In SAFe, what is the primary responsibility of the Product Owner?

The primary responsibility of the Product Owner in SAFe is to define and prioritize the team backlog. This involves working closely with stakeholders, including customers and the development team, to ensure that the most valuable features and user stories are prioritized for development. The Product Owner must understand business objectives and customer needs to make informed decisions on what should be included in the team's work.

Prioritizing the backlog is crucial as it guides the development team on where to focus their efforts, ensuring that they are delivering the highest value items first. This position acts as a key link between the stakeholders and the team, making sure that collaboration leads to the delivery of a product that meets user needs and business goals effectively.

Managing the project budget, overseeing team performance metrics, and facilitating end-user testing are ancillary functions that may be part of different roles or responsibilities within the Agile framework but are not the primary focus of the Product Owner. The core of the Product Owner's role is centered around the management of the backlog and maximizing the value produced by the team.