SAFe® POPM Vs. CSPO

Regarding advancing your career in the Agile and Scrum domains, certifications play a crucial role. Two popular certifications that professionals often consider are SAFe® POPM (Scaled Agile Framework Product Owner/Product Manager) and CSPO (Certified Scrum Product Owner). 

In this article, we will compare these two certifications to help you understand whether it is worth pursuing both courses or choosing one to accelerate your career growth.

Why Do Certifications Matter in Agile?

Whether you aim to strengthen your Agile knowledge or step into leadership roles, certifications like SAFe® POPM and CSPO validate your expertise and open new career doors.

Here’s why they matter:

• Industry Recognition: Certifications prove your Agile knowledge to potential employers.
• Career Growth: They provide access to advanced roles like Product Owner, Agile Coach, or Program Manager.
• Practical Knowledge: Both certifications teach frameworks, best practices, and real-world approaches.
• Networking Opportunities: You join a community of Agile professionals and thought leaders.

Understanding the value of these certifications can help you make informed decisions about which one best aligns with your professional goals.

What is SAFe® POPM?

SAFe® POPM (Scaled Agile Framework Product Owner/Product Manager) certification is ideal for professionals who want to understand the role of a Product Owner and Project Management within a SAFe enterprise. 

This certification course focuses on exploring the responsibilities of Product Owners and Product Managers, organizing and participating in PI (Program Increment) planning, and ensuring the smooth execution of Team Backlogs and Programs to deliver optimal business value at scale.

Key Competency Areas of SAFe® POPM include:

• Applying SAFe practices and principles with a Lean-Agile Mindset.
• Identifying customer needs.
• Writing Epics, Features, Capabilities, and Stories.
• Configuring work to deliver value to the company.

What is CSPO?

CSPO certification, on the other hand, is suitable for professionals who are comfortable operating on the "business side" of projects. As a CSPO, you will work closely with the Scrum Team, guiding them in learning and implementing Scrum practices. 

The CSPO's responsibilities include creating the product vision, prioritizing the product backlog, and ensuring that the work is done in the best possible way to satisfy customers.

Who Should Pursue SAFe® POPM?

If you aspire to understand the roles of Product Owners and Project Management within a SAFe enterprise, the SAFe® POPM certification is an excellent choice. 

This certification equips you with the knowledge and skills necessary to participate in PI planning, effectively collaborate with product management, and ensure the successful execution of Team Backlogs and Programs to deliver business value at scale.

SAFe® POPM focuses on the following aspects:

• The role of the Product Owner in PI planning meetings.
• Preparation is required for attending PI planning meetings.
• Content creation and intake process during PI planning.
• The responsibilities of the Product Owner in PI planning meetings.
• Implementation of inputs and their interactions.

Professionals with SAFe® POPM certification are well-versed in working collaboratively with product management, recognizing areas of overlap, and fostering effective teamwork.

Who Should Become a CSPO?

CSPO certification suits professionals who want to kickstart their Scrum or Agile careers by working with small Agile teams on valuable product development. This certification provides a comprehensive understanding of product vision development, backlog prioritization, and optimizing value to delight customers.

CSPO certification is beneficial for professionals who:

• Have a solid understanding of how Scrum works and the role of the Product Owner.
• Want to specialize in incremental requirements.
• Desire to work closely with development teams.
• Are skilled at breaking down large items into smaller ones.
• Prefer accomplishing tasks using iterative and incremental approaches.

CSPO professionals learn how to prioritize the product backlog and effectively communicate those priorities to others. Suppose you are not specifically working in the SAFe domain and are interested in understanding the role of the Product Owner, product vision, customer understanding, acceptance criteria, user stories, and backlog prioritization. In that case, CSPO certification is a suitable choice.

Differences Between SAFe® POPM and CSPO

• Roles and Focus: 

Product Management: A planned function at the Program Management level in the SAFe framework, focused on customer needs and the market.

