Scrum SAFe-Practitioner SAFe Practitioner Exam (6.0) Exam Practice Test

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?

 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

 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

The confidence vote is a measure of the teams’ and ARTs’ belief in their ability to deliver the established PI objectives. It is conducted at the end of the PI planning event, after the teams have presented their plans and identified the risks. Each person votes using their fingers (fist of five) or a digital tool for remote events. The scale is as follows:

5: I am confident we can meet or exceed our objectives

4: I am confident we can meet our objectives

3: I think we can meet our objectives, but I have some concerns

2: I doubt we can meet our objectives, and I have major concerns

1: I am sure we cannot meet our objectives

The purpose of the confidence vote is to surface any issues or impediments that might prevent the teams from achieving their goals. It also helps to align the expectations of the stakeholders and the teams. If the average vote is below 3, the teams and the ARTs need to revisit their plans and address the root causes of the low confidence. The confidence vote is repeated until the average vote is 3 or higher, or until the timebox expires. References: PI Planning - Scaled Agile Framework, Confidence Vote - Scaled Agile Framework, Confidence Vote in PI Planning: Role and Benefits - Dee Project Manager

= As a Product Owner, James is responsible for managing the Iteration backlog and ensuring that the most valuable and feasible work items are delivered by the team1. If the team tells him that they may miss their Iteration commitment, James should collaborate with them to review and reprioritize the backlog, and identify the minimum viable increment that can be completed within the Iteration timebox2. James should not support adding an Innovation and Planning Iteration, as this would disrupt the cadence and synchronization of the Agile Release Train3. James should not agree to add a person from the System Team, as this would violate the team autonomy and self-organization principles4. James should not support splitting a Story into a coding story and a testing story, as this would create technical debt and compromise the quality and value of the deliverable5. References: = 1: Product Owner - Scaled Agile Framework6; 2: Iteration Planning - Scaled Agile Framework7; 3: Innovation and Planning Iteration - Scaled Agile Framework8; 4: Agile Teams - Scaled Agile Framework9; 5: Story - Scaled Agile Framework10

The Iteration Review is a regular SAFe Scrum event where the team inspects the iteration increment, assesses progress, and adjusts the team backlog. The purpose of the Iteration Review is to measure the team’s progress by showing working stories to the Product Owner and other stakeholders to get their feedback. The Iteration Review provides a way to gather immediate, contextual feedback from the team’s stakeholders on a regular cadence. The Iteration Review also allows the team to demonstrate their contributions, receive feedback to improve the solution, and adjust the Team Backlog based on new opportunities. References: Iteration Review, Iteration Review, What is Iteration review in SAFe® 6.0?, Iteration Review65

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

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

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 recovery1. One of the aspects of culture is to establish a work environment of shared responsibility, where everyone in the value stream is accountable for the quality and security of the solution, and for the outcomes delivered to the customer2. This means breaking down the silos and barriers between development, operations, security, and other teams, and creating a culture of mutual trust and respect3. Shared responsibility also means that everyone in the value stream has the authority and autonomy to make decisions and take actions that support the delivery of value, while following the guardrails and policies established by the enterprise4. References: CALMR - Scaled Agile Framework, Culture - Scaled Agile Framework, What Is DevOps? - Scaled Agile Framework, Decentralize Decision Making - Scaled Agile Framework

 Transparency is one of the four core values of SAFe that represents the foundational beliefs that are key to SAFe’s effectiveness. Transparency means making all the work visible, along with its priorities, status, dependencies, and outcomes. Transparency also means being honest and open about the challenges, risks, failures, and learnings that occur during the development process. By stating the reason for the release failure and sharing their improvement plan, Team B is demonstrating transparency to the other teams and stakeholders in the System Demo. Transparency helps to build trust, collaboration, alignment, and continuous learning in the ART and the Solution Train. References: = Core Values - Scaled Agile Framework, System Demo - Scaled Agile Framework, Exam Study Guide: SP (6.0) - SAFe® Practitioner

The SAFe Implementation Roadmap is a strategy and an ordered set of activities that have proven to be effective in successfully implementing SAFe. It is based on organizational change management strategies and provides the critical moves for adopting SAFe. The roadmap consists of 14 steps, from reaching the tipping point to sustaining and improving1. References: 1: Implementation Roadmap - Scaled Agile Framework

