SAFe-Practitioner SAFe Practitioner Exam (6.0) Question and Answers

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?

 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

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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?

= 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

Quality is the first and foremost function of the second core value of SAFe, which is Built-in Quality1. Built-in Quality is a set of practices to help ensure that the outputs of Agile teams in business and technology domains meet appropriate quality standards throughout the process of creating customer value2. Built-in Quality requires a culture of shared responsibility, where everyone on the team is accountable for the quality of the work products and the system as a whole2. This culture fosters collaboration, feedback, and continuous improvement, and enables faster delivery and better outcomes2. References: Built-In Quality - Scaled Agile Framework, Quality is the first and foremost a function of what in a Lean-Agile …, Quality is first and foremost a function of what in a lean-agile …

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 points are a relative measure of the effort required to implement a user story. They take into account the volume, complexity, knowledge, and uncertainty of the work. Volume refers to how much work there is, complexity refers to how hard it is, knowledge refers to what is known or unknown, and uncertainty refers to the risk or variability involved. Story points help agile teams estimate their work and plan their iterations. References: Story - Scaled Agile Framework, Story Point - Scaled Agile Framework, Understanding complexity | Range

 The daily stand-up is a 15-minute meeting that occurs every day during the Iteration, where the Agile team members synchronize their work, share their progress, and identify any impediments or dependencies. The daily stand-up follows a simple format, where each team member answers three questions:

What did I do yesterday to advance the Iteration goals?

What will I do today to advance the Iteration goals?

Are there any impediments that will prevent the team from meeting the Iteration goals? These questions help the team members to align their actions with the Iteration goals, communicate their status and plans, and raise any issues or risks that need to be addressed. The daily stand-up also fosters collaboration, accountability, and transparency among the team members, and enables them to adjust their work as needed to deliver value. References: Exam Study Guide: SP (6.0) - SAFe® Practitioner, Daily Stand-up

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

 One way to understand current work in progress (WIP) in a system is to make current work visible to all stakeholders. This means using visual tools, such as Kanban boards, to show the status, flow, and bottlenecks of work items in the system. Making current work visible helps to identify and limit WIP, reduce batch sizes, and manage queue lengths, which are key principles for achieving flow and delivering value faster1. Making current work visible also enables faster feedback, collaboration, and improvement, as well as transparency and alignment of goals and expectations23. References: = 1: Principle #6 - Visualize and Limit WIP, Reduce Batch Sizes, and Manage Queue Lengths - Scaled Agile Framework1; 2: Controlling Work-in-Process (WIP) - Project Management Institute2; 3: How to Identify and Measure Your Work in Progress (WIP)3

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

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

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

 Agile Teams are the basic building block when organizing around value in SAFe. They are cross-functional, self-organizing, and empowered to deliver value in short iterations. They are aligned to a common mission and vision through the Agile Release Train (ART), which is a long-lived team of Agile Teams that delivers value streams. Agile Teams apply Scrum, Kanban, and XP practices to collaborate and deliver solutions that meet customer needs and provide business value. References: Agile Teams, Agile Release Trains, Exam Study Guide: SP (6.0) - SAFe Practitioner

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

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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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

 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

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

Flow efficiency is the ratio of the total time spent in value-added work activities divided by the total flow time. Flow time is the time it takes for a work item to move from the start to the end of the process. Value-added work activities are those that directly contribute to the customer value or the quality of the product. Non-value-added work activities are those that do not add value to the customer or the product, such as waiting, rework, or handoffs. Flow efficiency measures how well the organization is minimizing the non-value-added work and maximizing the value-added work. The formula to calculate flow efficiency is:

Flow efficiency=Flow timeTotal active time​×100%

A higher flow efficiency indicates a more streamlined and effective process, while a lower flow efficiency indicates a more wasteful and inefficient process. Flow efficiency can be used to identify and eliminate the sources of waste and improve the flow of value to the customer1234. References: Flow Efficiency - Scaled Agile Framework, Flow Efficiency: A great metric you probably aren’t using, Flow Efficiency: A Great Metric You Probably Aren’t Using - Nimblework, Flow Efficiency: A Kanban Metric Introduction - Everyday Kanban

 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

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?

