SP-SAFe-Practitioner SAFe for Teams SP (6.0) - SAFe Practitioner Questions and Answers

 A quality of an Agile team is that it is cross-functional, meaning that it has all the skills and roles necessary to deliver value to the customer. A cross-functional team can work independently and collaboratively, without relying on external dependencies or handoffs. A cross-functional team can also adapt to changing requirements and feedback, and deliver work in small increments. References: Agile Teams - Scaled Agile Framework, Top 8 Characteristics of High-Performing Agile Team - Techtic Solutions, Agile Q&A: Team Qualities | Agile Alliance, Agile Team Roles and Responsibilities: A Brief Guide - Teamhood

According to the book Team Topologies by Matthew Skelton and Manuel Pais, the four types of team topologies are stream-aligned, platform, enabling, and complicated subsystem. These team types are designed to optimize the flow of work and information in an organization, and to align with the principles of DevOps and agile. A stream-aligned team is focused on a single stream of work, such as a product, a feature, a user journey, or a user persona. A platform team provides the infrastructure and services that enable other teams to deliver value to customers. An enabling team helps other teams overcome obstacles and learn new skills and technologies. A complicated-subsystem team handles tasks that require specialized knowledge and expertise, such as mathematics, algorithms, or cryptography. References: Team Topologies: The 4 Team Types Explained | Shortform Books, Team Topologies | Atlassian, Key Concepts — Team Topologies, The Four Team Types from Team Topologies - IT Revolution, What are the core team types in Team Topologies?

Understanding the optimum batch size is crucial for teams to ensure that value flows efficiently through the development pipeline. By optimizing batch sizes, teams can reduce the cycle time and improve the delivery of value to customers, aligning with the Lean-Agile principles of delivering value incrementally and continuously. The reason for the faster speed is obvious. The reduced variability results from the smaller number of items in the batch1.

The image you sent shows a table of assessment results for different categories related to agile project management. The category “Flow” has a score of 86%, which indicates that the team is performing well in terms of delivering value in a continuous and smooth manner. However, there may be some room for improvement in other categories, such as “Team backlog” and “PI Planning”, which have lower scores of 50%. These categories are related to the planning and prioritization of work items, which affect the batch size and the flow of value. The team may benefit from applying some of the practices and tools suggested by SAFe, such as Kanban boards, WIP limits, and PI Objectives, to optimize their batch size and increase their flow efficiency234. References: Visualize and Limit WIP, Reduce Batch Sizes, and Manage Queue Lengths, Team Flow, Principle #6 – Visualize and limit WIP, reduce batch sizes, and manage queue lengths, Simplicity Factor: Batch Size

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 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

Lowering the work in process (WIP) limits improves the flow of value through the system by reducing the amount of work that is started but not finished, minimizing the waste of context switching and multitasking, and increasing the focus and collaboration of the teams. Lower WIP limits also help identify and eliminate bottlenecks, balance demand and capacity, and accelerate feedback and learning. According to the SAFe Principle #6, visualizing and limiting WIP is one of the key practices to achieve continuous flow and deliver value in the shortest sustainable lead time. References: Principle #6 - Visualize and Limit WIP, Reduce Batch Sizes, and Manage Queue Lengths - Scaled Agile Framework, Understanding SAFe Work In Progress Limits - Strongback Consulting

According to SAFe, a SAFe Portfolio is a set of value streams that delivers a continuous flow of valuable solutions to customers within a common funding and governance model. A SAFe portfolio aligns strategy to execution via a collection of Development Value Streams (DVS). Each DVS develops one or more Solutions necessary for the portfolio to accomplish its business mission and vision, operating under a shared governance model1. A DVS is a long-lived series of steps that an organization uses to deliver value to a customer or stakeholder2. A DVS can be internal or external, and it can span multiple ARTs and suppliers3. A DVS is not the same as a functional team, a solution, or a business unit, which are different ways of organizing work, products, or organizational structures. References: Portfolio - Scaled Agile Framework, Development Value Stream - Scaled Agile Framework, Value Stream - Scaled Agile Framework.

cumulative flow diagram (CFD) is a graphical tool that shows the status of work items for a given period of time. The horizontal axis represents time, and the vertical axis represents the number of work items. The CFD is composed of different colored bands, each representing a different stage of the workflow (such as “to do”, “in progress”, “done”, etc.). The CFD helps visualize the flow of work, identify bottlenecks, and monitor cycle time and throughput1. A cumulative flow diagram focuses on two main curves: the arrival curve and the departure curve. The arrival curve is the top edge of the “to do” band, and it shows the rate at which new work items are added to the system. The departure curve is the top edge of the “done” band, and it shows the rate at which work items are completed and delivered. The difference between the arrival curve and the departure curve represents the amount of work in progress (WIP) in the system2. By comparing the arrival curve and the departure curve, one can assess the stability and predictability of the system. Ideally, the arrival curve and the departure curve should be parallel and close to each other, indicating a smooth and consistent flow of work. If the arrival curve is steeper than the departure curve, it means that more work is entering the system than leaving it, which can lead to increased WIP, longer cycle time, and lower quality. If the departure curve is steeper than the arrival curve, it means that more work is leaving the system than entering it, which can lead to reduced WIP, shorter cycle time, and higher quality3. References: Cumulative Flow Diagram - Scaled Agile Framework, Cumulative Flow Diagrams - Kanbanize, Cumulative Flow Diagram - LeSS

