Scrum — Who determines the Sprint Goal?

A Serious Scrum clarification

The Product Owner is responsible for maximizing the value of the product and he/she manages the Product Backlog. You might think that the Product Owner determines the Sprint Goal. This is not the case. During Sprint Planning the Product Owner suggests the objective of the upcoming Sprint and proposes which Product Backlog Items will help achieve this objective. But the suggested objective is NOT the same as the Sprint Goal.

The Scrum Master is a servant leader who helps the self-organizing Development Team. The Scrum Master certainly does not determine the Sprint Goal.

The Development Team should determine how it aims to achieve the Sprint Goal and create the increment. They do not determine the Sprint Goal on their own.

The Sprint Goal is determined by the Scrum Team. Product Owner, Development Team and Scrum Master together:

“During Sprint Planning the Scrum Team also crafts a Sprint Goal.” — SG

It is the result of a discussion with -at least- the following input:

• Suggested objective (by the Product Owner)
• Product Backlog, including Suggested Product Backlog Items for the Sprint…