What is crucial for the Product Owner to ensure during a Sprint Review?

The Product Owner plays a pivotal role during the Sprint Review, primarily ensuring that the Increment presented is complete and potentially shippable. This is crucial because the purpose of the Sprint Review is to inspect the Increment delivered during the sprint and gather feedback for future work. By guaranteeing that this Increment meets the definition of "done" and is of high quality, the Product Owner helps align stakeholder expectations and supports informed decision-making regarding the product's direction.

A potentially shippable Increment indicates that the work is not only complete but also meets the acceptance criteria and can be delivered to users if the Product Owner chooses to do so. This enhances transparency and encourages discussions around the value delivered, facilitating valuable stakeholder engagement during the review.

This role emphasizes the strategic alignment between development outcomes and customer needs, making the Product Owner’s focus on readiness for release integral to the Sprint Review's effectiveness.