SP-SAFe-Practitioner Practice Exam Questions with Answers SAFe for Teams SP (6.0) - SAFe Practitioner Certification

According to the SAFe for Teams SP (6.0) - SAFe Practitioner handbook and study guide, the factor that helps unlock the intrinsic motivation of knowledge workers is autonomy. Autonomy means giving knowledge workers the freedom and responsibility to make decisions about their work, such as what to work on, how to do it, and when to do it. Autonomy fosters creativity, innovation, and engagement, as knowledge workers can pursue their own interests and passions, and feel a sense of ownership and accountability for their outcomes. Autonomy also supports the Agile principle of self-organizing teams, which are more productive and responsive to change than traditional, command-and-control teams. References: Principle #8 - Unlock the Intrinsic Motivation of Knowledge Workers - Scaled Agile Framework, Which factor helps unlock the intrinsic motivation of knowledge workers?, Principle #8: Unlock the intrinsic motivation of knowledge workers …

= Deliver value is one of the six Agile Team responsibilities in SAFe, along with aligning to a common mission, applying systems thinking, building incrementally with fast feedback, collaborating and making decisions together, and improving relentlessly. While delivering value is essential for Agile Teams, it should not come at the expense of other responsibilities, especially improving relentlessly. By skipping the retrospective events, Team B is missing an opportunity to reflect on their practices, identify what is working well and what is not, and plan actions to improve their performance and quality. Retrospectives are a key mechanism for implementing the SAFe Core Value of Relentless Improvement and the SAFe Principle #12 - Assume variability; preserve options. References: = Agile Teams - Scaled Agile Framework, Core Values - Scaled Agile Framework, SAFe Principles - Scaled Agile Framework, Exam Study Guide: SP (6.0) - SAFe® Practitioner

Team and Technical Agility is one of the core competencies of the Lean Enterprise that helps drive Agile Quality practices. This competency describes the critical skills and Lean-Agile principles and practices that high-performing Agile teams and teams of Agile teams use to create high-quality solutions for their customers. The main aspects of this competency are: team and technical agility, Agile team, Built-in Quality, and Agile architecture. Built-in Quality is a set of practices to help ensure that the outputs of Agile teams in business and technology domains meet appropriate quality standards throughout the process of creating customer value. Built-in Quality practices include test-first, test automation, continuous integration, refactoring, pair work, code reviews, exploratory testing, and more. References: Team and Technical Agility - Scaled Agile Framework, Built-In Quality - Scaled Agile Framework

An Agile Release Train (ART) is the primary value delivery construct in the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe). It is a long-lived, self-organizing, virtual organization of 5 - 12 Agile Teams that plan, commit, and execute together. ARTs align teams to a shared business and technology mission and deliver solutions in a value stream with common principles and practices. ARTs are cross-functional and have all the capabilities needed to define, build, test, deploy, release, and operate solutions. ARTs operate on a fixed schedule with common iteration start/end dates and duration, and deliver a new system increment every two weeks. ARTs also plan their work at periodic, mostly face-to-face Program Increment (PI) Planning events, and inspect and adapt at the end of every PI. References: Agile Release Train - Scaled Agile Framework, Essential SAFe - Scaled Agile Framework

During the draft plan review, the teams present their draft PI objectives and plans to the other teams and the Business Owners. The Business Owners then assign a business value to each PI objective, based on the conversation with the team and the alignment with the vision and goals. The business value is a number between 1 (lowest) and 10 (highest) that reflects the relative importance and expected benefit of the objective. The business value is used to measure the ART’s predictability and performance at the end of the PI. References: PI Objectives, PI Planning, Your Guide to Writing Great Iteration and PI Objectives

SAFe Implementation Roadmap is a template for putting SAFe into practice within an organization. It consists of an overview graphic and a 14-article series that describes a strategy and an ordered set of activities for successfully implementing SAFe. The roadmap is based on proven organizational change management strategies and successful adoption patterns from hundreds of the world’s largest enterprises. The roadmap helps leaders and change agents to script the critical moves, create a sense of urgency, build a guiding coalition, form a strategic vision, enlist a volunteer army, enable action by removing barriers, generate short-term wins, sustain acceleration, and institute change. References: Implementation Roadmap - Scaled Agile Framework, SAFe® for Teams - Know Your Role on an Agile Team | Scaled Agile

Spending time “in the zone” means being fully immersed in a task that is challenging, engaging, and enjoyable. This state of flow is associated with higher levels of creativity, innovation, and performance1. According to SAFe, optimizing the time spent in the zone for individuals and teams makes a substantial difference in ART productivity2. The other options are not directly related to the concept of flow, although they may be influenced by it. Reducing queue lengths, refining productive collaboration, and making work in process visible are all aspects of visualizing and limiting WIP, which is another flow accelerator3.

 The PI Planning process is a two-day event that aligns all the teams on the Agile Release Train (ART) to a shared mission and vision for the upcoming Program Increment (PI)1. The PI Planning process has several inputs and outputs, as shown in Figure 12. One of the outputs of the PI Planning process is the PI Objectives, which are a set of SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-bound) goals that each team and the ART commit to achieving in the PI3. The PI Objectives are based on the features and enablers that the teams plan to deliver, and they reflect the business and technical value that the teams and the ART intend to provide to the stakeholders4. The PI Objectives are also used to track the progress and performance of the teams and the ART throughout the PI execution5. The other options are not outputs of the PI Planning process, but rather inputs or outcomes. The PI Vision is an input to the PI Planning process, which describes the current state, future state, and features of the solution that the ART will deliver in the PI. The PI Goals are an outcome of the PI Planning process, which are derived from the PI Objectives and summarize the business and technical benefits that the ART will deliver in the PI. The Actual PI Business Value is an outcome of the PI execution, which measures the actual value delivered by the ART at the end of the PI, based on the PI Objectives and stakeholder feedback. References: PI Planning - Scaled Agile Framework, Inputs and Outputs of PI Planning - Scaled Agile Framework, PI Objectives - Scaled Agile Framework, PI Planning - Scaled Agile Framework, Program Execution - Scaled Agile Framework, [PI Vision - Scaled Agile Framework], [PI Goals - Scaled Agile Framework], [Inspect and Adapt - Scaled Agile Framework]