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 use uncommitted objectives whenever there is low confidence in meeting the objective. They are not included in the team’s commitment or counted against teams in the ART predictability measure. They are extra things teams can do if they have time and capacity, but they will not be penalized if not achieved. References: PI Objectives, What is an uncommitted objective in SAFe?, SAFe 5.0, PI Objectives - Easy Agile

= 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

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 Iteration Review is a cadence-based event, where each team inspects the increment at the end of every Iteration to assess progress, and then adjusts its backlog for the next iteration. During the Iteration review, each Agile Team measures and then demonstrates its progress by showing working stories to the Product Owner and other stakeholders to get their feedback1. The Iteration Review provides two views into the program: how the team is doing on the Program Increment and how the team did on the Iteration. The first view shows how the team is progressing toward its Team Program Increment (PI) Objectives, which are the measurable outcomes that the team intends to achieve in a PI2. The second view shows how the team performed in the current Iteration, based on the Iteration Goals and the completed stories1. The other options are not views that the Iteration Review provides into the program, but rather aspects of the team culture or behavior that may be influenced by other events or practices in SAFe. References: Iteration Review - Scaled Agile Framework, Team PI Objectives - Scaled Agile Framework

 Continuous Deployment is the process of releasing every good build to users through a delivery pipeline that performs various tests, deployments, and validations1. Deploy, verify, monitor, and respond are the four activities of Continuous Deployment that ensure the quality and reliability of the software2. References: 1: Continuous Deployment2: Exam Study Guide: SP (6.0) - SAFe® Practitioner

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

 Story Mapping is a design-thinking technique that helps break down Features while considering the end-to-end user flow. It is a collaborative practice that visually maps the user journey and the activities that the user performs to reach a desired outcome. Story Mapping helps teams understand the user needs, prioritize the backlog, and plan the iterations and PIs. References: Story Mapping, Story, Exam Study Guide: SP (6.0) - SAFe® Practitioner

 Empathy maps are a design thinking tool that promotes customer identification by helping teams develop a deep, shared understanding of others. They enable teams to imagine what a specific persona is thinking, feeling, hearing, and seeing as they use the solution. Empathy maps help teams to design with empathy, which is a key behavior of customer centricity. Empathy maps can be used to explore different aspects of the problem and solution space, and to validate assumptions and hypotheses about the customer’s needs and preferences. References: Design Thinking, Customer Centricity

Refactoring is the process of improving the design and structure of existing code without changing its external behavior. It is a quality practice for software development because it helps to reduce technical debt, improve maintainability, readability, and testability, and enable faster delivery of value. Refactoring is one of the core engineering practices in SAFe, along with Test-First, Continuous Integration, and Pair Work. 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, Built-in Quality

 The Inspect and Adapt event is a significant event held at the end of each Program Increment (PI), where the current state of the Solution is demonstrated and evaluated by the train. Teams then reflect and identify improvement backlog items via a structured, problem-solving workshop. The Inspect and Adapt event consists of three parts: PI System Demo, Quantitative and qualitative measurement, and Retrospective and problem-solving workshop. The last part is where the practices of reflection, problem solving, and identifying improvement actions are demonstrated. The teams use a root cause analysis technique, such as the Five Whys, to identify the most critical impediments that impact their performance and quality. They then brainstorm and prioritize improvement actions that address the root causes and create SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) goals for implementing them in the next PI. The improvement actions are added to the Program Backlog and reviewed in the next PI Planning event. References: = Inspect and Adapt - Scaled Agile Framework, Scaled Agile Framework: Understand SAFe and Its 4 Core Values

Customer Centricity is a mindset that focuses on creating positive experiences for the customer through the full set of products and services that the enterprise offers. Customer-centric organizations deliver whole-product solutions designed with a deep understanding of customer needs. This results in greater profits, increased employee engagement, and more satisfied customers in the private sector. Nonprofits and the public sector (governments) can achieve the resiliency, sustainability, and alignment needed to fulfill their mission1. The purpose of Customer Centricity is to understand the customer’s needs and deliver solutions that meet or exceed them. References: 1: Customer Centricity - Scaled Agile Framework

 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 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

The Inspect and Adapt (I&A) is a significant event held at the end of each Program Increment (PI), where the current state of the Solution is demonstrated and evaluated by the train. Teams then reflect and identify improvement backlog items via a structured, problem-solving workshop. The I&A event consists of three parts: the PI System Demo, where the features developed during the PI are shown and feedback is collected; the quantitative and qualitative measurement, where the teams assess their performance and progress using various metrics and surveys; and the retrospective and problem-solving workshop, where the teams identify and analyze the root causes of their most critical issues and devise action plans to address them12. References: Inspect and Adapt, Exam Study Guide: SP (6.0) - SAFe® Practitioner

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.

