What is a technical product owner?

What is a technical product owner?

A technical product owner (TPO) manages the technical side of product development and bridges the gap between business goals and the engineering team.

• They guide technical decisions across the product roadmap.
• They translate complex tech for clients and stakeholders.
• They support the product owner without owning the backlog.

Digital transformation keeps moving fast. So software development matters more than ever in modern firms. Software development[1] teams now use modern methods like agile. In fact, agile product development is very popular today.

The product owner (PO) plays a key role in product work. However, they focus on the product and its progress. Sometimes, though, things get technical. In those cases, firms use a technical product owner (TPO). So the TPO covers both the product and technical side of product development.[2]

In this article, we explain the technical product owner role. We also cover the key skills and why they matter. Along the way, we compare a technical product owner vs product owner.

Definition of technical product owner

Simply put, a technical product owner manages the technical parts of product development. So it bridges the business and technical sides of software product development. Not every product owner has a technical background. As a result, firms need someone to handle the technical details.

A strong TPO knows many technical areas well. They also grasp the full software development life cycle and the firm’s tech stack. So they can guide the roadmap and its strategy. In turn, they share these plans with the agile team. A clear product roadmap keeps everyone aligned.

Technical product owner vs. Product owner

People often mix up the technical product owner and product owner roles. Product owners mainly focus on maximizing a product’s value. So they define the product vision. They also design the roadmap and keep it on track. However, they do not need technical skills for the job.

In contrast, technical product owners do not handle backlogs or grow product value. Instead, they add technical elements to product work. So in an agile team, they work closely with designers, engineers, testers, and other stakeholders. As a result, the plan turns into reality. For more context, see the product management process.

Functions of a technical product owner

A technical product owner is key to product success. For example, a large infrastructure project needs deep technical skill. So a TPO fits that need well. Here are some of their main functions.

Technical assistant and consultant

TPOs act as technical advisors for many people. For example, they help POs, stakeholders, the scrum team, and the product manager. They also support the C-suite, the dev team, and clients. As an advisor, they offer expertise in these areas:

• Support technical decisions of the product development team
• Offer advice and technical help in sprint planning
• Help define and manage technical discussions
• Assist product owners with user stories on technical debt

Technical knowledge resource

Besides being an assistant, the TPO also acts as a consultant. Building a product needs long-term planning and mapping. So you need an expert who grasps technical complexity. As a result, a TPO becomes a strong partner to the product owner. Here is what TPOs can do:

• Understand customer expectations and needs in depth
• Work with the dev team to shape a technical product strategy
• Advise the product owner on roadmap planning and decisions
• Ensure user stories are prioritized and included
• Help in sprint planning, backlog order, and project dependencies

Customer liaison

Some clients are not technical. So technical product owners fill the communication gap. As a result, they grasp client needs and explain tech in plain terms. They also offer fixes for complex technical challenges. Their tasks here include:

• Explain technical acronyms to the client’s stakeholders
• Go over the technical side of the product
• Explain the technical requirements for the product
• Act as a bridge for the customer and dev team
• Prioritize product dependencies and engineering complexity
• Offer solutions to complex technical problems

Essential skills of a technical product owner

The role needs both hard and soft skills. TPOs often work on complex projects. So advanced training and years of experience help. When hiring, look for these key skills.

Technical skills

As tech evolves, TPOs must track the latest trends and tools. So they should hold strong technical knowledge, such as:

• Proficiency in software development (programming, architecture, backend management)
• User interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design
• Agile scrum methodology
• Software engineering
• Creation and management of user stories
• Coding
• Web designing
• Technical product development
• Expertise with software development tools

Project management skills

Project management means finishing work within a set time. As a TPO, project management skills help keep teams on track. So they help the team plan, set goals, and watch progress. A quick grasp of agile transformation also helps here.

Effective communication skills

Communication is a vital soft skill for TPOs. So they must share ideas in writing, speech, and visuals. As a result, they work well with many stakeholders. For example, they present ideas, pick the right resources, and listen to feedback.

Analytical skills

TPOs also need strong analytical skills. So they study data to solve complex business problems. As a result, they think critically and make sound technical calls. In turn, they spot issues and offer fixes that meet business needs.

Problem-solving skills

TPOs must solve problems with ease. So they help the team make smart choices for the product and the business. This includes ways to improve the product while saving time and money. As a result, their choices align with company goals. To compare related roles, see scrum master vs project manager.

Why is outsourcing technical product owners worth considering?

Technical product owners help firms in many ways. At first glance, the role may seem simple. After all, it centers on translating complex tech. However, their market insight and technical depth spark innovative solutions that enhance and add great value to the organization.

Article References:

[1] Software Development. Highsmith, J. and Cockburn, A. (2001). Agile software development: the business of innovation. Computer, 34(9), pp.120 to 127.

[2] Product development. Griffin, A. (2002). Product development cycle time for business-to-business products. Industrial Marketing Management, 31(4).

Frequently asked questions about a technical product owner

What is a technical product owner?

It is a role that manages the technical side of product work. So it links business goals with the engineering team.

What is the difference between a technical product owner and a product owner?

A product owner sets the vision and grows product value. In contrast, a technical product owner handles the technical details.

Do technical product owners need coding skills?

Yes, in most cases. They need a solid grasp of software development. So they can guide the team on technical calls.

Why outsource a technical product owner?

Outsourcing gives you deep technical skill on demand. As a result, you save time and money on complex projects.

Key takeaways

• A technical product owner manages the technical side of product development.
• They bridge business goals and the engineering team.
• A product owner sets vision and value, while a TPO handles technical details.
• Key skills include software development, project management, and clear communication.
• Outsourcing a TPO brings deep technical skill at a lower cost.