Product Owner: A professional role within an Agile team of 5-10 individuals, responsible for creating, testing, and delivering results quickly.

CSPO, on the other hand, primarily focuses on the Product Owner's role within the Scrum Team, which typically comprises 3-9 individuals. The Product Owner is responsible for quickly creating, testing, and delivering results.

• Work Divisions: 

Product Management: Customer-focused work related to the market.

Product Owner: Collaborating with stakeholders, including customers, Product Management, and Business Owners.

In CSPO, the Product Owner collaborates with stakeholders and focuses on customer needs and the market.

• The extent of Involvement: 

SAFe® POPM provides opportunities to work at the broader level of Scrum Teams, including involvement in activities such as System Demo, Program Increment Planning, and Solution Demos. This allows for enterprise-level design reasoning.

CSPO focuses on maximizing the product's value resulting from the Development Team's work, with a more narrow focus on the team level.

• Ownership of Product Roadmap: 

Product Management: Possesses the roadmap and vision of the product.

Product Owner: Supports the roadmap and vision.

In CSPO, the Product Owner exclusively owns the product roadmap and vision within a Scrum Team.

• Management of Backlogs: 

Program Backlog: Both Product and Program Increment backlogs are managed by Product Management at this level.

Team Backlog: The Product Owner for Agile teams authorizes and approves the stories in the Team Backlog.

CSPO focuses solely on the product backlog, with the Product Owner acting as its content authority.

Choosing the Right Certification for Your Career Path

Selecting the proper Agile certification depends on your career aspirations, organizational structure, and long-term goals. Both SAFe® POPM and CSPO offer unique advantages, but choosing the one that fits your career path ensures better outcomes.

When to Choose SAFe® POPM

This certification is the right fit if:

• You work in large-scale organizations using the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe). This framework is ideal for businesses handling multiple Agile teams and managing work across different levels.
• Your role involves Program Increment (PI) planning, backlog management at a program level, and delivering business value through cross-team collaboration.
• You aim to work on enterprise-wide Agile transformation and engage in systems-level decision-making.
• You aim to advance into roles like Product Manager, Release Train Engineer (RTE), or Portfolio Manager, where strategic vision and program coordination are key.

SAFe® POPM equips you to work in complex Agile environments where collaboration between business stakeholders and development teams is crucial. It’s ideal for scaling Agile practices across an organization.

When to Choose CSPO

Consider this certification if:

• You are new to Scrum and want to master the Product Owner role within a smaller Agile environment.
• Your work revolves around backlog prioritization, defining a product vision, and maximizing customer value through incremental deliveries.
• You work closely with developers and stakeholders, consistently ensuring the Scrum Team delivers high-value increments.
• Your career goal is to become a Product Owner, specializing in hands-on delivery rather than large-scale coordination.

CSPO is the best choice if you want to focus on delivering customer value and working directly with development teams to ensure efficient product delivery. It’s beneficial for professionals in startups or smaller Agile teams where fast, incremental product delivery is a priority.

Should You Get Both Certifications?

If you plan to navigate both team-level and enterprise-level Agile environments, earning both SAFe® POPM and CSPO enhances your versatility. Start with CSPO if you want a deep dive into Scrum practices, and pursue SAFe® POPM when you’re ready to manage scaled projects and broader business operations.

Combining both certifications enhances your credibility and prepares you for leadership roles in which understanding team dynamics and enterprise strategy is prioritized.

Conclusion

Both SAFe® POPM and CSPO certifications offer valuable insights and skills for professionals in the Agile and Scrum domains. While SAFe® POPM focuses on the broader context of Product Management and Product Ownership within a SAFe enterprise, CSPO delves deeper into the specific role of the Product Owner within a Scrum Team.

Reference

https://www.metaltoad.com/blog/safe-popm-vs-cspo-which-product-owner-certification-best

https://shrilearning.com/safe-popm-or-cspo-which-one-is-suitable-for-you/