Assigning the same business value to all PI Objectives is an anti-pattern because it does not reflect the relative importance and priority of each objective. It also does not provide a clear guidance for trade-off decisions and impediment resolution. Business value should be assigned based on the expected benefits and outcomes of each objective, and it should be negotiated and agreed upon by the Business Owners and the teams. References: SAFe for Teams Student Workbook: materials and exercises from Lesson 4; [v6.scaledagileframework.com/team-pi-objectives/]

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

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

= 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

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

According to the SAFe for Teams SP (6.0) - SAFe Practitioner handbook and study guide, a work in process (WIP) constraint is a limit on the amount of work that can be done at any stage of the value stream. The purpose of a WIP constraint is to reduce the batch size, manage the queue length, and improve the flow of value. By limiting the WIP, teams can focus on completing the most important work items, collaborate more effectively, and deliver value faster and more frequently. A WIP constraint also helps teams identify and resolve bottlenecks, reduce waste, and increase quality. References: Exam Study Guide: SP (6.0) - SAFe® Practitioner, SAFe® for Teams - Know Your Role on an Agile Team, [Visualize and limit WIP, reduce batch sizes, and manage queue lengths]

= 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

 Providing autonomy is one approach to unlock the intrinsic motivation of knowledge workers. Autonomy means giving knowledge workers the freedom and responsibility to make decisions about their work, such as how to do it, when to do it, and who to do it with. Autonomy fosters a sense of ownership, empowerment, and self-determination, which are essential for creativity and innovation. Autonomy also supports the Lean-Agile principle of decentralizing decision-making, which enables faster and better outcomes. SAFe provides several mechanisms to enable autonomy for knowledge workers, such as self-organizing and self-managing Agile teams, ARTs and Solution Trains, Communities of Practice, and Innovation and Planning Iterations. References: = Unlock the Intrinsic Motivation of Knowledge Workers, Decentralize Decision-Making, Exam Study Guide: SP (6.0) - SAFe® Practitioner

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

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

A screenshot of a computer Description automatically generated

The PI System Demo is the first activity of the Inspect and Adapt event, which shows all the Features that the Agile Release Train (ART) has developed during the Program Increment (PI)1. It provides an opportunity for the ART to evaluate the current state of the Solution and collect feedback from the stakeholders2. The other options are not the first activity of the Inspect and Adapt event, but rather subsequent activities that follow the PI System Demo. Quantitative and qualitative measurement is the second activity, which involves reviewing the PI performance and progress metrics3. Retrospective and problem-solving workshop is the third activity, which involves identifying and prioritizing the improvement opportunities for the next PI4. Agreement on the problems to solve is a step within the retrospective and problem-solving workshop, which involves reaching a consensus on the most critical issues to address5.

 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 PI Planning process is a key activity for successfully implementing the Scaled Agile Framework. It 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, identify dependencies, plan the features and stories for the next Program Increment (PI), and commit to a set of PI objectives. The PI Planning process follows a regular cadence, typically every 8 to 12 weeks, to synchronize the work of the ART and ensure alignment with the business strategy and customer needs. The PI Planning process also fosters collaboration, trust, and empowerment among the teams and stakeholders, and enables fast feedback and learning cycles. References: = PI Planning - Scaled Agile Framework, Implementing SAFe - Scaled Agile Framework

 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 team’s commitment at the end of PI Planning is based on the PI Objectives that they have defined and negotiated with the Business Owners and other stakeholders. PI Objectives are SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) goals that reflect the expected business and technical outcomes for the upcoming PI. A team does not commit to uncommitted objectives, which are stretch goals that may or may not be achieved depending on the actual capacity and velocity of the team. Uncommitted objectives are not included in the vote of confidence or the business value assessment. References: PI Objectives - 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