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/

 According to Kotter’s 8-step process for leading change, the first step is to create a sense of urgency among both managers and employees. This means making them aware of the existing problems or opportunities that require change, and motivating them to act with passion and purpose. Creating a sense of urgency helps to overcome complacency, resistance, and fear of change, and builds momentum for the change initiative. References: Kotter’s 8-step process for leading change, The Easy Guide to Kotter’s 8 Step Change Model, John Kotter’s Eight Step Change Model, Kotter’s 8 step Model of Change, How to Successfully Implement Kotter’s 8 Step Change Model

A guardrail in Lean Portfolio Management (LPM) is a policy or practice that helps ensure that the portfolio is aligned and funded to create and maintain the solutions needed to meet business targets. One of the guardrails in LPM is the allocation of centralized vs decentralized decisions in the enterprise. This guardrail defines the boundaries and guidelines for decision making at different levels of the organization, such as strategic, tactical, and operational. Centralized decisions are those that require alignment and agreement across multiple value streams or portfolios, such as vision, strategy, budget allocation, and governance. Decentralized decisions are those that can be made by the value streams or teams closest to the customer and the work, such as backlog prioritization, solution design, and delivery. The goal of this guardrail is to empower the teams and value streams to make fast and effective decisions, while ensuring alignment and coherence at the portfolio and enterprise levels12. References: Lean Budget Guardrails - Scaled Agile Framework, Decentralize Decision Making - Scaled Agile Framework

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

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 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 balance between emergent design and intentional architecture when building in quality is required for speed of development and maintainability. Emergent design is the practice of defining and evolving the architecture only as necessary to deliver the next increment of functionality, based on the feedback and learning from the previous increments. Intentional architecture is the practice of defining and implementing some upfront design guidelines and standards that enable the integration and evolution of the solution across multiple teams and domains. Both practices are implemented with enablers, which are technical items that support the development and delivery of features and capabilities. The balance between emergent design and intentional architecture allows the teams and the Agile Release Train (ART) to deliver value faster, with higher quality and lower risk, and to maintain and improve the solution over time12. The other options are not accurate descriptions of the balance between emergent design and intentional architecture, as they either do not reflect the benefits of both practices, or use terms that are not relevant to the SAFe context. References: Architectural Runway - Scaled Agile Framework, Built-In Quality - Scaled Agile Framework

 The definition of done (DoD) is a set of criteria that a product increment must meet for the team to consider it complete and ready for customers. It is a shared understanding among the team members of when a product increment is ready for release, even when the increment is large and consists of many items. The DoD is a commitment that the scrum team makes regarding the quality of the increment. The team promises that each increment will meet the DoD. They have checked all the quality checkboxes. This allows stakeholders to be confident that each new increment is usable and valuable. The DoD is not created by one person, but by the entire project team, including developers, testers, product owners, and other stakeholders. This ensures a smoother process during sprints since everyone is using the DoD as a guide alongside any checklists before marking an item as complete. Therefore, the agile teams are the primary stakeholders who develop the DoD for the team increment. References: What is the Definition of Done? Understanding DOD in Agile - Atlassian, What is the Definition of Done? | Scrum.org, How To Create A Definition Of Done | Agile Learning Labs, What is a Definition of Done? | Scrum.org

According to the SAFe for Teams SP (6.0) - SAFe Practitioner handbook and study guide, 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 workshop. The purpose of the Inspect and Adapt event is to increase the quality and reliability of the next PI by applying the following practices:

• Reflection: Teams review the PI objectives, the system demo, and the quantitative and qualitative measurements to assess the current state of the solution and the ART performance. Teams also share their learnings, successes, and challenges with each other and the stakeholders.
• Data collection: Teams collect data from various sources, such as team and program metrics, customer feedback, surveys, and assessments, to measure the outcomes and the health of the solution and the ART. Teams also use tools such as the PI burndown chart, the cumulative flow diagram, and the team self-assessment to visualize the data and identify trends and patterns.
• Problem solving: Teams use a structured problem-solving workshop to identify the most critical issues or impediments that are affecting the solution or the ART. Teams use techniques such as brainstorming

