Product Goal.

The focus of the CIPSA team is not on completing tasks for the sake of activity. Rather, the CIPSA team focuses on achieving meaningful Product Goals. Remember there can be more than one product goals.

4. Not Untested, but Tested Value: The CIPSA Team's Integrated Increment is not untested. The CIPSA Integrated Increment is tested, integrated, valuable, and usable.

Work delivered by the CIPSA Team is not just an assembled output. The CIPSA Integrated Increment tested, integrated and valuable from the customer’s point of view.

5. Not Role-Bound, but Collaborative: The CIPSA Team is not bound by job descriptions. The CIPSA Team is collaborative and utilizes practices like swarming and mobbing.

Team members in the CIPSA team aren’t limited by rigid job roles. They collaborate freely using practices like swarming and mobbing to solve problems. Swarming and mobbing are Agile practices and can be used at scale.

6. Not Managed, but Self-Managing: The CIPSA Team is not managed by the Principal Scrum Master or Principal Flow Master. The CIPSA Team is self-managing. 

The team doesn’t rely on top-down control. It organizes itself with support and with facilitation by the Principal Scrum Master (PSM) or Principal Flow Master (PFM).

7. Not Short-Term, but Long-Term: The CIPSA Team is not a short-term team. The CIPSA Team is long-term.

This is not a temporary setup that gets disbanded after a goal, i.e., the CIPSA Goal. That may happen in a traditional project, which can be temporary. The CIPSA Team is a stable, long-term team focused on continuous product delivery. It exists to meet the Product Goal – one at a time.

CIPSA Team – Table Representation

Now, we can have the above points represented in a table. It’s easier to read and remember. 

Concluding Remarks

The CIPSA Team itself is the soul of the CIPSA framework. It’s the team that breaks the features down into tasks and execute those tasks. Without the team, there is no CIPSA Integrated Increment – one that finally matters to the customer or user.

As a CIPSA-certified professional, or an aspiring one and a Practical Scaled Agile Practitioner (PSA) you need to know the above fundamentals about the CIPSA Team. 

This article touches upon and highlights a few aspects of CIPSA Team. To dive deeper and gain practical, real-world expertise, becoming a CIPSA professional is your next step. It’s a great way to get the most value from your investment.

What It's and What It's Not Series:

All Articles in What It's and What It's Not Series - CIPSA

CIPSA Sample Videos:

[1] CIPSA Sample Video List (Choose a video to play)

[2] CIPSA Video Playlist (Complete playlist - play all)

CIPSA Sample Questions:

[1] CIPSA Certification Sample Questions (Part - 1)

[2] CIPSA Certification Sample Questions (Part - 2)

CIPSA Certification:

[1] NEW Scaled Agile Certification Course: Certified In Practical Scaled Agile (CIPSA)

[2] Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - CIPSA Certification  

[3] New Practical Scaled Agile Framework – The CIPSA Framework Guide

[4] Understanding the CIPSA Scrum Framework – Practical, Hands-on Scrum at Scale