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/]

A component team is an Agile Team whose primary area of concern is focused on a specific component, or set of components, of the system. They leverage their technical skills and interest and focus on building robust components that provide for reliability, separation of concerns, foster re-use, and improve testability. Component teams are typically used when the system has complex, nonfunctional requirements that require deep technical expertise and specialization, such as performance, security, scalability, etc. Component teams can also enable high reuse of components across multiple solutions, reducing duplication and waste. However, component teams also introduce challenges, such as increased dependencies, coordination, and integration efforts with other teams, as well as reduced end-to-end value delivery and customer feedback. Therefore, component teams should be used sparingly and only when the benefits outweigh the costs. References: Organizing Agile Teams and ARTs: Team Topologies at Scale, Agile Teams, Feature Teams vs Component Teams, System Team, Feature Team vs Component Team in Agile

One way to quickly address impediments to flow is to identify them on the Planning Board, which is a visual tool that shows the status of work items and dependencies in an iteration. By making impediments visible, the team can collaborate to resolve them and prevent them from blocking the delivery of value. The Planning Board also helps the team monitor their progress and adjust their plan as needed. References: Exam Study Guide: SP (6.0) - SAFe® Practitioner, Planning the Iteration, [Visualize and Limit WIP, Reduce Batch Sizes, and Manage Queue Lengths]

Establishing flow is a basic Agile quality practice that reduces bottlenecks and ensures consistency by removing errors, rework, and other waste that slows throughput. It also supports faster learning and feedback by shifting left on the timeline. Flow is one of the four core values of SAFe and a key principle of the Lean-Agile Mindset. References: Built-In Quality, SAFe Core Values, Lean-Agile Mindset

Roadmaps are a visual tool that assists in the development and communication of planned deliverables, milestones, and investments over time and help distinguish different types of work1. Roadmaps are the glue that links strategy to execution and offer the ability to develop, evolve and adjust planned activities1. Roadmaps communicate intent, not commitment, as they are subject to change based on feedback, learning, and market conditions1. Roadmaps are not fixed at PI boundaries, but rather are updated frequently to reflect the current state of the solution and the environment1. Roadmaps provide multiple planning horizons, such as near-term, mid-term, and long-term, to show how the solution will evolve over time1. References: 1: Roadmap

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

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

 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

Shift learning left is one of the five basic Agile quality practices applicable to all Agile Teams. It means moving testing and validation activities as early as possible in the development process, to identify and fix defects before they become costly and risky. This practice improves quality, reduces waste, and accelerates delivery. References: Exam Study Guide: SP (6.0) - SAFe® Practitioner, Built-in Quality, Lesson 4: Deliver Value

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 recommended user voice format for writing a Story is to use the following template: As a , I want , so that . This format helps to capture the user’s perspective, the user’s need, and the user’s outcome in a clear and concise way. The user voice format also helps to create a testable and valuable Story that can be prioritized and estimated by the Agile team. Therefore, the best example of the user voice format for the Story enabling book shoppers to access their shopping cart from any page on the website is: As a book shopper, I want access to my shopping cart from any page, so that I can review what I am purchasing. This example specifies the user role (book shopper), the goal or desire (access to shopping cart from any page), and the benefit or value (review what I am purchasing). References: Exam Study Guide: SP (6.0) - SAFe® Practitioner, Story

 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/

Reducing batch size is one of the key ways to improve flow in product development. Smaller batches move faster and more smoothly through the system, reducing cycle time, variability, and waste. Smaller batches also enable faster feedback and learning, which leads to higher quality and customer satisfaction. By reducing batch size, the system can deliver more value in a given time, which means increased throughput12. References: Make Value Flow without Interruptions - Scaled Agile Framework, Principle #6 – Visualize and limit WIP, reduce batch sizes, and manage queue lengths - 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

The Team and Technical Agility Core 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. It consists of three dimensions: Agile Teams, Team of Agile Teams, and Built in Quality1. Built in Quality is the dimension that ensures that every aspect of the solution, from code to compliance, is designed and implemented with high standards and practices that guarantee 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 Practice2. References: Team and Technical Agility - Scaled Agile Framework, Built-In Quality - Scaled Agile Framework.