Figure 1. Inputs and outputs of PI Planning2

Organizing around value means aligning teams and individuals to the value streams that deliver the most value to the customer and the enterprise. This reduces the handoffs and dependencies that slow down the delivery process and create waste. Reorganizing when required means being able to adapt to changing customer needs and market conditions by forming new value streams or reconfiguring existing ones. References: Exam Study Guide: SP (6.0) - SAFe® Practitioner, Agile Release Train, Organizing Around Value

= A cumulative flow diagram (CFD) is a tool used to visualize the flow of work in a process over time. It shows the quantity of work in different stages or states, such as backlog, in progress, done, etc. A CFD helps to monitor the work in process (WIP) across the whole team, as well as the arrival and departure rates of work items. A CFD can also reveal bottlenecks, queues, variability, and cycle time in the process. References: = Cumulative Flow Diagram - Scaled Agile Framework, Cumulative flow diagram - Wikipedia, Cumulative Flow Diagram - What Information Does It Provide - Kanban Zone

According to the SAFe-for-Teams-SAFe-Practitioner-6-0 documents, enabler stories are short descriptions of a small piece of desired functionality that support exploration, architecture, infrastructure, or compliance. Among these four types of enabler stories, exploration is the one that is used for building and evaluating prospective solutions alternatives. Exploration enabler stories support research, prototyping, and other activities needed to develop an understanding of customer needs, including the exploration of prospective solutions and evaluation of alternatives. They help validate assumptions, reduce uncertainty, and increase the likelihood of building the right thing. Therefore, the correct answer is A. Exploration. References: Enablers - Scaled Agile Framework, Story - Scaled Agile Framework, Features, Capabilities, & Enablers - Productfolio

According to SAFe, the Product Owner (PO) is the member of the Agile Team who serves as the customer proxy and is responsible for working with Product Management and other stakeholders to define and prioritize stories in the Team Backlog1. The PO has the primary role of ensuring that the team delivers value to the business and aligns with the Program Backlog2. The PO collaborates with the team, the Scrum Master/Team Coach, and other stakeholders to refine, order, and maintain the Team Backlog3. The PO also participates in PI Planning, Iteration Planning, System Demo, and Inspect and Adapt events4. References: Product Owner - Scaled Agile Framework, Team Backlog - Scaled Agile Framework, SAFe for Teams - Know Your Role on an Agile Team | Scaled Agile, Exam Study Guide: SP (6.0) - SAFe® Practitioner – scaledagile.com.

 SAFe recommends using a second operating system to deliver value by creating a dual operating system that consists of a Network and a Hierarchy. The Network is optimized for speed and adaptability, while the Hierarchy is optimized for efficiency and stability. The Network is composed of development value streams (DVSs) that are realized by product-focused Agile Release Trains (ARTs). The ARTs are cross-functional teams that work together to deliver software products on a regular schedule. The Hierarchy provides the necessary support and governance for the Network, such as operations, HR, finance, and compliance. By using a second operating system, SAFe enables business agility by allowing the organization to organize and reorganize around the flow of value, while maintaining the benefits and stability of the existing hierarchical structure. References: Business Agility, Principle #10 – Organize around value, How Does SAFe Enable Business Agility Through A Second Operating System, How does safe provide a second operating system that enables business agility

 An Iteration is a fixed timebox during which an Agile team delivers a potentially releasable increment of value. The recommended length of an Iteration is two weeks, as this allows for fast feedback, adaptation, and learning cycles. Longer Iterations may increase the risk of overcommitment, scope creep, and reduced quality. Shorter Iterations may increase the overhead of planning and coordination, and reduce the amount of value delivered per Iteration. References: Exam Study Guide: SP (6.0) - SAFe® Practitioner, [Iteration]

Respect for People is one of the four SAFe Core Values. It means that the enterprise fosters a culture of mutual influence, trust, empowerment, and collaboration among all the people involved in delivering value, including customers, employees, partners, and suppliers. Respect for People also implies that the enterprise values diversity, inclusion, and psychological safety, and that it treats people as the most important asset. Respect for People supports the following practices in SAFe1:

• Turn mistakes into learning moments. Mistakes are inevitable in complex and uncertain environments, and they provide opportunities for learning and improvement. Instead of blaming or punishing people for making mistakes, the enterprise encourages them to share their learnings, experiment with new ideas, and apply the Plan-Do-Check-Adjust (PDCA) cycle.
• Create a trust-based environment. Trust is the foundation of effective collaboration and high performance. The enterprise builds trust by being transparent, honest, supportive, and accountable. It also empowers people to make decisions, take ownership, and self-organize around value delivery.
• Visualize work. Visualization helps people see the flow of value, identify bottlenecks, dependencies, and waste, and collaborate on solutions. The enterprise uses various tools and techniques to visualize work, such as Kanban boards, Cumulative Flow Diagrams, Program Boards, and Value Stream Maps. References: 1: Respect for People and Culture - Scaled Agile Framework

= Lean Portfolio Management (LPM) is one of the seven core competencies of the Lean Enterprise that helps align strategy and execution. LPM enables enterprises to establish and communicate a set of strategic themes that provide business context for decision making and investment allocation. LPM also helps to apply Lean budgeting and guardrails to empower decentralized program execution and foster innovation. LPM also supports Agile portfolio operations and governance by providing the necessary visibility, coordination, and collaboration across the portfolio. References: = SAFe for Lean Enterprises, Lean Portfolio Management

Cadence-based synchronization in SAFe means that teams follow a common rhythm of work and coordinate their activities across different domains. One example of applying this principle is to align the start and end dates of the Iterations, which are fixed-length timeboxes for teams to deliver value. This helps teams plan and execute their work in sync with other teams on the Agile Release Train (ART) and the Solution Train, and enables them to participate in the PI Planning and other events that require cross-team collaboration. References: Principle #7 – Apply cadence, synchronize with cross-domain planning, Iteration, Exam Study Guide: SP (6.0) - SAFe® Practitioner

 During the team breakout session, each team creates and estimates their Stories, and sequences them into a draft plan for the upcoming PI. This is where the team backlog is refined and prioritized, and dependencies are identified and resolved. References: SAFe for Teams - Know Your Role on an Agile Team, Exam Study Guide: SP (6.0) - SAFe® Practitioner, SAFe for Teams | SAFe Practitioner (SP) Certification