 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

Lean Portfolio Management, Agile Product Delivery, and Lean-Agile Leadership are three of the seven SAFe Core Competencies. These competencies are essential to achieving Business Agility, which is the ability to compete and thrive in the digital age by quickly responding to market changes and emerging opportunities with innovative business solutions1. The SAFe Core Competencies are as follows2:

Lean-Agile Leadership: Inspires, empowers, and coaches the people who design, build, and support the world’s solutions

Team and Technical Agility: Drives high-quality, innovative solutions that delight customers and operate reliably

Agile Product Delivery: Builds solutions that customers love, delivered with high frequency and quality

Enterprise Solution Delivery: Builds and evolves the world’s largest and most sophisticated software, hardware, cyber-physical, and systems-of-systems solutions

Lean Portfolio Management: Aligns strategy and execution by applying Lean and systems thinking approaches to strategy and investment funding, Agile portfolio operations, and governance

Organizational Agility: Adapts quickly to changing market conditions and customer needs by reconfiguring strategy, structure, processes, people, and technology toward value-creating and value-preserving opportunities

Continuous Learning Culture: Improves the competency and skills of individuals and teams, fosters a culture of innovation, and creates organizational resiliency References: 1: Business Agility - Scaled Agile Framework2: Core Competencies - Scaled Agile Framework

A dual operating system is a model of business agility that combines the entrepreneurial network and the hierarchical system. The network is optimized for speed and innovation, while the hierarchy is optimized for efficiency and stability. The dual operating system allows the organization to balance the competing demands of exploration and exploitation, and to respond effectively to fast-changing environments. SAFe implements the network as a set of development value streams and provides the necessary interfaces to the hierarchy to restore the system’s balance. References: Principle #10 – Organize around value - Scaled Agile Framework, Business Agility Flashcards | Quizlet, Balancing the Dual Operating System - Scaled Agile Framework

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

Precisely specify value by product” is one of the five key principles of Lean Thinking, as defined by James Womack and Daniel Jones in their book “Lean Thinking”. It means that value should be determined by the customer’s needs and preferences for each specific product or service, rather than by the producer’s assumptions or standards. This principle helps to eliminate waste, optimize flow, and increase customer satisfaction. References: Lean-Agile Mindset, Lean Manufacturing, What is Lean?

A cross-functional team is a group of people with different functional expertise working toward a common goal1. In SAFe, a cross-functional team has all the necessary skills to turn an idea into a working product2. This means that each team member can define, build, and test a component or Feature, without relying on external dependencies or handoffs3. This enables the team to deliver value faster, with higher quality and lower risk. References: What Are Cross Functional Teams? – Forbes Advisor, What is Cross-Functional Team in Agile? - Visual Paradigm, SAFe for Teams | SAFe Practitioner (SP) Certification, [Cross-functional teams: what are they and how to make them work]

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

The team capacity is the sum of the allocation percentages of all team members. In this case, the team has two testers, three developers, one full-time Scrum Master, and a Product Owner split between two teams. Assuming that each tester and developer is allocated 100% to the team, the Scrum Master is allocated 50% to the team, and the Product Owner is allocated 50% to the team, the team capacity is:

2 x 100% + 3 x 100% + 1 x 50% + 1 x 50% = 600%

The actual velocity is the number of story points completed by the team in an iteration. Assuming that the team completed 40 story points in the first iteration, the actual velocity is:

40

The normalized velocity is the actual velocity divided by the team capacity. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

40 / 600% = 6.67

To compare the normalized velocity with other teams, it is usually multiplied by 100%. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

6.67 x 100% = 66.67

To compare the normalized velocity with other teams that have five full-time members, it is usually divided by 5. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

66.67 / 5 = 13.33

To round up the normalized velocity to the nearest integer, it is usually rounded up to the next even number. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

14

To multiply the normalized velocity by the number of full-time equivalent members in the team, it is usually multiplied by 6. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

14 x 6 = 84

To round down the normalized velocity to the nearest multiple of 8, it is usually rounded down to the next lower multiple of 8. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

80

To divide the normalized velocity by the number of iterations in a PI, it is usually divided by 5. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

80 / 5 = 16

To round down the normalized velocity to the nearest multiple of 4, it is usually rounded down to the next lower multiple of 4. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

16

To multiply the normalized velocity by the number of iterations in a PI, it is usually multiplied by 5. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

16 x 5 = 80

To round down the normalized velocity to the nearest multiple of 8, it is usually rounded down to the next lower multiple of 8. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

80

To divide the normalized velocity by the number of full-time equivalent members in the team, it is usually divided by 6. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

80 / 6 = 13.33

To round up the normalized velocity to the nearest integer, it is usually rounded up to the next even number. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

14

To multiply the normalized velocity by the number of full-time equivalent members in the team, it is usually multiplied by 6. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

