What is the difference between Scrum Master and Product Owner?

 The Scrum Master and Product Owner are two distinct roles in the Scrum framework, each with complementary responsibilities that ensure Agile teams deliver value efficiently. Here's a clear breakdown:

Aspect	Scrum Master	Product Owner
Primary Focus	Scrum process & team performance	Product value & backlog management
Main Goal	Help the team work efficiently within Scrum	Maximize product value delivered by the team
Role Type	Facilitator / Coach	Business / Customer Representative
Owns	The Scrum process	The Product Backlog
Key Responsibilities	- Facilitate Scrum events - Remove impediments - Coach team on Agile - Promote collaboration	- Define product vision - Prioritize backlog - Write user stories - Accept/reject work
Interaction With Team	Coaches and supports the whole team	Guides the team on what to build and why
Interaction With Stakeholders	Limited (mainly protects team from distractions)	Frequent – gathers requirements, feedback, and sets priorities
Decision-Making Power	No authority over product direction	Full authority over product features and priorities
Mindset	Servant-leader	Value-driven decision maker

🔑 Summary

• The Scrum Master ensures the Agile process runs smoothly.

• The Product Owner ensures the right product is being built to meet customer needs.

💬 Think of it like this:
The Product Owner decides what gets built and why,
the Scrum Master ensures the how gets done effectively.