= Fast learning cycles are one of the four pillars of the SAFe House of Lean model, which is based on the Toyota Production System and combines lean management, agile methods, and Lean Thinking1. Fast learning cycles support innovation by enabling rapid feedback, experimentation, and adaptation, which are essential for creating value and achieving Business Agility2. Fast learning cycles also foster a culture of continuous improvement, where teams and individuals are empowered to learn from failures and seek better solutions3. References: = 1: Lean-Agile Mindset - Scaled Agile Framework2; 2: Lean-Agile Mindset - Scaled Agile Framework1; 3: The SAFe House of Lean model: short and sweet - Echometer

The Portfolio canvas is a tool that helps define the value streams, solutions, customers, budgets, and other key aspects of a SAFe portfolio. One of the inputs to the Portfolio canvas is the Enterprise Strategy, which describes the vision, mission, goals, and objectives of the organization. The Enterprise Strategy provides the context and direction for the portfolio vision, which in turn guides the identification and prioritization of portfolio epics and value streams. The Enterprise Strategy also influences the allocation of lean budgets and the alignment of strategic themes across the portfolio. References: Portfolio Vision, Portfolio SAFe, What Sections Are Included In SAFe® Portfolio Canvas?, [Exam Study Guide: SP (6.0) - SAFe Practitioner]

According to the SAFe Implementation Roadmap1, the step that follows Coach ART Execution is Launch more ARTs and Value Streams. This step involves identifying and launching additional ARTs and Value Streams that are needed to deliver the full solution value. It also involves synchronizing the dependencies and alignment across the ARTs and Value Streams, and establishing Solution Trains to coordinate them. This step is essential to scale up the benefits of SAFe and achieve business agility. References: SAFe Implementation Roadmap, Launch More ARTs and Value Streams, Exam Study Guide: SP (6.0) - SAFe Practitioner

The product vision is a description of the future state of the product or service under development. It reflects customer and stakeholder needs, as well as the features and capabilities proposed to meet those needs. The product vision is both aspirational and achievable, providing the broader context and purpose of the product or service. It describes the markets, customer segments, user needs, and how the product or service will be different from the competition. The product vision is owned by the product owner, but its development requires input from stakeholders and the scrum team(s). The product vision helps align the team to the product direction and motivates them to deliver value to the customers and stakeholders. References: Vision, Solution Vision, An Insight Into 3 Types of Vision In SAFe®, Product Vision | Agile Product Management, What is a Product Vision | Scrum.org

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The role of the System Architect/Engineer in SAFe is to guide the teams and support the Architectural Runway, which is the existing code, components, and technical infrastructure needed to implement near-term features without excessive redesign and delay. The System Architect/Engineer defines and communicates the technical and architectural vision for the solutions developed by an Agile Release Train (ART), ensuring that they fit the intended purpose and align with the enterprise and solution architecture. The System Architect/Engineer also collaborates with various roles, teams, and stakeholders within and outside the ART to ensure that the system architecture supports the evolving business needs and enables fast and reliable implementation. References: System Architect/Engineering - Scaled Agile Framework, Architectural Runway - Scaled Agile Framework

 Story point size is a relative measure of the effort and complexity involved in implementing a user story. It is not based on the team size, the number of days it will take, or the priority of the story. Rather, it is based on the comparison of the story with other stories of similar or different sizes. Story points help teams estimate how much work they can complete in an iteration, based on their past performance and current capacity. Story points also help teams plan and track their progress at the program level, by aligning the features and capabilities with the stories that implement them. References: Story - Scaled Agile Framework, A Guide to Story Point Estimation - DEV Community, What should be taken into account when estimating Story poin - Madanswer

Guiding investments by horizon is one of the four Lean budget guardrails that describe the policies and practices for budgeting, spending, and governance for a specific portfolio. This guardrail helps ensure that the portfolio allocates its budget to solutions that reflect different time horizons and risk profiles, balancing near-term opportunities with long-term strategy and growth1. The portfolio-level guidance for investments by horizon is based on the four horizons model2, which categorizes solutions into four types: Horizon 0 (solutions that are being decommissioned), Horizon 1 (solutions that are mature and generate most of the current revenue), Horizon 2 (solutions that are emerging and have high growth potential), and Horizon 3 (solutions that are exploratory and have high uncertainty). Each value stream should allocate its budget to solutions in these horizons according to the portfolio’s vision and roadmap1. References: 1: Lean Budget Guardrails - Scaled Agile Framework2: Investment Horizons - Scaled Agile Framework

A program board is a visual summary of the features or goals, when they need to be reached, and any cross-team dependencies impacting their delivery. The program board helps teams within the Agile Release Train (ART) to coordinate their work and communicate their plan to the entire organization. One of the main purposes of the program board is to help teams identify and manage dependencies between teams, which can affect the delivery of value and increase the risk of delays or failures. By visualizing and tracking dependencies on the program board, teams can avoid or resolve them during the Program Increment (PI) planning event or throughout the PI execution. References: SAFe Program Board 101: Everything You Need To Know, SAFe Program Board: Good Practices for SAFe PI Planning, Tips for using a SAFe program board