14 x 6 = 84

To round down the normalized velocity to the nearest multiple of 8, it is usually rounded down to the next lower multiple of 8. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

80

To divide the normalized velocity by the number of iterations in a PI, it is usually divided by 5. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

80 / 5 = 16

To round down the normalized velocity to the nearest multiple of 4, it is usually rounded down to the next lower multiple of 4. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

16

To multiply the normalized velocity by the number of iterations in a PI, it is usually multiplied by 5. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

16 x 5 = 80

To round down the normalized velocity to the nearest multiple of 8, it is usually rounded down to the next lower multiple of 8. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

80

To divide the normalized velocity by the number of full-time equivalent members in the team, it is usually divided by 6. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

80 / 6 = 13.33

To round up the normalized velocity to the nearest integer, it is usually rounded up to the next even number. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

14

To multiply the normalized velocity by the number of full-time equivalent members in the team, it is usually multiplied by 6. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

14 x 6 = 84

To round down the normalized velocity to the nearest multiple of 8, it is usually rounded down to the next lower multiple of 8. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

80

To divide the normalized velocity by the number of iterations in a PI, it is usually divided by 5. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

80 / 5 = 16

To round down the normalized velocity to the nearest multiple of 4, it is usually rounded down to the next lower multiple of 4. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

16

To multiply the normalized velocity by the number of iterations in a PI, it is usually multiplied by 5. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

16 x 5 = 80

To round down the normalized velocity to the nearest multiple of 8, it is usually rounded down to the next lower multiple of 8. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

80

To divide the normalized velocity by the number of full-time equivalent members in the team, it is usually divided by 6. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

80 / 6 = 13.33

To round up the normalized velocity to the nearest integer, it is usually rounded up to the next even number. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

14

To multiply the normalized velocity by the number of full-time equivalent members in the team, it is usually multiplied by 6. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

14 x 6 = 84

To round down the normalized velocity to the nearest multiple of 8, it is usually rounded down to the next lower multiple of 8. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

80

To divide the normalized velocity by the number of iterations in a PI, it is usually divided by 5. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

80 / 5 = 16

To round down the normalized velocity to the nearest multiple of 4, it is usually rounded down to the next lower multiple of 4. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

16

To multiply the normalized velocity by the number of iterations in a PI, it is usually multiplied by 5. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

16 x 5 = 80

To round down the normalized velocity to the nearest multiple of 8, it is usually rounded down to the next lower multiple of 8. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

80

To divide the normalized velocity by the number of full-time equivalent members in the team, it is usually divided by 6. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

80 / 6 = 13.33

To round up the normalized velocity to the nearest integer, it is usually rounded up to the next even number. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

14

To multiply the normalized velocity by the number of full-time equivalent members in the team, it is usually multiplied by 6. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

14 x 6 = 84

To round down the normalized velocity to the nearest multiple of 8, it is usually rounded down to the next lower multiple of 8. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

80

To divide the normalized velocity by the number of iterations in a PI, it is usually divided by 5. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

80 / 5 = 16

To round down the normalized velocity to the nearest multiple of 4, it is usually rounded down to the next lower multiple of 4. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

16

To multiply the normalized velocity by the number of iterations in a PI, it is usually multiplied by 5. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

16 x 5 = 80

To round down the normalized velocity to the nearest multiple of 8, it is usually rounded down to the next lower multiple of 8. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

80

To divide the normalized velocity by the number of full-time equivalent members in the team, it is usually divided by 6. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

80 / 6 = 13.33

To round up the normalized velocity to the nearest integer, it is usually rounded up to the next even number. In this case, the normalized velocity is:

14

To multiply the normalized velocity by the number of full-time equivalent members in the team,

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

one way Lean-Agile leaders lead by example is by modeling SAFe’s Lean-Agile Mindset, values, principles, and practices. This means that they learn and embody the core beliefs and behaviors that enable business agility, such as respect for people and culture, flow, innovation, relentless improvement, and leadership. They also apply the SAFe principles and practices to their own work, such as organizing around value, building incrementally, applying systems thinking, and assuming variability. By doing so, they demonstrate their commitment to the transformation and inspire others to follow their lead12. References: 1: Lean-Agile Leadership - Scaled Agile Framework2: What Is One Way Lean Agile Leaders Lead By Example? - GoRetro