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

 According to the SAFe Implementation Roadmap, culture change is the last step in the transformation process. It states that “culture change comes last, not first. You can’t change a culture until you have changed the underlying behavior and the results that the behavior produces” 1. Therefore, the best way to change the culture is to adopt new approaches that deliver better outcomes and then anchor them in the culture by reinforcing the benefits and values they bring. This is consistent with Kotter’s model of leading change, which also suggests that anchoring new approaches in the culture is the final stage of a successful change effort 23. References: Enhance the Portfolio, Leading Change (Step 8) – Anchor Change in the Culture, Anchor Change in Your Organization’s Culture

 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?

Learn more

1

scaledagileframework.com2

scaledagileframework.com3

scaledagile.com4

help.easyagile.com5findanyanswer.com

 Pair work is a practice where two knowledge workers collaborate over the same asset in real time, providing feedback and quality assurance to each other. It comes from pair programming, a technique defined by the Extreme Programming (XP) agile development framework, where two developers work together on the same code. Pair work can be applied to other domains and disciplines, such as testing, design, business analysis, and more. Pair work can improve the quality, speed, and creativity of the work, as well as enhance the learning and collaboration of the team members. References: Pair Work (Pair Programming) - businessagility.institute, Built-In Quality - Scaled Agile Framework

 ROAM is an acronym that stands for Resolve, Own, Accept, and Mitigate, and it is a framework for making risks visible and actionable in SAFe. During the final plan review, teams present their PI plans and risks to the other teams and stakeholders, and then use the ROAM board to categorize and prioritize the risks. Resolved risks are no longer a threat, owned risks are assigned to a team member for further action, accepted risks are acknowledged but not addressed, and mitigated risks are reduced by a plan. ROAM helps teams collaborate and align on how to handle risks effectively and transparently. References: SAFe Roam Board for Risk Management | Miro, Managing Risks with ROAM in Agile - Planview Blog

 In SAFe, a clear distinction is made between the purpose, structure and content of features, and that of stories (including enablers). Features are visible units of business intent that the customer recognizes, and it’s at this level of detail that the customer is able to prioritize their needs1. Features are maintained in the ART Backlog and sized to fit in a PI so that each delivers new value2. Stories are short descriptions of a small piece of desired functionality written from the user’s perspective. Stories are the primary artifact used to define system behavior in Agile3. Stories are small and must be completed in a single iteration3. Therefore, features can be larger than an iteration but stories should be small enough to fit into an iteration. References: Story - Scaled Agile Framework, Features and Capabilities - Scaled Agile Framework, Right-Sizing Features for SAFe Program Increments - Scaled Agile Framework

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

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

 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

 According to the SAFe principle, “unlock the intrinsic motivation of knowledge workers”, knowledge workers need autonomy, mastery, and purpose to be motivated and creative. Autonomy means giving them the freedom to choose how to do their work, without micromanagement or excessive control. Mastery means providing them with opportunities to learn new skills and improve their craft. Purpose means aligning their work with a meaningful and inspiring vision. These three factors foster intrinsic motivation, which is the drive to perform an activity without any obvious external rewards. References: Principle #8 - Unlock the Intrinsic Motivation of Knowledge Workers - Scaled Agile Framework, Principle #8 - Unlock the Intrinsic Motivation of Knowledge Workers - Scaled Agile Framework

According to the SAFe for Teams SP (6.0) - SAFe Practitioner handbook and study guide, a decrease in variability leads to an increase in predictability. Variability is the degree of uncertainty or variation in the outcomes of a process or a system. High variability means that the outcomes are more likely to deviate from the expected or desired results, which makes them harder to plan and control. Low variability means that the outcomes are more consistent and closer to the expected or desired results, which makes them easier to plan and control. Predictability is the ability to forecast or anticipate the outcomes of a process or a system with a high degree of confidence and accuracy. High predictability means that the outcomes are more likely to match the forecasts or expectations, which reduces the risk of failure and increases the value delivery. Low predictability means that the outcomes are more likely to differ from the forecasts or expectations, which increases the risk of failure and decreases the value delivery. Therefore, a decrease in variability leads to an increase in predictability, as the outcomes become more stable and reliable. References: Exam Study Guide: SP (6.0) - SAFe® Practitioner, SAFe® for Teams - Know Your Role on an Agile Team, Assume variability; preserve options - Scaled Agile Framework

