Who is primarily responsible for ensuring stakeholders are ready to accept the release during the Release Phase?

• A. Team Lead
• B. Product Owner
• C. QA Lead
• D. Scrum Master

Answer: (B)

The Product Owner is primarily responsible for ensuring stakeholders are ready to accept the release. They own the product backlog and the acceptance criteria for the increment, acting as the main bridge to stakeholders to clarify what will be delivered, why it matters, and what constitutes “done” for the release. By defining clear acceptance criteria, communicating the release plan, and obtaining stakeholder buy-in and sign-off, the Product Owner ensures the release aligns with business goals and stakeholder expectations. Other roles support this process in their domains—Team Lead focuses on delivering the technical work, QA Lead ensures quality gates are met, and the Scrum Master facilitates the process—but the authority and accountability for stakeholder acceptance of the release rests with the Product Owner.