Who is ultimately accountable for the delivery of committed stories in a sprint?

In Scrum, accountability for the delivery of committed stories in a sprint is a shared responsibility that falls to the entire team as a unit. This approach is integral to the framework, which emphasizes collaboration and collective ownership.

When the Scrum team commits to a set of user stories at the beginning of a sprint, each member participates in the completion of those stories. This means that while individual contributions may vary based on skills and roles, the team's success or failure in delivering the committed work is a product of their joint efforts. By fostering a culture of accountability within the team, Scrum encourages collaboration and mutual support, which can enhance both productivity and cohesion.

This collective responsibility contrasts with the roles of the product owner and Scrum master. The product owner is responsible for defining and prioritizing the backlog and ensuring that the team understands the requirements, while the Scrum master facilitates the Scrum process and helps remove obstacles. However, they are not solely accountable for the delivery of work; that rests with the entire team.