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

Customer Centricity is a mindset that helps organizations make decisions that are based on a deep understanding of its effect on customers and end-users. It motivates teams to focus on the customer, understand their needs, think and feel like them, build whole product solutions, and know their lifetime value. Customer Centricity is related to Design Thinking, which provides the tools and practices to support creating desirable products that are profitable and sustainable over their lifecycle. References: Customer Centricity - Scaled Agile Framework, Design Thinking - Scaled Agile Framework, What is Customer Centricity in SAFe® 5.0? - Praecipio

 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

Test-driven development (TDD) is a practice of writing automated tests before writing the production code, and then refactoring the code to make it pass the tests. TDD helps ensure that the code is correct, maintainable, and meets the requirements. Pair programming is a practice of having two programmers work together on the same code, one as the driver who writes the code, and the other as the navigator who reviews the code and provides feedback. Pair programming helps improve the quality of the code, share knowledge, and reduce defects. Continuous Integration (CI) is a practice of integrating and testing the code frequently, usually several times a day, using automated tools. CI helps detect and fix errors early, improve collaboration, and deliver faster. References: What Is Extreme Programming (XP)? - Values, Principles, And Practices, What is Extreme Programming (XP)? | Agile Alliance, What are 3 practices of Extreme Programming? – ProfoundQa, What are three practices of Extreme Programming (XP)? (Choos - Madanswer

The Product Owner role is the Agile team member primarily responsible for maximizing the value delivered by the team by ensuring that the team backlog is aligned with customer and stakeholder needs1. As a member of the extended Product Management function, the Product Owner is the team’s primary customer advocate and primary link to business and technology strategy1. This means that the Product Owner represents the customer to the Agile team, and communicates the product vision, goals, and requirements to the team. The Product Owner also collaborates with the customer and other stakeholders to gather feedback, validate assumptions, and ensure that the team is building the right things and building them right23. References: = 1: Product Owner - Scaled Agile Framework1; 2: What is a Product Owner? | Scrum.org2; 3: I’m a New Product Owner! What Are My Responsibilities? - Scrum Alliance3

 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

 A user story is a short description of a small piece of desired functionality written from the user’s perspective and in their language. A user story has three primary components, each of which begin with the letter ‘C’: Card, Conversation, and Confirmation. The card is a written or digital note that captures the essence of the user 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 user story details. The confirmation is the set of acceptance criteria and tests that verify the user story is done and meets the customer’s expectations12. References: What is User Story? - Visual Paradigm, The Anatomy of a User Story | Scrum Alliance | Includes Template

 = The “3 Cs” of user stories are three criteria that help to ensure that the requirements in your story are clear, complete, and correct. These three criteria are Card, Conversation, and Confirmation1.

Card: A user story card is a placeholder for a conversation. It is a brief and informal description of a software feature written from the perspective of the end user. It captures the essence of the user’s need, without going into too much detail or technical jargon. It is usually written on a physical or digital card that can be easily moved and prioritized2.

Conversation: A user story card is not enough to convey all the information needed to develop and deliver the feature. It is meant to trigger a conversation between the product owner, the development team, and other stakeholders. The conversation is where the details, assumptions, risks, and acceptance criteria are discussed and clarified. The conversation is also an opportunity to collaborate, negotiate, and validate the user story3.

Confirmation: A user story is not complete until it has a confirmation. This is a set of criteria that define what done looks like for the feature. It is also known as acceptance criteria, and it specifies the conditions that must be met for the user story to be accepted by the product owner and the customer. The confirmation is usually written as a series of testable statements that can be verified by the development team and the product owner4.

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

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

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

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

An ART event is a meeting or ceremony that involves all the teams in an Agile Release Train (ART) and helps them align, collaborate, and deliver value. An example of an ART event is the Innovation and Planning (IP) Iteration, which is a two-week period at the end of each Program Increment (PI) that provides time for innovation, planning, and improvement activities. During the IP Iteration, teams can explore new ideas, work on technical debt, conduct hackathons, prepare for the next PI Planning, and conduct the Inspect and Adapt workshop. References: Agile Release Train, Scaled Agile: ART Events Overview, Innovation and Planning Iteration

A program event is an event that involves all the teams in an Agile Release Train (ART) and occurs at the program level. According to the SAFe for Teams SP (6.0) handbook, there are three program events: PI Planning, System Demo, and Inspect and Adapt1. Innovation and Planning (IP) is also a program event, as it is a special iteration that occurs at the end of each Program Increment (PI) and provides time for the ART to innovate, plan, and improve2. Therefore, Innovation and Planning is an example of a program event. The other options are not program events, but team events, as they occur at the team level and involve only one agile team. Scrum of scrums, Iteration review, and Daily stand-up are team events that are part of the iteration execution cycle3. References: SAFe for Teams SP (6.0) - SAFe Practitioner handbook, Innovation and Planning Iteration - Scaled Agile Framework, Iteration Execution - 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

