What is a supporting role in a Disciplined Agile team?

In a Disciplined Agile team, the role of a specialist is considered a supporting role because specialists bring specific expertise that may not be available within the broader team. This expertise can be critical to the team's success but does not require the specialist to take on the primary responsibilities for delivering the overall outcome.

Specialists contribute by providing insights, guidance, or targeted support in areas like technical skills, domain knowledge, or specific tools that enhance the team's capabilities. This allows the core members of the team to maintain focus on their primary tasks while still benefiting from the specialist’s input when necessary.

In contrast to the specialist, other roles mentioned either have a primary responsibility in leadership or management (like a team lead) or are also essential to the overall structure of the team (like stakeholders and architecture owners). Each is important, but specialists serve primarily in a supportive capacity, enhancing the team's performance without leading or making decisions for the entire team.