SAFe provides a second operating system that enables Business Agility by creating a network of Agile teams and trains that are aligned to a common vision and strategy, and empowered to deliver value to customers and users. SAFe leverages the Lean-Agile mindset, the core competencies, and the principles and practices to foster a culture of innovation, learning, and collaboration. SAFe also supports the continuous delivery pipeline, which enables fast feedback and frequent value delivery. References: SAFe® for Teams - Know Your Role on an Agile Team | Scaled Agile, Exam Study Guide: SP (6.0) - SAFe® Practitioner - scaledagile.com, SAFe 6.0 for Teams with SP Certification - ICON Agility Serviceswq

This statement is one of the 12 principles behind the Agile Manifesto1, which guides the agile software development approach. It means that agile teams should focus on delivering the most valuable features and avoid unnecessary work that does not add value to the customer or the product. By applying simplicity, agile teams can reduce waste, increase efficiency, and improve quality. References: 12 Principles Behind the Agile Manifesto

= DevOps is a mindset, culture, and set of technical practices that supports the integration, automation, and collaboration needed to effectively develop and operate a solution. DevOps joins development and operations to enable continuous delivery, which means delivering value to customers in the shortest sustainable lead time. Continuous delivery is achieved by creating a Continuous Delivery Pipeline (CDP), which is a high-performance innovation engine that consists of four elements: Continuous Exploration, Continuous Integration, Continuous Deployment, and Release on Demand. DevOps also helps to improve the quality, reliability, and security of the solution by applying practices such as testing, monitoring, and feedback throughout the CDP. References: = DevOps - Scaled Agile Framework, Continuous Delivery Pipeline - Scaled Agile Framework

= According to SAFe, a Feature should be sized to fit into one Program Increment (PI), which is a timebox of 8 to 12 weeks, typically consisting of 4 to 6 iterations1. A Feature is a service provided by the system that fulfills some important stakeholder needs and delivers business value2. A Feature should be small enough to be completed by a single Agile Release Train (ART) within a PI, but large enough to provide significant and measurable value3. A Feature should also be testable, demonstrable, and deployable4. References: = 1: Program Increment - Scaled Agile Framework; 2: Features and Capabilities - Scaled Agile Framework; 3: Right-Sizing Features for SAFe Program Increments - Scaled Agile Framework; 4: Feature - Scaled Agile Framework

Iteration planning for Kanban teams is different from Scrum teams in that Kanban teams do not estimate their velocity, do not commit to service level agreements, and do not plan the Iteration in detail. Instead, Kanban teams use a flow-based process that allows them to pull work items from the backlog as they become available and deliver value continuously. However, Kanban teams still operate within the ART iteration cadence and often publish Iteration goals to align with the ART vision and objectives, as well as to communicate their priorities and dependencies to other teams and stakeholders. References: SAFe Team Kanban, Agile Iteration Planning Effectively

Personas are fictional characters that represent the different user types within a targeted demographic, attitude, and/or behavior set that might use a product or service1. They are one of the practices used to understand the problem space during the discover phase of Design Thinking, as they help design thinkers empathize with the users and their needs, goals, and pain points2. Personas also help define the problem statement in a human-centered manner and guide the ideation and prototyping phases2. References: Personas, Design Thinking

SAFe recommends running a Retrospective on a cadence during the PI for SAFe Team Kanban Teams. A Retrospective is a team-level event that occurs at the end of each iteration, where the team reflects on how they are working and identifies improvement actions for the next iteration. A Retrospective helps the team pursue perfection by applying the Plan-Do-Check-Adjust (PDCA) cycle1. SAFe Team Kanban Teams also participate in other ART events, such as PI Planning, System Demo, and Inspect and Adapt2. References: 1: Retrospective - Scaled Agile Framework2: SAFe Team Kanban - Scaled Agile Framework

Batch size is the size, measured in work product, of one completed unit of work. Cycle time is the amount of time it takes to complete one batch of work. What we focus on with lean development is reducing batch sizes, thereby reducing cycle times, thus increasing potential learning points over time1. The bigger a batch of work, the slower it flows through the system. We also have greater variability in the system because one big batch item may take 5 days to flow through the system whilst another big batch item may take 25 days to flow through the system. So that variability will impact the rate at which we can deliver value to customers2. Therefore, large batch sizes increase variability and reduce flow, which is contrary to the principles of lean development. References: Principle #6 – Visualize and limit WIP, reduce batch sizes, and manage queue lengths, Principle #6 - Make Value Flow Without Interruptions, What is the good batch size for large datasets?, Understanding Lean product development: Batch Size, Work in Process (WIP), Risk for Small Teams, SAFe Principle 6: Visualise and limit WIP, reduce batch sizes, and manage queued lengths

The Product Owner (PO) in the team is responsible for sequencing backlog items to program priorities, events, and dependencies. The PO works with the Product Manager, who owns the Vision and the Roadmap, to define and sequence the features in the Program Backlog1. The PO also collaborates with other POs in the Agile Release Train (ART) to manage dependencies and ensure alignment across teams2. The PO maintains and prioritizes the Team Backlog, which is the single source of truth for the upcoming features of the system3. The PO also participates in the Program Increment (PI) Planning, where the team’s PI objectives are aligned with the program priorities and dependencies4. References: Product Owner - Scaled Agile Framework, Team Backlog - Scaled Agile Framework, Program Backlog - Scaled Agile Framework, PI Planning - Scaled Agile Framework

This statement is one of the Lean budget Guardrails, which describe the policies and practices for budgeting, spending, and governance for a specific portfolio1. Continuous Business Owner engagement means that the Business Owners, who are key stakeholders for each Agile Release Train (ART), are actively involved in the planning, execution, and review of the value delivery1. They provide feedback, guidance, and approval for the PI objectives, features, and enablers, as well as participate in the Inspect and Adapt (I&A) workshop and the Program Increment (PI) system demo2. Continuous Business Owner engagement helps ensure alignment, transparency, and accountability for the value streams and ARTs1. References: Lean Budget Guardrails, Business Owners

