Product Owner vs. Business Analyst: What’s the Difference?

The main difference between Product Owner and Business Analyst is that Product Owner focuses on what needs to be built, while Business Analyst focuses on how it should be built.

Before we move to more differences, let’s first understand Product Owner and Business Analyst:

  • Product Owner: A Product Owner makes sure a product is built the right way by talking to people and deciding what to make next. They help a team create something that people like and find useful.
  • Business Analyst: A Business Analyst helps understand what a business needs and finds ways to make it better. They look at data and talk to people to figure out the best solutions.

Now, let’s get to Product Owner vs Business Analyst:

Major differences between Product Owner and Business Analyst

Product Owner Business Analyst
Product Owners focus on defining what needs to be built and prioritizing features. Business Analysts concentrate on analyzing business processes and systems.
Product Owners work closely with stakeholders to determine product vision and goals. Business Analysts gather and document requirements from stakeholders.
Product Owners make decisions on what features to develop next based on business value. Business Analysts interpret data and create reports to support decision-making.
Product Owners are responsible for maximizing the value of the product. Business Analysts aim to improve business processes and systems efficiency.
Product Owners validate product features through testing and feedback. Business Analysts validate business requirements through analysis and documentation.

So, these are the main differences between the entities.

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