What Being a Product Owner Taught Me About Listening, Clarity, and the “Why”

As part of my Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) course, I’ve been rotating through Scrum roles to get hands-on with Agile. After starting as a Scrum Master, I stepped into the Product Owner role—and honestly, I underestimated how much listening and interpretation it would take.

The feature requests seemed simple at first. “I want to filter by price.” Cool. But as Product Owner, it was my job to dig deeper. What does that really mean to the user? Are they looking for deals? Are they on a strict budget? This role taught me that users rarely give you complete answers upfront. You have to ask better questions, listen harder, and constantly translate vague wants into clear, actionable stories for the team.

From Focus Group to Backlog

We ran a simulated focus group with three users, and I noticed how quickly feedback evolved through conversation. One person’s comment sparked another’s idea, and the group naturally built on each other’s thoughts. By the end of the session, I had five user stories shaped by real discussion—way more refined than what I would’ve gotten through a simple survey.

This experience really highlighted how early engagement reveals both the obvious and hidden needs. It wasn’t just about what users said, it was about what they meant—and being there to catch that in real-time made a huge difference.

Sizing and Prioritizing: Not a Solo Sport

I tried estimating story sizes on my own at first, but watching the focus group animation reminded me: this isn’t a one-person job. The development team brings essential technical insight, and sizing becomes much more effective when we talk through it together. That collaboration also shaped prioritization—it wasn’t just about what users were most excited for, but also what was feasible now and what would deliver the most value early.

Stories with Substance

Well-written user stories do more than sit in a backlog. They give the team a north star. With strong acceptance criteria, everyone knows what “done” looks like—whether they’re coding or testing. That alignment cuts down on confusion, makes sprint planning easier, and honestly just makes the work smoother.

One story started as “show top destinations,” but after a few rounds of follow-up questions, it became “display top 5 or 10 destinations customized by past travel history and filtered by hot deals and price.” That kind of evolution is why conversations matter more than checklists.

Beyond Focus Groups: Keeping Feedback Flowing

I also started thinking about how Product Owners can keep that user dialogue going beyond scheduled sessions. Feedback buttons, click tracking, early prototyping, usability testing—all of it feeds into the same goal: don’t guess what users want. See it. Hear it. Confirm it.

Final Takeaways

• Product Owners don’t just gather requests—they uncover the “why.”
• Real user value comes from asking questions, listening, and translating needs.
• Collaboration with developers is key for realistic sizing and planning.
• User stories with clear acceptance criteria = less rework and better teamwork.
• Continuous feedback (not just early feedback) keeps the product aligned with real needs.

This role stretched me in new ways. It taught me to listen deeper, communicate clearer, and advocate for the user while balancing feasibility. I’m seeing Agile not just as a framework, but as a conversation—with users, with the team, and with the product itself.

References

Ikani, L., Ogwueleka, F., & Department of Computer Science, University of Abuja, Nigeria. (2024). Assessment of Users’ Participation in the System Analysis and Design Process. International Journal of Science Academic Research. Link

Scrum Guide. (n.d.). Link

Snehamayee. (2024, December 11). Agile Estimations with Planning Poker. Link

Tammy. (2024, July 10). 4 Steps to Ship Your Products Faster. Applause. Link

The Five Essential Traits of Good Product Owners. (n.d.). Link

Author’s Note

As a CS student, I’m focused on bridging the gap between theory and practice in software development. Taking on the Product Owner role gave me a clearer view of how user needs are translated into actionable stories and prioritized within an Agile team. This experience deepened my understanding of product vision, stakeholder engagement, and team collaboration. I’ll continue sharing reflections as I grow in my tech journey.