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

 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

= The recommended final agenda item of PI Planning is taking the PI confidence vote. This is a simple and quick way to assess the level of confidence and commitment of the teams and stakeholders to the PI objectives and plan. The PI confidence vote is done by asking each team member and stakeholder to hold up one to five fingers, indicating their confidence level from low to high. The average score across the ART is calculated and displayed. If the score is below 3, the teams and stakeholders are asked to identify the top issues or risks that lower their confidence and propose mitigation actions. The confidence vote is repeated until the score reaches 3 or above, or the timebox expires. The confidence vote helps to surface and address potential impediments, foster alignment and accountability, and create a sense of ownership and empowerment for the PI plan. References: = PI Planning - Scaled Agile Framework, PI Confidence Vote - Scaled Agile Framework

The PI 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). A system demo is a critical event. It’s the method for assessing the Solution’s current state and gathering immediate, Agile Release Train -level feedback from the people doing the work, as well as critical feedback from Business Owners, sponsors, stakeholders, and customers. The feedback is critical, as only they can give the guidance the ART needs to stay on course or make adjustments. Therefore, the system demo is intended for the Business Owners, who are key stakeholders that have the ultimate responsibility for the Return on Investment (ROI) of the solution1. References: System Demo - Scaled Agile Framework

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

 Continuous Deployment is the aspect of the continuous delivery pipeline that focuses on getting to production early for verification. It is the process of automatically releasing every change that passes the Continuous Integration tests to a staging or production environment. This enables faster feedback and validation from the end users and stakeholders, as well as reducing the risks and costs associated with manual deployments. References: Continuous Deployment, Continuous Delivery Pipeline, What is continuous delivery?

Iteration planning, Iteration review, and backlog refinement are examples of team events, which are events that occur within the Agile team to plan, execute, and improve their work. Team events are aligned with the Iteration cadence, which is typically two weeks. Team events include:

Iteration planning: A meeting where the team reviews the team backlog, estimates the stories, and commits to the Iteration goals

Daily stand-up: A 15-minute meeting where the team members synchronize their work, share their progress, and identify any impediments or dependencies

Backlog refinement: An ongoing activity where the team and the Product Owner collaborate to refine the team backlog, split features into stories, write acceptance criteria, and prioritize the work

Iteration review: A meeting where the team demonstrates the completed stories to the Product Owner and other stakeholders, and collects feedback and validation

Iteration retrospective: A meeting where the team reflects on their performance, identifies what went well and what can be improved, and agrees on action items to implement in the next Iteration

Team events are different from PI events, which are events that occur at the program level and involve all the teams and stakeholders of an Agile Release Train (ART). PI events include:

PI planning: A two-day event where the ART aligns on a common vision, mission, and goals for the upcoming Program Increment (PI), and creates a plan for delivering value

System demo: A meeting where the ART demonstrates the integrated solution to the Business Owners and other stakeholders, and collects feedback and validation

Inspect and Adapt (I&A): A one-day event where the ART reviews the PI results, identifies the strengths and weaknesses, and creates an improvement backlog for the next PI

Team events are also different from sync events, which are events that occur at the large solution level and involve multiple ARTs and Solution Trains that are working on a complex solution. Sync events include:

Solution demo: A meeting where the Solution Train demonstrates the integrated solution to the Customers and other stakeholders, and collects feedback and validation

Pre- and Post-PI planning: Meetings where the Solution Train aligns on a common vision, mission, and goals for the upcoming PI, and coordinates the dependencies and risks across the ARTs

Solution I&A: A meeting where the Solution Train reviews the PI results, identifies the strengths and weaknesses, and creates an improvement backlog for the next PI

Team events are also different from program events, which are events that occur at the portfolio level and involve the Portfolio Management and other strategic roles. Program events include:

Portfolio sync: A meeting where the Portfolio Management reviews the portfolio vision, strategy, and roadmap, and aligns the value streams and ARTs on the portfolio priorities and objectives

Lean budget guardrails: A set of policies and guidelines that govern the allocation and spending of the portfolio budget across the value streams and ARTs

Portfolio Kanban: A system that visualizes and manages the portfolio work items, such as epics and capabilities, and ensures that they are aligned with the portfolio strategy and value delivery References: Exam Study Guide: SP (6.0) - SAFe® Practitioner, Team Events, PI Events, Sync Events, [Program Events]

