Stakeholder

Any person or group with an interest in the product's outcome — including customers, users, business sponsors, legal and compliance teams, support staff, and executives. In Scrum, stakeholders are not part of the Scrum team but participate in sprint reviews to inspect the increment and provide feedback that shapes the product backlog. The product owner acts as the primary interface between stakeholders and the development team, translating stakeholder needs into prioritized backlog items. Effective stakeholder management involves regular communication, managing expectations, and ensuring diverse stakeholder perspectives are represented in product decisions. Not all stakeholders have equal influence — the product owner must balance competing interests.