A councilmember demands a low-value vanity splash page for a parks bond before the election. The page would displace a reservation-flow fix with clear outcome evidence. What should the Product Owner do?
Select an answer to reveal the explanation.
Short Explanation
Vanity pages are campaign posters taped over the ticket window. The Product Owner's job is not to hide that trade-off. Put the lost reservation outcomes on the table and let decision makers own the choice in the light.
Full Explanation
Political pressure does not repeal opportunity cost. The Product Owner remains accountable for maximizing product value and for transparency of the Product Backlog. Surfacing the trade-off — what citizen outcome is delayed if the vanity page goes first — is the professional response. Silent acceptance, Scrum Master proxy refusal, or a shadow backlog all reduce transparency and weaken empiricism.