What is a key role of the Product Owner during the system demo?

The key role of the Product Owner during the system demo is to help the team satisfy dependencies, demonstrate incremental value, and maintain cadence with the Agile Release Train (ART). In this context, the Product Owner is responsible for ensuring that the demonstration aligns with the larger goals of the ART and provides visibility into the progress made since the last demo. This involves coordinating with various teams, managing dependencies that might affect the delivery of features, and highlighting the incremental value delivered by the development team.

By focusing on demonstrating how the features roll up into the overall product vision and how these increments contribute to the program's objectives, the Product Owner plays a crucial role in communicating value to stakeholders. Additionally, maintaining cadence is essential because it reinforces the rhythm of delivery and planning within the ART, ensuring that all teams are aligned in their goals and timelines.

While facilitating the event, demoing features directly, and prioritizing features for the next Program Increment (PI) are all relevant actions within the broader scope of a Product Owner's responsibilities, the most critical region highlighted in the question is the interconnectedness of understanding dependencies, demonstrating incremental value, and maintaining alignment with the ART's rhythm. This comprehensive approach ultimately supports successful product delivery and stakeholder engagement.