= Alignment is one of the four core values of SAFe that represents the foundational beliefs that are key to SAFe’s effectiveness. Alignment helps everyone in the SAFe portfolio work toward a common direction and deliver value with speed and quality. One of the ways to create and maintain alignment in SAFe is to speak with a common language and understand your customer. Speaking with a common language means using consistent terms and definitions across the enterprise to avoid confusion and ambiguity. Understanding your customer means identifying their needs, preferences, and expectations, and delivering solutions that meet or exceed them. References: = Core Values - Scaled Agile Framework, SAFe Core Values - Scaled Agile Framework

 This statement is the second principle of SAFe, which states: "Build incrementally with fast, integrated learning cycles"1. It involves delivering a continuous flow of value to customers in the shortest sustainable lead time by reducing the batch sizes of work, limiting work in process (WIP), implementing continuous integration (CI) and continuous delivery (CD) pipelines, and applying DevOps and Release on Demand2. This principle helps improve quality, reduce risk, increase customer satisfaction, and accelerate feedback and learning2. References: SAFe Lean-Agile Principles, Accelerating Flow with SAFe

One of the Lean Thinking Principles is to make value flow without interruptions. This means that the organization should optimize the entire value stream, from the customer’s perspective, and eliminate any waste or delays that prevent the smooth and fast delivery of value. Waste can be anything that does not add value to the customer, such as defects, overproduction, waiting, inventory, transportation, motion, or overprocessing. Delays can be caused by handoffs, queues, approvals, dependencies, or variability. By making value flow without interruptions, the organization can increase customer satisfaction, reduce costs, improve quality, and accelerate time to market. References: Lean Thinking: Overview, Principles, Benefits, & Applications Explained, Lean Thinking – Lean Practice | Planview LeanKit

According to SAFe Lean-Agile Principle #10, the enterprise should organize around value to deliver the best value and quality for people and society in the shortest sustainable lead time. This means that the enterprise should create a network of development value streams that can optimize the flow of value by reducing handoffs and delays, bringing together all the necessary personnel, providing intense customer focus, and measuring success by outcome-based key performance indicators. Moreover, the network should be able to rapidly reorganize as necessary to support emerging opportunities and competitive threats, while leveraging the hierarchical system for benefits and stability. Therefore, the correct answer is D. Reorganize the network to address emerging opportunities. References: Principle #10 – Organize around value - Scaled Agile Framework, SAFe Lean-Agile Principles - Scaled Agile Framework, The 10th Principle – Lean Agile Guru

Built-in quality is one of the four core values of SAFe, along with alignment, transparency, and program execution. Built-in quality means that every aspect of the solution, from code to compliance, is designed and implemented with high standards and practices that ensure quality. Built-in quality enables fast and reliable delivery of value, reduces waste and rework, and fosters a culture of continuous improvement. Some of the practices that support built-in quality in SAFe are Test-First, Behavior-Driven Development, Acceptance Test-Driven Development, Continuous Integration, Continuous Deployment, and Communities of Practice. References: Built-In Quality - Scaled Agile Framework, Core Values - Scaled Agile Framework, 4 Scaled Agile Framework Core Values | SAFe Core Values - PremierAgile, Scaled Agile Framework: Understand SAFe and Its 4 Core Values.

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

 WIP stands for work in process, which is the amount of work that is currently being done in a system. One way to understand WIP is to make it visible to all stakeholders, using tools such as Kanban boards, cumulative flow diagrams, or burn-up charts. By making WIP visible, we can see the current state of the work, identify bottlenecks, limit WIP to match capacity, and improve flow efficiency. References: Principle #6 – Visualize and limit WIP, reduce batch sizes, and manage queue lengths, Make Value Flow without Interruptions, SAFe Principle 6: Visualise and limit WIP, reduce batch sizes, and manage queued lengths

Iteration Planning is a key event in the SAFe framework that occurs at the beginning of each Iteration. It is a timeboxed meeting where the Agile team collaborates to plan the work for the upcoming Iteration, based on the team backlog, the Iteration goal, and the team capacity. Iteration Planning enables fast learning cycles by allowing the team to inspect and adapt their work frequently, deliver value incrementally, and respond to changing customer needs and feedback. References: Exam Study Guide: SP (6.0) - SAFe® Practitioner, Planning the Iteration, Executing the Iteration

