Who has the authority to modify the Product Backlog?

The authority to modify the Product Backlog lies primarily with the Product Owner. This role is responsible for the content, availability, and ordering of the items in the Product Backlog. The Product Owner engages with stakeholders to understand their needs and priorities, ensuring that the backlog reflects the most valuable work for the team to pursue next. This responsibility allows the Product Owner to make informed decisions about which items should be prioritized based on business value, stakeholder needs, and team capacity.

While other members of the Scrum Team, including the Development Team and the Scrum Master, play crucial roles in the Scrum process, they do not hold the authority to directly modify the Product Backlog. The Development Team can collaborate with the Product Owner by providing feedback on backlog items or suggesting changes based on their technical insights, but final decisions rest with the Product Owner. The Scrum Master facilitates the Scrum process but does not have the authority to change the backlog themselves. Thus, the Product Owner’s role as the single person responsible for the backlog ensures clarity and focus on delivering maximum value to the business through the iterative process of Scrum.