What must a Product Owner do to effectively support their Scrum team?

The role of the Product Owner in a Scrum environment is crucial for the success of the Scrum team. Being available for planning and clarifications ensures that the team clearly understands the product vision, goals, and the details of the backlog items. This availability allows the Product Owner to provide necessary context and guidance during Sprint Planning, ensuring the team knows what to prioritize and work on in the upcoming sprint.

Additionally, when the Product Owner is present for any required clarifications throughout the sprint, they foster effective communication and quick decision-making, which can significantly enhance the team's agility and responsiveness to changes in project requirements or market conditions. This engagement ultimately aligns the team’s outputs more closely with customer needs and expectations.

In contrast, focusing solely on customer meetings would not provide the necessary support needed directly within the Scrum team dynamics. Delegating all responsibilities would lead to a disconnect from the team, undermining the Product Owner's role in guiding the product vision and feedback loop. Working independently from the team would also hinder collaboration, which is essential for maintaining an effective Scrum process.