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

The definition of done (DoD) is a set of criteria that a product increment must meet for the team to consider it complete and ready for customers1. It ensures the quality and consistency of a deliverable. The DoD is agreed upon by the entire project team, including developers, testers, product owners, and other stakeholders2. One of the common criteria that is typically included in the DoD for the team increment is regression testing, which is the process of verifying that the existing functionality of the system is not affected by the new changes3. Regression testing is done to ensure that the product increment meets the quality standards and does not introduce any defects or errors4. References: What is the Definition of Done? Understanding DOD in Agile - Atlassian, What is the definition of done? Guide for agile teams with examples - LogRocket Blog, What is Regression Testing? Definition, Tools, Method, and Example, What is typically included in the Definition of Done for the - Madanswer

 An Agile Team collects the Iteration Metrics they have agreed upon during the quantitative part of the team retrospective. This is the part where the team assesses whether they met the Iteration Goals using a binary (yes or no) measure, and reviews the metrics that provide visibility and insight into the team’s performance and process improvement. Examples of Iteration Metrics include flow metrics, such as flow velocity, load and distribution, defects addressed, and automated test coverage. The team uses these metrics to identify trends, patterns, and areas for improvement, and to inform their qualitative feedback and improvement stories. References: Iteration Retrospective - Scaled Agile Framework, Metrics - Scaled Agile Framework

SAFe Team Kanban is one of the SAFe Agile Team types 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 their flow of work, optimize their throughput, and improve their quality and predictability. SAFe Team Kanban uses a visual board that shows the status of the backlog items, the work in progress (WIP) limits, the policies and definitions, and the metrics and indicators. SAFe Team Kanban also applies the Kanban principles of visualization, limiting WIP, managing flow, making policies explicit, implementing feedback loops, and improving collaboratively and continuously. References: Exam Study Guide: SP (6.0) - SAFe® Practitioner, Team Kanban

 Features are used to describe functional and non-functional requirements in SAFe. Features are services that fulfill stakeholder needs and deliver value to the customer. They are typically 10-12 weeks of development effort and can span multiple iterations. Features are derived from the Program Backlog and are prioritized by the Product Management. Features are also used to define the PI Objectives and measure the business value delivered by the Agile Release Train (ART). References: SAFe for Teams Student Workbook: materials and exercises from Lesson 3; v6.scaledagileframework.com/features/

 Product roles, such as Product Owner and Product Manager, act as proxies for the customer in representing their needs to the teams. They are responsible for defining, prioritizing, and validating the requirements that deliver value to the customer and the business. They also collaborate with the development teams and other stakeholders to ensure that the product vision, strategy, and roadmap are aligned with customer and stakeholder needs. Product roles are the voice of the customer for the teams and the primary link to business and technology strategy12. References: = 1: Product Owner - Scaled Agile Framework2; 2: Product Manager - Scaled Agile Framework3

n: Agile development is more beneficial than waterfall development because it increases productivity and employee engagement by empowering teams to self-organize, collaborate, and deliver value in small increments. It also allows businesses to deliver value to the market more quickly by reducing the feedback cycle, adapting to changing requirements, and releasing high-quality products frequently. References: SAFe® for Teams - Know Your Role on an Agile Team, Exam Study Guide: SP (6.0) - SAFe® Practitioner, Lean-Agile Mindset, Continuous Delivery Pipeline

 Agile Product Delivery is one of the SAFe Core Competencies of Business Agility that includes the Customer Centricity and Design Thinking dimension. Agile Product Delivery is a customer-centric approach to defining, building, and releasing a continuous flow of valuable products and services to customers and users. It requires a close collaboration between the business and IT, and a focus on delivering solutions that meet the current and future needs of the customers and users. Customer Centricity and Design Thinking are key aspects of Agile Product Delivery that help enterprises understand their customers and users better, empathize with their problems and goals, and co-create solutions that delight them. Customer Centricity and Design Thinking also enable enterprises to validate their assumptions and hypotheses, and pivot when necessary to achieve the desired outcomes. References: Exam Study Guide: SP (6.0) - SAFe® Practitioner, Agile Product Delivery, Customer Centricity, Design Thinking

= 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

A user story is a work type that is defined as “a short description of a small piece of desired functionality written in the user’s language” in SAFe. A user story is a primary artifact used to define system behavior in Agile. It is a simple and concise way of expressing the user’s needs and expectations from the system. A user story typically follows the format of “As a [role], I want [functionality], so that [benefit]”. A user story also has acceptance criteria and acceptance tests that specify how the functionality will be verified and validated. A user story is intended to enable the implementation of a small, vertical slice of system behavior that supports incremental development. A user story is maintained and prioritized in the team backlog by the product owner1. References: Story - Scaled Agile Framework

The concept of “shift-left” means moving testing and validation activities earlier in the work cycle to get faster or continuous feedback. This helps to identify and fix defects, errors, or issues as soon as possible, reducing the cost and risk of rework and delays. Shift-left testing also supports the agile principle of delivering working software frequently and the lean principle of building quality in. By shifting testing left, teams can ensure that the solutions they deliver meet the customer needs and expectations, as well as the quality standards and compliance requirements. References: Built-In Quality, Shift Left Testing: What, Why & How To Shift Left, What Executives Should Know About Shift-Left Security, What is Shift Left Security?

