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Agile How To: Succeed as a Product Owner

Master the Art of Product Ownership

Product Owners (POs) are essential in Agile environments, ensuring that teams deliver value while aligning with business objectives. But balancing backlog management, stakeholder engagement, and team collaboration can be challenging. This book provides structured, practical guidance to help Product Owners at all levels excel in their roles.

Written by Agile & Product coach Matthew Coxall, this book offers clear insights, actionable strategies, and real-world examples to help you navigate the complexities of product ownership. Whether you are new to the role or refining your approach, this guide will support your growth.

What You’ll Learn

  • Product Ownership Foundations
    • Understand the role of a Product Owner and its impact on Agile success.
    • Develop a value-driven mindset and collaborative leadership skills.
    • Manage competing priorities and stakeholder expectations.
  • Agile Frameworks & Events
    • Master your responsibilities in Scrum, Kanban, and hybrid Agile approaches.
    • Participate effectively in Scrum events, from Sprint Planning to Retrospectives.
    • Adapt to different team structures and workflows.
  • Backlog Management & Prioritization
    • Use proven techniques like MoSCoW, WSJF, RICE, and the Kano Model to manage priorities.
    • Balance immediate business needs with long-term product vision.
    • Maintain a well-structured backlog that drives strategic outcomes.
  • Stakeholder Engagement & Leadership
    • Navigate complex stakeholder relationships and competing priorities.
    • Build trust through transparency, conflict resolution, and data-driven decision-making.
    • Use stakeholder mapping and prioritization workshops to align expectations.
  • Discovery & Innovation
    • Implement structured discovery processes, including spikes, design sprints, and user research.
    • Leverage AI-driven insights to enhance decision-making.
    • Foster a culture of experimentation and continuous learning.
  • Scaling Agile
    • Navigate multi-team environments and manage dependencies.
    • Understand frameworks like LeSS, Nexus, SAFe and Scrum@Scale.
    • Ensure alignment across teams and maintain product integrity in scaled Agile environments.
  • Data-Driven Decision-Making
    • Track key product and delivery metrics to measure success.
    • Use AI-powered analytics to forecast trends and optimize prioritization.
    • Present insights effectively through dashboards and storytelling.
About the Author(s)
Matthew Coxall

Author, Agile & Product Expert, Product Innovator

Matthew Coxall is a dynamic author and professional with a passion for innovation, storytelling, and technology. With over two decades of experience leading Agile transformations and pioneering product development across industries, he has earned a reputation for blending creativity and strategy to deliver value-driven solutions. His professional accomplishments include two patents in the airline industry, championing innovation initiatives like an EdTechathon, several hackathons, and coaching teams globally to embrace Product and Agile practices.

Born and raised in Zimbabwe, Matthew moved to the UK in 1996, bringing with him a wealth of cultural experiences that now inform his diverse storytelling. In 1998-1999, he took nine months out to travel the world, an adventure that sparked his love for writing. Alongside his professional books on Agile methodologies and product development, he is working on a set of fiction books in his spare time, exploring themes of human connection, innovation, and resilience.

Beyond his professional pursuits, Matthew is an avid gamer, with a particular love for car racing games, and enjoys unwinding on the golf course every now and again. He immerses himself in books, movies, and creative projects, always seeking inspiration. Married with two stepdaughters, he lives in Berkshire, UK, balancing his career and creative passions with a deep appreciation for life’s stories—whether told through products, fiction, or film.

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