Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast: Agile storytelling from the trenches The Pressure Conduit, aka The Tornado Product Owner | Chrissy Fleming
Feb 7, 2025
Chrissy Fleming, an Associate Principal in Business Agility with Turnberry Solutions, coaches businesses on product management. She discusses the critical difference between effective and ineffective product ownership. A great Product Owner advocates for customer needs and fosters team collaboration. In contrast, the 'Tornado Product Owner' merely transmits pressure from leadership, hindering the team's ability to deliver value. The conversation emphasizes the need for clear communication and understanding the 'why' behind stakeholder demands.
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Tornado Mode
- Chrissy Fleming coached a PO whose team was constantly in "tornado mode" due to the CEO's volatile requests.
- The PO struggled as an order taker, constantly relaying pressure to the team.
Defend the Sprint
- Defend the current sprint's commitments from disruptions.
- Get more context for new requests by understanding the underlying business case.
Show Trade-offs
- Articulate the trade-offs of interrupting the team's current work.
- Demonstrate the negative impact of constant churn on the team's performance using metrics.