The Agile Manifesto is a set of values and principles that guide the software development process. One of the values is “responding to change over following a plan”. This means that the team values the customer’s needs and feedback over the plan and process. The team embraces change as an opportunity to deliver better solutions and adapts to changing requirements and priorities. References: The 4 Values and 12 Principles of the Agile Manifesto - Smartsheet, 12 Principles Behind the Agile Manifesto | Agile Alliance

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

According to the SAFe-for-Teams-SAFe-Practitioner-6-0 documents, a minimum viable product (MVP) is an early and minimal version of a new solution sufficient to prove or disprove an epic hypothesis1. An MVP is not a prototype, a feature, or a product. It is a learning tool that helps validate assumptions, reduce uncertainty, and increase the likelihood of building the right thing2. Therefore, the correct answer is A. A minimal version of a new product used to test a hypothesis. References: Epic - Scaled Agile Framework, What is a Minimum Viable Product (MVP)? | Agile Alliance

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.

The final plan review is the last activity of the PI planning event, where the teams present their final plans and objectives to the group. The Business Owners review the plans and propose adjustments or accept the plan, in which case, the team brings out their PI Objective sheet for everyone to view1. The final plan review is also an opportunity to assess the program risks and ROAM them (Resolved, Owned, Accepted, Mitigated)2. The final plan review helps achieve alignment and commitment among all the stakeholders and teams on the ART3. References: PI Planning - Scaled Agile Framework, ROAMing Risks - Scaled Agile Framework, Final Plan Review - Scaled Agile Framework

A Story is a short description of a small piece of desired functionality written from the user’s perspective and in their language. A Story has three primary components: Card, Conversation, and Confirmation. The Card captures the essence of the Story using the format: “As a (who), I want (what), so that (why).” The Conversation is the ongoing dialogue between the team and the customer or product owner to elaborate and refine the Story details. The Confirmation is the set of acceptance criteria and tests that verify the Story is done and meets the customer’s expectations. A Story provides just enough information for both business and technical people to understand the intent, but not so much that it becomes a specification or a contract. Details are deferred until the Story is ready to be implemented, which allows for more flexibility and feedback. A Story is not a static artifact, but a dynamic one that evolves through collaboration and learning12. References: Story - Scaled Agile Framework, [What is User Story? -

Release Governance is the process that guides the final approval for a release in SAFe. It involves a set of roles and responsibilities that ensure the quality, compliance, and fitness for purpose of the solution before it is released to customers. Release Governance also coordinates the timing and frequency of releases based on market demand and business needs. Release Governance is part of the Release on Demand aspect of the Continuous Delivery Pipeline, which is the fourth and last element in the four-part pipeline of Continuous Exploration, Continuous Integration, Continuous Deployment, and Release on Demand. References: Release on Demand - Scaled Agile Framework, SAFe for teams 93% Flashcards | Quizlet, Release on Demand - SAFe 4.5 Reference Guide: Scaled Agile Framework …

Enabling teams are one of the four team topologies defined by Skelton and Pais in their book Team Topologies. They are organized to assist other teams with specialized capabilities and help them become more proficient in new technologies. They provide guidance, coaching, and mentoring to stream-aligned teams, platform teams, or complicated subsystem teams, and help them adopt new practices, tools, or frameworks. They also collaborate with them to deliver specific features or components that require their expertise. Enabling teams are temporary and dissolve once their mission is accomplished or no longer needed. References: Organizing Agile Teams and ARTs: Team Topologies at Scale, Team Topologies at Scale: A Worked Example, Exam Study Guide: SP (6.0) - SAFe Practitioner

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 team’s initial capacity before calculating for time off is 48. This is based on the following formula: Give the team 8 points for every full-time developer and tester on the team. Since the team has two testers and three developers, that is 5 x 8 = 40 points. Then, add one point for every 10% of the Product Owner’s time dedicated to the team. Since the Product Owner is split between two teams, that is 0.5 x 10 = 5 points. Finally, add one point for every 10% of the Scrum Master/Team Coach’s time dedicated to facilitating the team. Since the Scrum Master/Team Coach is full-time, that is 1 x 10 = 10 points. The total is 40 + 5 + 10 = 55 points. However, since the team should not plan to 100% capacity, a buffer of 15% is recommended. Therefore, the final initial capacity is 55 x 0.85 = 46.75, which can be rounded up to 48 points. References: Iteration Planning, How to calculate the capacity, How to Estimate Capacity for Work in Agile Teams, SAFe Agile Planning - Plan Less than 100% Capacity, How to Improve Your Agile Team’s Capacity Planning