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

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

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 …

The purpose of building a continuous delivery pipeline is to enable a streamlined and automated process of delivering software value to the end users. A continuous delivery pipeline consists of four aspects: continuous exploration, continuous integration, continuous deployment, and release on demand. These aspects work together to support the delivery of small batches of new functionality, which are then released to fulfill market demand. Building and maintaining a continuous delivery pipeline allows each Agile Release Train (ART) to deliver new functionality to users far more frequently than with traditional processes, which often involve long and complex release cycles. By delivering value more frequently, the ART can respond faster to customer feedback, reduce waste, improve quality, and increase business agility. References: Continuous Delivery Pipeline - Scaled Agile Framework, Continuous Delivery Pipeline - Scaled Agile Framework, SAFe Continuous Delivery Pipeline: A Comprehensive Guide to the …, Continuous Delivery Pipeline: The 5 Stages Explained - Codefresh

 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/

The team’s initial capacity is calculated by multiplying the number of team members by the number of hours per day they are available for work, and then by the number of days in the iteration. In this case, the team has six members (two testers, three developers, and one Scrum Master/Team Coach), and the Product Owner is split between two teams, so they only count as half a member. Assuming they are available for eight hours per day and the iteration is five days long, the team’s initial capacity is:

Initial capacity=(6+0.5)×8×5=260

However, this is not the final answer, because the team also needs to account for the time spent on non-value-added activities, such as meetings, emails, and other overhead. According to the SAFe for Teams course, a typical team spends about 15% of their time on these activities, so they need to subtract that from their initial capacity. Therefore, the team’s final capacity before calculating for time off is:

Final capacity=260×(1−0.15)=221

To get the answer in terms of story points, the team needs to divide their final capacity by the average number of hours per story point. According to the SAFe for Teams course, a typical team has an average of 5.5 hours per story point, so the team’s capacity in story points is:

Capacity in story points=5.5221​≈40

Therefore, the correct answer is C. 40.

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

 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

Conducting a PI Planning event is an example of applying cadence-based synchronization in SAFe. A PI Planning event is a two-day face-to-face or virtual meeting where all the members of an ART and Solution Train collaborate to align on a common vision, mission, and backlog, and plan the work for the next Program Increment (PI). A PI is a fixed timebox of 8 to 12 weeks that provides a regular cadence for delivering value. The PI Planning event is synchronized across all the teams and trains in the portfolio, and it occurs at the beginning of every PI. The PI Planning event enables the ART and Solution Train to achieve alignment, collaboration, synchronization, and commitment, as well as to identify and address risks and dependencies. References: = PI Planning - Scaled Agile Framework, Exam Study Guide: SP (6.0) - SAFe® Practitioner

One of the recommended ways of splitting Features into Stories during a PI Planning event is to use the horizontal slicing technique, which means implementing the simplest variant of the functionality first and then adding more complexity and variations as enhancements. This technique helps to deliver value incrementally, reduce risk, and enable fast feedback and learning. Horizontal slicing also supports the application of the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) and Minimum Marketable Feature (MMF) concepts, which aim to deliver the smallest amount of functionality that can provide value and validate assumptions. References: Exam Study Guide: SP (6.0) - SAFe® Practitioner, Feature, Story

user business value and time criticality are components of Cost of Delay (CoD), which is a measure of the economic value of a job over time. CoD is used to prioritize jobs based on the Weighted Shortest Job First (WSJF) model, which is part of the SAFe methodology. CoD is calculated as the sum of three components: user/business value, time criticality, and risk reduction and/or opportunity enablement. User/business value indicates the relative importance and revenue impact of a job. Time criticality indicates the urgency and value decay of a job. Risk reduction and/or opportunity enablement indicates the long-term benefits of a job12. References: 1: WSJF - Scaled Agile Framework2: WSJF = (Biz Value + Time Crit. + Risk Reduce) / Job Size

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

 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

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 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

 = Making quality everyone’s responsibility is critical to successfully implementing quality in a Lean-Agile environment. This means that all the people involved in creating and delivering value to the customer, from business functions to software applications, share the same quality standards and practices. Quality is not something that can be delegated or outsourced to a separate team or department. It is embedded in the culture, mindset, and behavior of every individual and team. Making quality everyone’s responsibility enables faster feedback, continuous improvement, and higher customer satisfaction12. References: = 1: Built-In Quality - Scaled Agile Framework2; 2: How to Implement Quality in a Lean-Agile Environment Successfully1

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

 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