Among the primary roles on DA teams, which role needs to be a process expert?

The role that needs to be a process expert among the primary roles on DA teams is the team lead. In the context of Disciplined Agile (DA), the team lead is responsible not only for guiding the team in achieving its goals but also for ensuring that the team follows the appropriate processes to do so effectively. This entails a deep understanding of the various phases of the DA toolkit and agile methods that can influence how the team operates, collaborates, and delivers value.

Having a team lead who is a process expert means they can help the team navigate challenges related to their workflow, optimize processes for greater efficiency, and adapt practices that best suit the team’s unique context. The team lead can also facilitate discussions around process improvements, helping the team to continuously evolve and refine their approach based on reflection and feedback.

In contrast, the other roles, while important, do not necessarily require the same level of expertise in the process. Team members primarily focus on contributing to the work, the architecture owner is concerned with the technical integrity of the solution, and the product owner emphasizes defining and prioritizing the product backlog to maximize value rather than being process-oriented.