Scrum.org has introduced a new online training course aimed at people in product roles who want structured preparation for the Professional Scrum Product Owner I certification.
The Professional Scrum Product Owner Fundamentals course runs on a self-paced basis and sits alongside the organisation's existing live instructor-led Product Owner training. Scrum.org said the new option targets both new and experienced Product Owners, as well as product managers, business analysts and others involved in product work.
The course focuses on the core responsibilities of the Product Owner within the Scrum framework. It breaks down how Product Owners balance product vision, value and validation when working with Scrum Teams and stakeholders.
Scrum.org positions the course for learners who want flexibility in how they study. Students can complete the content over days, weeks or months and the programme takes around 5.5 hours in total.
On completion, students receive a password for one attempt at the Professional Scrum Product Owner I (PSPO I) certification assessment. PSPO I is Scrum.org's globally recognised entry-level Product Owner credential.
Self-paced structure
The new Fundamentals course runs entirely online. Students progress through short modules that combine scenarios, activities, videos and quizzes. Scrum.org said these elements bring Product Owner accountabilities to life in practical contexts.
The organisation has designed the content around an outcomes-focused view of Product Ownership. It covers how Product Owners describe and use a product vision, how they express value through a Product Backlog, and how they use empiricism and Scrum events to prioritise and validate their decisions.
Scrum.org describes vision, value and validation as the core tenets of Product Ownership. The course explains how Product Owners apply these ideas while they work with customers, users, stakeholders and the wider Scrum Team.
Dave West, Chief Executive of Scrum.org, said the expansion of self-paced training responds to different learner preferences.
"We are very excited to announce our newest self-paced training - Professional Scrum Product Owner Fundamentals," said Dave West, CEO, Scrum.org. "Being a Product Owner can be very overwhelming and complex with the ultimate focus of delivering valuable products to customers. This course allows students to learn about Product Ownership at their own pace and at a time that suits them. We understand that people learn in many different ways and look forward to adding more self-paced courses in the future."
Skills and outcomes
Professional Scrum Product Owner Fundamentals sets out a series of learning objectives for students. These include the ability to articulate the accountabilities of a Product Owner and how those accountabilities relate to maximising value from products.
The course describes how a Product Owner uses a clear product vision to shape strategy. It also explains how that strategy drives value delivery through incremental releases and validated learning.
Customer and user engagement form another strand of the learning objectives. The material covers ways that Product Owners gather feedback, confirm direction and refine product goals based on evidence from the market.
Scrum.org also links Product Ownership directly to the Product Backlog. Students examine how the Backlog reflects what the Product Owner considers valuable, and how ordering of Backlog items expresses current priorities.
Empiricism and the Scrum framework sit at the centre of the course content. The programme shows how inspection and adaptation support decision-making, and how Product Owners can prioritise and validate ideas quickly.
The course describes typical collaboration patterns between Product Owners, stakeholders and Scrum Team members. It sets out how those relationships support shared understanding of goals and product value.
Position in portfolio
Scrum.org views Professional Scrum Product Owner Fundamentals as a complement to its existing live Professional Scrum Product Owner course. The self-paced option gives learners an alternative format while keeping the same focus on core Scrum.org competencies.
The organisation said the new course forms part of a broader set of training, assessments and learning resources for people who use Scrum in product development and other complex work.
Scrum.org was founded by Scrum co-creator Ken Schwaber as a mission-based organisation that focuses on helping people and teams apply Scrum in practice. It runs instructor-led classes, self-paced programmes and certification assessments against a common competency model.
The new Product Owner Fundamentals course will sit within that portfolio as an entry-level route for Product Owners who want structured learning and formal certification. West said Scrum.org plans to expand its range of self-paced training options over time.