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

 A Feature is a service that fulfills a stakeholder need and delivers business value. One key component of a Feature is the benefit hypothesis, which is a statement that describes the expected outcome and value of the Feature for the end user or the business1. The benefit hypothesis helps to define the scope, priority, and acceptance criteria of the Feature, and to measure its impact and effectiveness after implementation2. The benefit hypothesis also supports the Lean UX process model, which includes a definition of the Minimum Marketable Feature (MMF), a benefit hypothesis, and acceptance criteria3. The other options are not key components of a Feature, although they may be related to it. A business plan is a document that outlines the goals, strategies, and financial projections of a business or a product, and it may include some features, but it is not a component of a Feature. Key stakeholders are the people or groups who have an interest or influence in the product or the Feature, and they may provide input or feedback, but they are not a component of a Feature. A release plan is a schedule that shows when the product or the Feature will be delivered to the customers or users, and it may depend on the Feature, but it is not a component of a Feature. References: Features and Capabilities - Scaled Agile Framework, What Are The Minimum Requirements For A Feature? SAFe, Agile - airfocus, Lean UX - Scaled Agile Framework

Pursuing perfection is one of the five principles of Lean Thinking1. It means that the organization is continuously looking for ways to improve its products and processes, by identifying and eliminating waste, increasing quality, and delivering value faster. Pursuing perfection involves the activities from recognizing an opportunity through release and validation, as well as learning from feedback and applying the lessons learned to future work2. References: 1: Lean Thinking: Overview, Principles, Benefits, & Applications Explained2: [Pursue Perfection – Lean Practice | Planview LeanKit]

The goal of the SAFe House of Lean model is to deliver value to the customer and society in the shortest sustainable lead time, with the best quality and value1. The SAFe House of Lean model is based on the Toyota Production System, which aims to eliminate waste and optimize the whole system2. The SAFe House of Lean model consists of a foundation, four pillars, and a roof, which represent the core values, principles, and practices of Lean-Agile development3. The roof is the goal, which is value, and it is supported by the four pillars: respect for people and culture, flow, innovation, and relentless improvement. The foundation is Lean-Agile leadership, which enables and guides the transformation and fosters a culture of learning and growth. References: Core Values - Scaled Agile Framework, SAFe Lean-Agile Principles - Scaled Agile Framework, The SAFe House of Lean model: short and sweet - Echometer, [Lean-Agile Mindset - Scaled Agile Framework]

Acceptance criteria are the conditions that a story must satisfy to be accepted by the Product Owner and the stakeholders. They define the boundaries of the story and provide guidance on how to test it for completion. Acceptance criteria are usually written as a list of statements or scenarios that describe the expected behavior and outcomes of the story. They help to ensure that the story delivers value to the user and meets the Definition of Done1234. References: Story - Scaled Agile Framework, How to Write Agile Test Case Requirements | SmartBear, Agile Story Completion Checklist - SDLCforms, Module 2: Complete a story - IBM

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

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

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

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

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

In SAFe 6.0, during PI Planning, program risks are identified, categorized, and addressed in a process called the ROAM technique. ROAM stands for Resolved, Owned, Accepted, and Mitigated.

Resolved means the risk has been addressed and is no longer a concern.

Owned means someone takes responsibility for managing the risk.

Accepted means the risk is acknowledged and will be monitored.

Mitigated means steps are taken to reduce the impact or likelihood of the risk.

Thus, the correct category that addresses potential risks is Resolved (option A).

Lean Thinking is a philosophy that aims to create value for customers by eliminating waste and unnecessary steps in company processes. One of the main sources of waste is delay, which can be caused by long lead times, large batch sizes, excessive inventory, poor quality, and lack of coordination. Reducing delays can improve customer satisfaction, increase efficiency, and lower costs. Lean Thinking is based on two pillars: respect for people and continuous improvement. Respect for people means empowering and engaging employees, customers, and stakeholders to participate in problem-solving and innovation. Continuous improvement means constantly seeking ways to improve the process and the product by applying the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle and the scientific method. References: Lean-Agile Mindset - Scaled Agile Framework, Lean Thinking: Overview, Principles, Benefits, & Applications Explained, The Focus of Lean - Collin College, What is Lean? - Project Management Institute

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.

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