BETWEEN LEGACY AND INNOVATION: THE MEDIATION OF THE PRODUCT
OWNER IN THE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE
Name: CARLA FONTOURA DE BRITO
Publication date: 28/05/2026
Examining board:
Name |
Role |
|---|---|
| ANTONIO CARLOS VAZ LOPES | Examinador Externo |
| LOURENÇO COSTA | Examinador Interno |
| ROQUEMAR DE LIMA BALDAM | Presidente |
Summary: The context of this dissertation is situated within the advancement of
digital transformation in the Brazilian Federal Public Administration, particularly in the
field of human resource management, where the modernization of core systems poses
the challenge of migrating legacy systems to more integrated, secure, and user-
oriented platforms. This transition is not limited to technological replacement, as it also
involves preserving business rules, ensuring compliance with legislation, and adapting
institutional routines.
In this context, agile methods have been increasingly adopted, with the Product Owner
playing a key role as a mediator among technical teams, regulatory requirements, and
users. Despite the relevance of this role, there is a lack of systematized guidelines to
support Product Owner activities in the public sector, which may compromise the
consistency of project outcomes.
Therefore, this dissertation aims to analyze the role of the Product Owner in digital
transformation projects within the public sector, focusing on the modernization of
legacy systems, in order to propose guidelines for mediating between technological
innovation and institutional routines. The study seeks to understand how this role can
strengthen the balance between technological innovation, regulatory compliance, and
organizational needs.
A qualitative and exploratory approach was adopted, based on action research,
through interviews with Product Owners and questionnaires administered to technical
analysts. The data were subsequently analyzed using thematic categorization and
triangulation techniques.
The results demonstrate that the challenges extend beyond technological aspects,
encompassing documentation gaps, dependence on tacit knowledge, regulatory
complexity, and integration difficulties. The findings highlight that the Product Owner
plays a strategic role in translating regulations into requirements, prioritizing public
value, and facilitating collaboration between users and technical teams. However, this
role is often performed in an empirical manner, without structured tools or guidance.
In response to these findings, the guide entitled “The Product Owner Guide: From
Legacy to Innovation” was developed, organizing the Product Owner’s activities
throughout the migration process. Thus, this study contributes to strengthening the
Product Owner’s mediating role and to enhancing digital transformation initiatives in
the public sector.
