How should a Scrum Master respond if relationships between the Product Owner and Developers have become tense?

A Scrum Master plays a crucial role in facilitating collaboration and maintaining healthy relationships within the Scrum Team. When tensions arise between the Product Owner and Developers, it is essential to address the situation collectively and openly. Discussing the situation with the Scrum Team allows for transparency and encourages everyone to express their concerns and perspectives. This collaborative approach can help uncover underlying issues and foster better communication.

Setting a more realistic Sprint Goal can also help alleviate tensions by ensuring that the team has an achievable target to work towards. If the goal is perceived as unattainable, it can lead to frustration and conflict among team members. By engaging the entire Scrum Team in this discussion, the Scrum Master helps reinforce the values of collaboration and shared responsibility, which are central to Scrum.

In contrast, taking the issue to management or instructing the Product Owner on how to manage scope does not directly address the root cause of the tension and could undermine the self-organizing nature of the team. Allowing the Developers to manage their own relationships may also not be effective, as it may lead to unresolved conflicts without the guidance and support that a Scrum Master can provide.