During iteration reviews, SAFe Scrum teams inspect the iteration increment, assess progress, and adjust the team backlog. One of the actions that occurs during this event is evaluating current state metrics, such as team velocity, quality, and customer satisfaction. These metrics help the team measure its performance and identify areas for improvement. Evaluating current state metrics also helps the team align its work with the iteration goals and the broader program increment objectives. References: Iteration Review, Team and Technical Agility

According to SAFe, an Agile team is a cross-functional group of 5-11 individuals who define, build, test, and deliver an increment of value in a short time box1. This size allows for enough diversity of skills and perspectives while still allowing for close collaboration and communication among team members. Larger teams tend to have more communication overhead, coordination challenges, and reduced productivity. Smaller teams may lack some of the necessary skills or perspectives to deliver value effectively. References: Agile Teams - Scaled Agile Framework, What is the Recommended Size of an Agile Team? - StuffSure, The Number 7: Why is it so important? - agile42

According to SAFe, basing decisions on economics means applying the principles of Lean-Agile budgeting and Lean portfolio management to align investments with strategic outcomes and optimize value delivery. Lead time, product cost, value, and development expense are some of the key economic variables that influence the decision-making process. These variables are used to understand the tradeoffs between different solutions, such as choosing between faster delivery, lower cost, higher quality, or more features. By using these variables, teams and leaders can evaluate the economic impact of their choices and select the best option that maximizes value and minimizes waste. References: [Basing Decisions on Economics], [Lean-Agile Budgeting], [Lean Portfolio Management], [Economic Framework], [Economic Decision Rules].

 Business Owners assign business value to team PI Objectives to provide a common language for communicating with business and technology stakeholders, create the near-term focus and vision, enable the ART to assess its performance and the business value achieved, communicate and highlight each team’s contribution to business value, expose dependencies that require coordination, and provide an input to execution considerations. By assigning business value, Business Owners empower teams to make decisions around work that aligns with the business goals and priorities. References: PI Objectives, Business Owners, Your Guide to Writing Great Iteration and PI Objectives, PI Objectives - Easy Agile, Why do business owners assign business value to PI objectives?

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The SAFe Core Competencies of Business Agility are the seven essential skills that enable enterprises to achieve true business agility and thrive in the digital age1. The built-in quality dimension is one of the five dimensions of Team and Technical Agility, which is the competency that describes the critical skills and Lean-Agile principles and practices that high-performing Agile teams and teams of Agile teams use to create high-quality solutions for their customers2. The built-in quality dimension ensures that every element and every increment of the solution reflects quality standards throughout the development lifecycle2. The other options are incorrect because:

• A. Agile Product Delivery is the competency that describes how to deliver innovative solutions to the market that delight customers and meet their needs and expectations3. It does not include the built-in quality dimension, although it does rely on it as a prerequisite for achieving continuous delivery and release on demand3.
• C. Organizational Agility is the competency that describes how to adapt strategy and operations quickly to meet the changing needs of customers, competitors, and markets4. It does not include the built-in quality dimension, although it does depend on it as a foundation for enabling faster feedback and learning cycles4.
• D. Enterprise Solution Delivery is the competency that describes how to build and evolve the world’s largest applications, networks, and cyber-physical systems5. It does not include the built-in quality dimension, although it does require it as a key enabler for achieving solution integrity, compliance, and alignment with the enterprise architecture5. References: 1: Business Agility - Scaled Agile Framework, 2: Team and Technical Agility - Scaled Agile Framework, 3: Agile Product Delivery - Scaled Agile Framework, 4: Organizational Agility - Scaled Agile Framework, 5: Enterprise Solution Delivery - Scaled Agile Framework

= The SAFe Lean-Agile principle that involves delivering a continuous flow of value to customers in the shortest sustainable lead time is “Make value flow without interruptions”. This principle is based on the Lean concept of optimizing the whole value stream, from concept to cash, by eliminating delays, queues, handoffs, and rework. By applying practices such as limiting work in progress (WIP), reducing batch sizes, managing queue lengths, and implementing continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD), SAFe teams and trains can accelerate the flow of value and feedback, improve quality and reliability, and reduce waste and overhead. References: = SAFe Lean-Agile Principles - Scaled Agile Framework, Accelerating Flow with SAFe - Scaled Agile Framework1, The Five Principles of Lean - Project Management Institute

Building incrementally with fast, integrated learning cycles is one of the ten SAFe Lean-Agile Principles. It means that the enterprise delivers value in small batches of work, frequently and reliably, to provide fast feedback and foster innovation. By building incrementally, the enterprise can reduce risk, complexity, and uncertainty, and validate assumptions before committing to large investments. By integrating frequently, the enterprise can ensure quality, collaboration, and alignment across the value stream. By creating learning cycles, the enterprise can test hypotheses, measure outcomes, and pivot as needed to achieve the desired results1. References: 1: Build Incrementally with Fast, Integrated Learning Cycles - Scaled Agile Framework

The Portfolio Kanban is a method to visualize, manage, and analyze the flow of portfolio epics from ideation to implementation1. It brings structure to analysis and decision making around epics by defining the states and Work in Process (WIP) limits for each state, as well as the entry and exit criteria1. The Portfolio Kanban also helps prioritize and sequence the epics based on the Lean business case and the Weighted Shortest Job First (WSJF) technique1. The Portfolio Kanban enables the Lean Portfolio Management (LPM) to align the portfolio strategy and investment funding with the implementation capacity of the value streams2. References: Portfolio Kanban, Lean Portfolio Management

The PI Planning event is a two-day event that brings together all the teams and stakeholders of an Agile Release Train (ART) to align on a common vision, mission, and goals for the upcoming Program Increment (PI). The goal of the PI Planning event is to achieve alignment on what needs to and can be built by the ART in the next PI, based on the business context, customer needs, and technical dependencies. The PI Planning event also fosters collaboration, communication, and commitment among the teams and stakeholders, and helps identify and address the risks and impediments that may affect the delivery of value. References: Exam Study Guide: SP (6.0) - SAFe® Practitioner, [PI Planning]

