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Description

Product Owner Foundations: Framing Needs, Prioritising and Managing the Backlog

Step into the Product Owner role and turn business requests into a workable backlog

  • 2 days — 14 h
  • In-person or virtual
  • Foundation
  • Up to 6 participants

The Product Owner role is often handed over without transition to a project manager or a business expert. Requests arrive through every possible channel. The backlog turns into a list of intentions that the team cannot break down. Trade-offs are made in meetings without shared criteria, and every stakeholder leaves convinced that their request comes first.

These two days establish the foundations of the role. You position the Product Owner within the Scrum framework and in relation to the other participants. You formulate a product vision that fits into a few sentences. You write backlog items that are properly sliced and testable. Finally, you apply a prioritisation method you can defend in front of your stakeholders.

Learning objectives

  • Position the Product Owner role among the responsibilities of the Scrum team
  • Formulate a product vision and the objectives that flow from it
  • Write backlog items that are properly sliced and supported by acceptance criteria
  • Apply an explicit prioritisation method when facing stakeholders
  • Prepare the sprint activities that fall to the Product Owner

What makes this programme different

Building a complete backlog for a running case product chosen on day one
Workshop on slicing large business requests into deliverable items
Trade-off simulation with stakeholders holding conflicting interests

Programme

1The role within the Scrum framework

Where the responsibility begins and where it ends

  • The Scrum team and the allocation of responsibilities
  • The Product Owner alongside the Scrum Master and the developers
  • Sprint events and the place of the Product Owner
  • Pitfalls of holding the role on a part-time basis

2Product vision and needs

From the stated need to the real need

  • Formulating a product vision and product objectives
  • Identifying users and how they work
  • Collecting requests and information sources
  • Translating a need into an expected outcome

3Writing and slicing the backlog

Items the team can actually deliver

  • Structure of a backlog item
  • Acceptance criteria and the definition of done
  • Slicing an oversized request
  • What makes a backlog usable within a sprint

4Prioritising and deciding

Owning the order of the backlog

  • Value, risk and effort criteria
  • Prioritisation methods you can apply
  • Dialogue with stakeholders
  • Preparing the sprint review

Who is it for

Project managers · business analysts · functional leads and future Product Owners taking up the role within an agile team.

Prerequisites

No prerequisites

Dates & locations

36 scheduled dates between November 2026 and December 2027. Seats are confirmed in the order enquiries are received.

November 2026

December 2026

January 2027

February 2027

March 2027

April 2027

May 2027

June 2027

September 2027

October 2027

November 2027

December 2027

None of these dates suit you? We open additional sessions on request, and any programme can be run privately for your team.

Practical details

Before the programme
Online positioning questionnaire. Your development objectives are shared with the trainer, who tailors the practical case studies to your context.
Teaching methods
Theoretical input, workshops and practical case studies. Digital course materials and method sheets provided.
Assessment
Multiple-choice tests and role-play exercises. Assessment of learning at the start and end of the programme, with immediate and 60-day follow-up evaluations.
After the programme
One year of access to the e-learning platform. Self-assessment of the skills acquired and a 30-day follow-up session with your trainer.
How to register
Registration online or on the basis of a quotation.
Lead time
11 working days after confirmation of registration.
Accessibility
Accessible to people of determination. Contact our accessibility coordinator to design a suitable solution: contact@mpf-academy.ae
Start dates
Rolling intake: in addition to the scheduled sessions, this programme can start on request.