Who is responsible for monitoring progress toward high-level goals?

The Product Owner is responsible for monitoring progress toward high-level goals because they have the primary role in defining and prioritizing the product backlog to align with the product vision and objectives. As the person representing the stakeholders' interests, the Product Owner ensures that the team is working on the right things that will deliver maximum value.

In Scrum, high-level goals are often reflected in the product vision and roadmap. The Product Owner is accountable for communicating this vision to the Development Team and for making decisions that keep the team focused on achieving these overall goals. They track progress by utilizing various feedback mechanisms, such as Sprint Reviews and reviews of product increments, to ensure alignment with the desired outcomes.

While the Development Team is responsible for delivering the increments and executing the work, they do not have the direct responsibility for monitoring how this work aligns with high-level goals. The Scrum Master facilitates the process and helps the team improve their practices but does not own the responsibility for the product's direction. Stakeholders provide input and feedback but are not involved in the daily management of the Scrum Team's progress toward these goals.