Scrum scoped to the dev team
Product owner is a role within scrum methodology that represent the customer. The question is about a team that would like to apply Scrum methodology without such role.
The answer is definitely “No” obviously. How to use such methodology in an organization that do not provide such role. I think this can be hardly achieve by managers assuming this role but they have to be fair. The team will assume its responsibilities (sizing, self organization…etc) and the manager will validate the acheivement of the stories even if this has no value from a customer point of view. The manager then will do the buffer with the “real” customer, and takes his responsibilities.
The hard point is for the manager:
- have an iterativ approach at least (1 month is perfect)
- create new user stories if the customer is not fully satisfied with the implementation and track them as new items,
- describe precisely the content of the user stories to help the team do a precise and accurate sizing,
- provide support to the team if they have questions on the impelmentation during the srpint,
The key point is not to have a manager which is only simple bridge between the customer and the dev team, but fully assume the role of Porduct Owner. Sure this is not easy, but this can be done this way.