= Decoupling deployment from release means having the ability to deploy changes to a system without having to make a new release of the system. This can be a valuable capability when making changes to a system that is in production and needs to be rolled back quickly if there are problems. It also allows releasing functionality on demand to meet business needs, which is one of the aspects of the Continuous Delivery Pipeline in SAFe. By decoupling deployment from release, enterprises can achieve faster feedback, higher frequency, and greater safety in delivering value to customers. References: = Release on Demand, DevOps: Why Is It Important to Decouple Deployment From Release?, Why Is It Important to Decouple Deployment from Release?, What a Lovely Decouple: Why Decoupling Deploy from Release Is a Game Changer

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?

 A cross-functional Agile Team is a team that has all the skills and competencies needed to define, build, and test an increment of value in an Iteration. A cross-functional Agile Team is composed of team members who have different roles and expertise, such as developers, testers, analysts, designers, etc. A cross-functional Agile Team is also optimized for communication and delivery of value, as it minimizes the handoffs, dependencies, and delays that may occur when working with other teams or functions. A cross-functional Agile Team is able to collaborate effectively, deliver value frequently, and respond to changing customer needs and feedback. References: Exam Study Guide: SP (6.0) - SAFe® Practitioner, Agile Team

According to the SAFe for Teams SP (6.0) - SAFe Practitioner handbook and study guide, one of the core values of SAFe is alignment, which means that everyone involved in the solution development has a common understanding of the vision, strategy, and goals. To achieve alignment, teams need to demonstrate progress by showing the actual working product to the stakeholders and getting feedback. This is done through the sync events such as the Team Demo and the System Demo, where teams showcase the features and stories they have completed in the iteration or the PI. By showing the actual working product, teams can validate their assumptions, measure the value delivered, and identify improvement opportunities. References: Exam Study Guide: SP (6.0) - SAFe® Practitioner, SAFe® for Teams - Know Your Role on an Agile Team, SAFe for Teams | SAFe Practitioner (SP) Certification

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.

= Mindset and Principles is one of the three dimensions of Lean-Agile Leadership, along with Leading by Example and Leading the Change. Mindset and Principles refers to how leaders embed the Lean-Agile way of working in their beliefs, decisions, responses, and actions. Leaders model the expected norm throughout the organization by learning and applying the SAFe Core Values, Lean-Agile Mindset, and SAFe Principles. References: = Lean-Agile Leadership - Scaled Agile Framework, Exam Study Guide: SP (6.0) - SAFe® Practitioner

A cadence-based PI Planning event is a face-to-face event that serves as the heartbeat of the Agile Release Train (ART), aligning all the teams on the ART to a shared mission and vision. It is essential to SAFe and should not be skipped or delayed. It is an opportunity for all team members and stakeholders to communicate, collaborate, and coordinate their work for the next Program Increment (PI), which is typically 8-12 weeks long. The PI Planning event has a standard agenda that includes a presentation of business context and vision, followed by team planning breakouts, where the teams create their Iteration plans and objectives for the upcoming PI. The event also includes a management review and problem-solving session, where the teams identify and resolve dependencies, risks, and impediments. The event concludes with a confidence vote and a final plan review, where the teams present their PI objectives and receive feedback from the business owners. The PI Planning event is a key enabler of alignment, transparency, and collaboration across the ART. References: PI Planning, Planning Interval, PI Planning vs Sprint Planning: What Is the Ultimate Goal of the PI Planning Event?

Respect for People is one of the four SAFe Core Values that guide the behaviors and actions of everyone participating in a SAFe portfolio. Respect for People means that everyone is valued and deserves respect, regardless of their role, background, or experience. It also means that everyone is empowered to contribute, learn, and grow within the organization. Respect for People involves coaching aspiring developers to grow their skillsets and fill new roles throughout the organization, as well as providing them with opportunities for feedback, recognition, and career development. Respect for People also fosters a culture of trust, collaboration, and psychological safety, where people can express their ideas, opinions, and concerns without fear of judgment or retaliation. References: Core Values - Scaled Agile Framework, Respect for People - Scaled Agile Framework

 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 Agile Release Train Sync is a weekly meeting that synchronizes the ART stakeholders and provides visibility into the ART’s progress and impediments1. The Scrum Masters represent their Agile teams, provide updates on their status, relay questions, and help address challenges. They safeguard the team’s needs and effectiveness2. The visibility that Scrum Masters provide during the Agile Release Train Sync is mainly into the progress and impediments of their teams, such as the completion of features, stories, and enablers, the resolution of dependencies, the identification of risks and issues, and the demonstration of value3. The other options are not the primary focus of the Scrum Masters’ visibility during the Agile Release Train Sync. References: Agile Release Train - Scaled Agile Framework, PRACTICE TEST: SAFe 4 Practitioner Certification Flashcards - Brainscape, Agile Release Train Sync Meetings: Maximizing Success - Dee Project Manager

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?