 On day two of PI Planning, management presents adjustments based on the previous day’s management review and problem-solving meeting. The management review and problem-solving meeting is a session where the management team reviews the draft plans and objectives from the teams, identifies risks and dependencies, and resolves any issues that may affect the ART’s ability to deliver value. One possible type of adjustment they could make is to adjust the business priorities based on the new information and feedback from the teams. This could involve reprioritizing the features in the program backlog, changing the weight or value of some objectives, or adding or removing some stretch objectives. These adjustments are communicated to the teams during the second planning day, so they can finalize their plans and objectives accordingly. References: PI Planning - Scaled Agile Framework, PI Planning and the Management Review - Part 1 | Ivar Jacobson International

The ART planning board, also known as the program board, is a visualization of the PI’s feature delivery dates, feature dependencies among teams, and relevant milestones. It helps the ART align on a common mission and vision, identify and resolve dependencies, and track progress and risks throughout the PI. The ART planning board does not show risks, capacity and load, or epics, although these may be discussed or tracked elsewhere during PI planning or execution. References: ART Planning Board, PI Planning, SAFe Program Board 101

One of the tools associated with Design Thinking is empathy maps, which are a visual way to capture and organize the user’s needs, goals, pains, and gains. Empathy maps help the team to understand the user’s perspective, empathize with their emotions, and design solutions that address their problems and aspirations. Empathy maps are typically created during the Discover phase of Design Thinking, where the team conducts user research and synthesizes the findings. References: SAFe for Teams Student Workbook: materials and exercises from Lesson 1; v5.scaledagileframework.com/design-thinking/; v5.scaledagileframework.com/get-feedback/

The Product Owner is a member of the Agile team who represents the voice of the customer and stakeholders, and is responsible for defining and prioritizing the team backlog. The Product Owner works closely with the Product Management, who provides the vision and roadmap for the solution, and the Business Owners, who are the key stakeholders and value approvers. The Product Owner also collaborates with the Scrum Master, who facilitates the team’s process and helps remove impediments, and the team members, who implement the backlog items and deliver value. The Product Owner’s main responsibilities are:

• To be a single voice for the customer and stakeholders, and ensure that the team understands their needs and expectations
• To own and manage the team backlog, and decompose features into stories that are valuable, estimable, testable, and small
• To prioritize the team backlog based on the business value, dependencies, risks, and feedback
• To participate in the PI planning event, and define and communicate the team’s PI objectives and iteration goals
• To accept the stories that meet the definition of done and provide feedback to the team
• To attend the team and system demos, and showcase the team’s accomplishments to the stakeholders
• To continuously engage with the customer and stakeholders, and incorporate their feedback into the backlog References: Exam Study Guide: SP (6.0) - SAFe® Practitioner, Product Owner

The PI Planning event is a two-day event that brings together all the teams and stakeholders of an Agile Release Train (ART) to align on a common vision, mission, and goals for the upcoming Program Increment (PI). The PI Planning event involves everyone in the program, including the Business Owners, Product Management, System Architects, Agile teams, Scrum Masters, Product Owners, Release Train Engineers, and other relevant roles. The PI Planning event also fosters collaboration, communication, and commitment among the participants, and helps identify and address the risks and impediments that may affect the delivery of value. References: Exam Study Guide: SP (6.0) - SAFe® Practitioner, PI Planning

Product Management is responsible for defining and prioritizing the ART Backlog, which consists of features and enablers that align with the program vision and roadmap. Product Management also collaborates with System Architects/Engineering, Release Train Engineers, and other stakeholders to ensure the ART delivers value to the customers and users. References: SAFe® for Teams - Know Your Role on an Agile Team | Scaled Agile, Exam Study Guide: SP (6.0) - SAFe® Practitioner - scaledagile.com, SAFe 6.0 for Teams with SP Certification - ICON Agility Services

Resizing the work means breaking down large batches of work into smaller, more manageable pieces that can be completed faster and with less variability. This reduces the queue length, which is the number of work items waiting to be processed, and improves the flow of value delivery. Resizing the work is one of the principles of Lean-Agile development, and it is also a practice of Scrum and Kanban teams. References: Exam Study Guide: SP (6.0) - SAFe® Practitioner, Visualize and Limit WIP, Reduce Batch Sizes, and Manage Queue Lengths, ScrumXP, Story

Uncommitted objectives are used to identify work that can be variable within the scope of a PI. The work is planned, but the outcome is not certain. Teams can apply uncommitted objectives whenever there is low confidence in meeting the objective. Uncommitted objectives do not get assigned a business value score because they are not part of the ART predictability measure. They are also not included in the program predictability report. However, they are still important and valuable, and teams should strive to achieve them if possible. References: PI Objectives, PI Planning, What is an uncommitted objective in SAFe?

The modified Fibonacci sequence is a series of numbers that starts with 0, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 20, 40, 100, and so on. It is used when estimating the relative size and complexity of backlog items, such as stories and features, using story points or normalized estimation. The modified Fibonacci sequence reflects the uncertainty in estimating larger items, as the gap between the numbers increases as the numbers get bigger. This means that the larger the item, the less precise the estimate, and the more likely it is to be split into smaller items. The modified Fibonacci sequence also helps to avoid the false sense of accuracy that comes from using linear scales, such as hours or days, which may not account for the variability and unpredictability of the work. References: Exam Study Guide: SP (6.0) - SAFe® Practitioner, Story, Feature, Estimating

= The Inspect and Adapt event is a significant event held at the end of each PI, where the current state of the Solution is demonstrated and evaluated. Teams then reflect and identify improvement backlog items via a structured problem-solving workshop1. The Inspect and Adapt event always starts with the PI System Demo, which is the first part of the event. The PI System Demo shows all the Features the ART has developed during the PI, and provides an opportunity for feedback from stakeholders and customers2. The PI System Demo is followed by quantitative and qualitative measurement, where the ART reviews the progress and performance of the PI, and evaluates the business value achieved3. The last part of the Inspect and Adapt event is the Retrospective and Problem Solving Workshop, where the ART identifies the root causes of the most critical issues and creates improvement backlog items4. References: = 1: Inspect and Adapt - Scaled Agile Framework1; 2: Inspect and Adapt - Scaled Agile Framework1; 3: Inspect and Adapt - Scaled Agile Framework1; 4: Inspect and Adapt - Scaled Agile Framework1

The role of the Scrum Master in SAFe is to act as a servant leader who helps teams self-organize, self-manage, and deliver using effective Agile practices. The Scrum Master educates the team on various frameworks and methods, including Scrum, Kanban, Extreme Programming, and SAFe, ensuring that the agreed-upon Agile process is followed. The Scrum Master also helps remove impediments, facilitates team and program events, coaches the team and stakeholders on how to apply the SAFe principles and values, and fosters an environment of continuous improvement and high performance. References: Scrum Master - Scaled Agile Framework, SAFe Scrum Master Roles and Responsibilities - KnowledgeHut

 The Product Owner (PO) in the team is responsible for managing and prioritizing the Team Backlog, which is the single source of truth for the upcoming features of the system1. The PO works with the Product Manager, who owns the Vision and the Roadmap, to define and sequence the features in the Program Backlog2. The PO also collaborates with other POs in the Agile Release Train (ART) to manage dependencies and ensure alignment across teams3. The PO maintains and prioritizes the Team Backlog, which contains user stories, enablers, and other backlog items that the team needs to implement to deliver value to the customer4. The PO also participates in the backlog refinement sessions, where the team defines, discusses, estimates, and establishes acceptance criteria for the backlog items. References: Team Backlog - Scaled Agile Framework, Product Owner - Scaled Agile Framework, Program Backlog - Scaled Agile Framework, Story - Scaled Agile Framework, [Backlog Refinement - Scaled Agile Framework]

The System Demo is a significant event that provides an integrated view of new features for the most recent iteration delivered by all the teams in the Agile Release Train (ART). Each demo gives ART stakeholders an objective measure of progress during a Program Increment (PI) and the opportunity to give feedback on the solution. The System Demo is the one real measure of value, velocity, and progress of the fully integrated work across all the teams. The purpose of the System Demo is to demonstrate new functionality, not to evaluate the full PI, introduce new architectural designs, or identify PI Objectives. Those activities are done in other events, such as the Inspect and Adapt, the Architectural Runway, and the PI Planning. References: System Demo, System Demo - Scaled Agile Framework, Why System Demo Considered A Significant Event In SAFe®? - Learnow, System Demo - Scaled Agile Framework.

Value is the first and most important pillar in the House of Lean, which is a model that guides the Lean-Agile transformation and culture. Value means delivering the maximum benefit to the customer in the shortest sustainable lead time, while providing the best quality and lowest cost possible1. Value is the ultimate goal of the House of Lean, and it is achieved by applying the other pillars: innovation, relentless improvement, leadership, and respect for people and culture2. Value is also the foundation of the Lean-Agile mindset, which is the way of thinking and acting that enables Business Agility3. Value focuses on the customer as the consumer of the work, and requires understanding and meeting their needs, expectations, and desires4. References: = 1: SAFe Core Values - Scaled Agile Framework1; 2: The SAFe House of Lean model: short and sweet - Echometer2; 3: Lean-Agile Mindset - Scaled Agile Framework3; 4: Exploring Which Pillar in the House of Lean Focuses on the Customer4

Systems thinking is a holistic approach to solution development, incorporating all aspects of a system and its environment into the design, development, deployment, and maintenance. It requires leaders and teams to understand the solution, the enterprise, and the value stream as a system. One of the principles of systems thinking is that optimizing a component of the system does not optimize the whole system. In fact, it may even harm the system performance, as it may create bottlenecks, conflicts, or waste in other parts of the system. Therefore, systems thinking encourages looking at the system as a whole and finding the best trade-offs and synergies among the components. References: Principle #2 - Apply systems thinking - Scaled Agile Framework, What ‘systems thinking’ actually means - and why it matters today | World Economic Forum, What is Systems Thinking? - Critical Thinking Secrets

The Product Owner (PO) is the Agile team member primarily responsible for maximizing the value delivered by the team by ensuring that the team backlog is aligned with customer and stakeholder needs1. The PO has content authority to make decisions at the User Story level during PI Planning, as they are the team’s primary customer advocate and primary link to business and technology strategy1. The PO also works with Product Management and other stakeholders to define the features and enablers that are part of the Program Backlog2. During PI Planning, the PO presents the team backlog, reviews and revises the draft plan, and defines and communicates the team PI objectives2. References: Product Owner, PI Planning

This statement is one of the characteristics of a high-performing Agile Team according to the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe)1. It means that the team members are encouraged to experiment, learn, and innovate, without being afraid of making mistakes or being judged by others. The team members view failures as opportunities for improvement and celebrate the learnings from them. Team C is demonstrating this characteristic by creating a new workflow to speed up the testing process, even though it did not work out as expected. The rest of the team was excited to hear what was learned from the failed experiment, rather than blaming or criticizing the three members who worked on it. References: Agile Teams

Objectives and key results (OKRs) are a framework for defining and tracking measurable goals and outcomes. OKRs consist of an objective, which is a concise, qualitative, and inspirational statement of what is to be achieved, and one or more key results, which are specific, quantitative, and time-bound measures of progress toward the objective. OKRs help align teams and individuals around a common vision, focus on the most important outcomes, and foster a culture of feedback and learning. In SAFe, OKRs are used at the portfolio, solution, and program levels to communicate and evaluate strategic intent and business value delivery12. References: Objectives and Key Results - Scaled Agile Framework, OKRs: A Simple Way to Set and Achieve Your Goals.