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 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

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

The Scrum Master is a servant leader and coach for the Agile team. One of their main responsibilities is to remove impediments that hinder the team’s progress and performance. Impediments can be anything that blocks the team from delivering value, such as technical issues, dependencies, conflicts, or lack of resources. The Scrum Master helps the team identify and resolve impediments as quickly as possible, and escalates them to the appropriate level if needed. By removing impediments, the Scrum Master helps the team stay focused, productive, and motivated. References: Exam Study Guide: SP (6.0) - SAFe® Practitioner, [Scrum Master]

According to the Lean-Agile Leadership competency of SAFe, management must commit to quality and take responsibility to change the system for a successful Agile transformation. This means that leaders must lead by example, learn and model the Lean-Agile mindset, values, principles, and practices, and lead the change to a new way of working. They must also empower and engage individuals and teams to reach their highest potential, and create a culture of relentless improvement and innovation1. Management cannot delegate or outsource the responsibility of leading the Agile transformation, as they are the ones who have the authority and influence to change and improve the systems that govern how work is performed2. References: 1: Lean-Agile Leadership - Scaled Agile Framework2: What Must Management Do for a Successful Agile Transformation?

= The four core values of SAFe are alignment, built-in quality, transparency, and program execution. They represent the fundamental beliefs that are key to SAFe’s effectiveness and guide the behaviors and actions of everyone participating in a SAFe portfolio. Alignment ensures that everyone is working toward a common direction and strategy. Built-in quality ensures that every element of the solution meets the appropriate quality standards. Transparency fosters trust and collaboration among all stakeholders and enables fast and effective decision making. Program execution ensures that the value is delivered to the customers in the shortest sustainable lead time. References: = Core Values - Scaled Agile Framework, Scaled Agile Framework: Understand SAFe and Its 4 Core Values

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 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

 One of the activities that occurs during the PI Planning event is the identification and analysis of the potential risks that may affect the delivery of value by the Agile Release Train (ART). The risks are categorized using the ROAM board, which stands for Resolved, Owned, Accepted, and Mitigated. The Managed category is a subset of the Mitigated category, where the risks are assigned to owners who are responsible for monitoring and controlling them throughout the PI. The Managed category addresses the potential risks that cannot be resolved, owned, or accepted, but can be reduced or avoided by applying appropriate strategies and actions. References: Exam Study Guide: SP (6.0) - SAFe® Practitioner, ROAMing Risks

 User Stories are the types of work that are found within the Agile Team Backlog. User Stories are short descriptions of a small piece of functionality that provides value to a user or customer. They are written from the perspective of the user or customer and follow the format: “As a , I want , so that ”. User Stories are the primary way of expressing the requirements and features in the Agile Team Backlog. They are estimated, prioritized, and implemented by the Agile Team in Iterations. User Stories are derived from Features in the Program Backlog, as well as from the team’s local context and other stakeholders. References: Team Backlog, User Stories, Story

The Lean Thinking principle, “make value flow without interruptions” means identifying and eliminating any delays that prevent the smooth and fast movement of work product from step to step in a value stream. Delays are a form of waste that reduce the efficiency and effectiveness of the system, increase the lead time and cost, and lower the customer satisfaction. Delays can be caused by various factors, such as handoffs, queues, bottlenecks, rework, defects, approvals, dependencies, and variability. To make value flow without interruptions, SAFe applies the following eight flow accelerators: Visualize and limit WIP, reduce batch sizes, and manage queue lengths Implement full test automation and continuous integration Take an economic view Apply product development flow principles Understand and exploit variability Implement fast feedback and integrated learning Build quality in Base milestones on objective evaluation of working systems References: Principle #6 - Make Value Flow Without Interruptions - Scaled Agile Framework, Accelerating Flow with SAFe - Scaled Agile Framework

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

Reducing the batch sizes of work is critical to improving flow, as it enables faster delivery of value, lower risk, higher quality, and better feedback1. Batch size is the amount of work that moves as a unit through the value stream2. Smaller batches reduce the cycle time, the total time from the beginning to the end of the process to provide value to a customer3. Smaller batches also reduce the variability and uncertainty in the system, leading to less waste and rework2. SAFe provides several practices to reduce the batch sizes of work, such as using User Stories, Features, and Minimum Viable Products (MVPs) as units of work, applying Continuous Integration (CI) and Continuous Delivery (CD) pipelines, and limiting Work in Process (WIP)1. References: Accelerating Flow with SAFe, Make Value Flow without Interruptions, Optimize Flow