The team is waterfalling the Iteration, which means they are following a sequential and rigid process of development, testing, and fixing, instead of an iterative and incremental approach. This is not aligned with the Agile principles and practices, which advocate for delivering working software frequently, with continuous feedback and improvement. Waterfalling the Iteration reduces the team’s ability to respond to change, deliver value, and collaborate effectively. It also increases the risk of accumulating technical debt, defects, and rework. References: Iteration Execution - Scaled Agile Framework, SCALING: SP - SAFe for Teams 4.6 Flashcards - Brainscape

cumulative flow diagram (CFD) is a visual tool that shows the amount of work in each stage of a process over time. It helps teams identify bottlenecks, work in progress (WIP), and the overall progress of a project or program increment (PI). By looking at the width of the bands in a CFD, teams can easily see how much work is in each workflow state at any given time. This allows them to monitor and optimize their flow of value delivery. References: Cumulative Flow Diagram SAFe: Complete Guide, Measure and Grow - Scaled Agile Framework

Strategic Themes are portfolio-level business objectives that provide competitive differentiation and strategic advantage. They influence portfolio strategy and provide business context for portfolio decision-making1. Lean budget Guardrails are the spending policies and guidelines that enable decentralized decision-making and empowerment for value streams2. Strategic Themes affect the allocation of funds and resources to value streams, as well as the guidance for investments in existing and new solutions1. Therefore, Strategic Themes influence Lean budget Guardrails directly. References: Strategic Themes, Lean Budgets, Exam Study Guide: SP (6.0) - SAFe Practitioner

Differentiating business objectives are those that provide competitive differentiation and strategic advantage for the enterprise. They reflect the unique value proposition and vision of the enterprise and guide the portfolio strategy and decision-making. One example of differentiating business objectives is Strategic Themes, which are portfolio-level business objectives that connect a portfolio to the strategy of the enterprise. They are written in Objective and Key Result (OKR) format and influence the vision, budget, and backlogs for the portfolio, large solution, and program levels. They also provide business context and alignment for the agile teams and ARTs in the portfolio. References: Strategic Themes, SAFe 4.5 Reference Guide: Scaled Agile Framework for Lean Enterprises, How to use GOST + SAFe to increase your company’s agility

A technical exploration enabler is a type of enabler that supports research, prototyping, and other activities needed to develop an understanding of customer needs, including the exploration of prospective solutions and evaluation of alternatives1. A technical exploration enabler can be demonstrated by showing the knowledge gained by the exploration, such as the results of experiments, the insights from data analysis, the feedback from customers or stakeholders, the lessons learned from failures, or the recommendations for future actions2. Showing the knowledge gained by the exploration helps to validate the assumptions and hypotheses, measure the value and feasibility of the solution, and inform the decision-making process3. The other options are not valid ways to demonstrate a technical exploration enabler, as they either do not reflect the purpose of the exploration, or imply that the exploration is not necessary or valuable. References: Enablers - Scaled Agile Framework, How can a technical exploration enabler be demonstrated?, Principle #4 - Build incrementally with fast, integrated learning cycles - Scaled Agile Framework

 According to the SAFe framework, some decisions are strategic, have far-reaching impact, and are outside the scope, knowledge, or responsibilities of the teams. These decisions should be centralized, as they are made by leaders who have the market knowledge, longer-range perspectives, and understanding of the business and financial landscape necessary to steer the enterprise. One of the characteristics of these types of decisions is that they provide significant economies of scale, meaning that they deliver large and broad economic benefits to the organization. Examples of such decisions are a common way of working, standard development languages, standard tooling, and offshoring. These decisions are infrequent, long-lasting, and require coordination and alignment across multiple teams and value streams. References: Principle #9 - Decentralize Decision-Making - Scaled Agile Framework, SAFe® and Importance of Decentralized Decision Making – Learnow

 Culture is the first element of the CALMR approach to DevOps in SAFe. It refers to the shared mindset and values that support successful DevOps adoption. Culture in SAFe is influenced by the Lean-Agile principles and practices that guide the entire framework. Culture in DevOps requires customer-centricity, collaboration, trust, empowerment, learning, and feedback among all the stakeholders involved in the value stream. Culture also fosters a shift-left mentality, where operational and quality concerns are addressed early and often in the development process. Culture is the foundation for the other elements of CALMR: automation, lean flow, measurement, and recovery. References: CALMR - Scaled Agile Framework, The CALMR Approach to DevOps [Complete Guide] - KnowledgeHut

The Portfolio Kanban system is a method to visualize and manage the flow of portfolio Epics, from ideation through analysis, implementation, and completion. The Portfolio Kanban system is operated by the Lean Portfolio Management (LPM) function, which is responsible for strategy and investment funding, Agile portfolio operations, and Lean governance. The LPM function consists of three collaborating roles: the Enterprise Architect, the Lean Portfolio Manager, and the Operational Excellence Manager. The LPM function uses the strategic portfolio review and portfolio sync events to manage and monitor the flow of work in the Portfolio Kanban system. References: Portfolio Kanban - Scaled Agile Framework, Lean Portfolio Management - Scaled Agile Framework

 A User Story is a short description of a piece of functionality that delivers value to a customer or stakeholder. It is typically written from the perspective of an end user and follows the format: “As a , I want , so that ”. User Stories are the primary elements of the Team Backlog and are used to plan and execute the Iteration. User Stories should be small enough to be completed within one Iteration, which is usually two weeks long. If a User Story is too large or complex, it should be split into smaller stories that can fit within the Iteration timebox. This ensures that the team can deliver value frequently and receive feedback quickly. References: SAFe for Teams Student Workbook: materials and exercises from Lesson 3; v6.scaledagileframework.com/story/

 The system demo is the best measure of progress for complex system development because it provides an integrated, comprehensive view of the new features delivered by the Agile Release Train (ART) over the past iteration. The system demo offers the ART a fact-based measure of current, system-level progress within the Program Increment (PI). It also allows the stakeholders to give feedback on the solution’s fitness for purpose and alignment with the vision. The system demo tests and evaluates the complete solution in a production-like context to receive feedback from stakeholders, including Business Owners, executive sponsors, other Agile Teams, development management, and customers (and their proxies). References: System Demo - Scaled Agile Framework, Principle #4 - Build incrementally with fast, integrated learning cycles - Scaled Agile Framework

 The Release Train Engineer (RTE) is a servant leader and coach for the Agile Release Train (ART), which is a group of Agile teams that work together to deliver value. The RTE facilitates the ART events and processes, and supports the teams in delivering value. They communicate with stakeholders, escalate impediments, help manage risk, and drive relentless improvement. The RTE also serves as the ART Chief Coach, which means they help the teams apply and improve the SAFe principles and practices, such as PI planning, system demos, inspect and adapt, and innovation and planning1. The RTE is not the team backlog owner, the ART-level content authority, or the technical leader of the ART, but rather the facilitator and enabler of the ART’s success. References: Release Train Engineer - Scaled Agile Framework, Release Train Engineer(RTE): Roles & Responsibilities - KnowledgeHut, Release Train Engineer - Scaled Agile Framework

One issue when organizing around functional silos is that they impede how value flows from concept to delivery. Functional silos create barriers and delays between different teams and departments, which can result in waste, rework, handoffs, and misalignment. To achieve business agility, enterprises need to organize around value streams, which are the primary constructs for understanding, organizing, and delivering value in SAFe. Value streams are long-lived series of steps that deliver value to the customer or end user. By organizing around value streams, enterprises can optimize the flow of value across functional boundaries, reduce lead time, and increase customer satisfaction. References: SAFe for Teams Student Workbook: materials and exercises from Lesson 1; [v5.scaledagileframework.com/organize-around-value/]; [v5.scaledagileframework.com/value-streams/]

n: Product Management is responsible for defining desirable, viable, feasible, and sustainable solutions that meet customer needs and supporting development across the product life cycle. They align the product strategy, vision, and roadmap to the portfolio’s strategic themes and lean budgets. They also create, maintain, and adjust the program backlog, which contains the features and enablers that the Agile Release Train (ART) will implement. They work with customers, teams, and product owners to understand and communicate their needs and participate in solution validation. They also collaborate with system architects and the release train engineer to guide the ART toward successful delivery12. References: Product Management - Scaled Agile Framework, Agile Release Train - Scaled Agile Framework

SAFe Team Kanban is a method that enables teams to manage their flow of work using a visual board and a set of policies. It is especially suitable for teams that have unpredictable or interrupt-driven work, such as maintenance, support, or operations teams1. SAFe Team Kanban helps teams to visualize their work, limit their work in progress (WIP), measure and improve their flow, and implement feedback loops2. Team A is a maintenance team that cannot always predictably plan their work. They like to meet daily to review the needs of the system and plan for how they can quickly address those needs during the workday. Therefore, SAFe Team Kanban is the most appropriate SAFe Lean-Agile method for Team A to plan and execute their work. References: Team Kanban - Scaled Agile Framework, SAFe Lean-Agile Principles - Scaled Agile Framework

SAFe Team Kanban is a method that helps teams facilitate the flow of value by visualizing workflow, establishing Work In Process (WIP) limits, measuring throughput, and continuously improving their process1. It is suitable for teams that have a rapid and uneven arrival of work and fast-changing priorities, such as maintenance teams2. The other options are not appropriate for Team A’s context. SAFe Platform Team is organized around developing and supporting platforms that provide services to other teams3. SAFe Enabling Team is organized to assist other groups with specialized capabilities and help them become proficient in new technologies4. SAFe XP Team is an Agile Team method that combines the power of Scrum with Extreme Programming (XP) practices and operates within the ART iteration cadence5.

During the draft plan review, teams present their preliminary plans for the upcoming PI, including their iteration goals, capacity and load, and risks and impediments1. Iteration goals are a set of SMART objectives that provide a clear vision and alignment for each iteration2. They also help teams communicate their progress and dependencies to other teams and stakeholders during the PI planning event3. References: PI Planning, Iteration Goals, Presenting PI Planning Draft and Final Plan Reviews

The Release Train Engineer (RTE) is a servant leader and coach for the Agile Release Train (ART), which is a group of Agile teams that work together to deliver value. The RTE facilitates the ART events and processes, and supports the teams in delivering value. They communicate with stakeholders, escalate impediments, help manage risk, and drive relentless improvement. The RTE also serves as the Scrum Master for the ART, which means they help the teams apply and improve the Scrum practices, such as planning, reviewing, and retrospecting. The RTE is not the technical leader, the content authority, or the program manager of the ART, but rather the facilitator and enabler of the ART’s success. References: Release Train Engineer - Scaled Agile Framework, Release Train Engineer (RTE): Responsibilities and Skills | Indeed.com

 SAFe Team Kanban is a type of SAFe Agile Team that relies on a continually-refined Team Backlog as the primary input to drive value delivery. SAFe Team Kanban is a method that helps teams manage and improve the flow of value across the Continuous Delivery Pipeline. It is based on the principles of Lean and Kanban, which aim to optimize the system, limit work in progress (WIP), implement feedback loops, and empower the team. SAFe Team Kanban uses a visual board to track the flow of work from the Team Backlog to the Done state. The Team Backlog is a subset of the Program Backlog that contains the user stories, enablers, and defects that the team needs to work on. The Team Backlog is constantly refined and prioritized by the Product Owner, who collaborates with the team and other stakeholders to ensure that the most valuable and feasible work items are selected for implementation. References: Team Kanban - Scaled Agile Framework, Team Kanban - Scaled Agile Framework

During the PI Planning event, planning adjustments are agreed upon during the management review and problem-solving meeting, which is the last activity of the first day of the event1. In this meeting, the management team reviews the draft plans of the teams, identifies and resolves any issues, risks, or dependencies, and makes any necessary changes to the scope, people, or resources1. The management team also communicates the planning adjustments back to the Agile Release Train (ART) the next day, before the teams continue their planning and make the appropriate adjustments2. References: PI Planning, Management Review and Problem-Solving

 Knowledge is one of the factors that affect the size of a story. It refers to what is known or unknown about the story, such as the requirements, the design, the technology, the domain, the dependencies, and the risks. The more unknowns there are, the larger the story size will be, as it will require more effort, complexity, and uncertainty to implement. Knowledge is one of the components of the story point estimation technique, which is a relative measure of the effort required to implement a story. Story points take into account the volume, complexity, knowledge, and uncertainty of the work. References: Story - Scaled Agile Framework, Story Point - Scaled Agile Framework, How to Estimate Agile Stories: Introducing Relative Sizing - LeanDog, Estimate Story - Quickscrum, Agile Estimation – Feature and Story Sizing Scales

Design Thinking is a methodology that helps teams solve complex problems and create innovative solutions that meet the needs and desires of the users. One of the benefits of Design Thinking is that it produces solutions that are actionable, meaning that they can be implemented and tested in the real world. Actionable solutions are based on a deep understanding of the problem, a wide range of possible ideas, and iterative prototyping and testing. Actionable solutions are also aligned with the vision, values, and goals of the organization and the stakeholders. References: What is Design Thinking?, Design thinking, explained, What is design thinking?