SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework)

5 minutes 5 Questions

The Scaled Agile Framework or SAFe is an enterprise scaling framework that provides a knowledge base of integrated principles, practices, and competencies to help organizations deliver high-quality and reliable software and systems at the fastest sustainable rate. This framework combines the elements of Agile development, Scrum methodologies, and Lean product development. SAFe provides an approach to scale Agile from the team level to the program and portfolio levels. It addresses complex issues that large organizations face, such as strategy, investment funding, architecture, integration, roles, and responsibilities.

Guide: SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework)

What is SAFe: SAFe, or Scaled Agile Framework, is an interactive software development framework that aims to help businesses deliver high-quality software/services more efficiently. It provides a structure for scaling Agile principles and methodologies across a large organization or project.

Why is SAFe Important: The Scaled Agile Framework is important because it synchronizes alignment, collaboration, and delivery for multiple Agile teams. It encourages organizations to operate under shared goals, which leads to greater alignment, visibility, and transparency.

How SAFe Works: SAFe works by dividing the enterprise into Team, Program, and Portfolio levels. Each level has its specific roles, responsibilities and activities. This layered approach allows the company to operate on an Agile basis at scale.
Exam Tips: Answering Questions on SAFe-
1. Understand the Core Principles: Knowing the nine immutable principles upon which SAFe is based is key to answering any related questions correctly.
2. Familiarize Yourself with the SAFe Big Picture: The SAFe Big Picture graphic is a visual representation of the framework and understanding it can help answer many exam questions.
3. Know the Different Levels and Their Roles: Detailed understanding of the roles and responsibilities at each level of SAFe is helpful.
4. Practice with Sample Questions: Practice and revision with sample questions and mock tests can extremely benefit.

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Question 1

Your team is scaling their solutions using SAFe. Their last Program Increment (PI) featured a drop in user satisfaction. What should be the first focus in the next PI?

Improving user satisfaction by addressing specific feedback Adding new technologies without evaluating their impact Ignoring the issue and hoping it resolves itself Changing the development team structure entirely Focusing solely on fixing technical debt Implementing new features without considering user feedback

Correct Answer: Improving user satisfaction by addressing specific feedback

SAFe promotes continuous improvement and prioritizes customer-centricity. By focusing on improving user satisfaction, the team is following SAFe principles.

Question 2

A new scrum team experiences confusing communication and misaligned expectations. How can SAFe help to resolve this issue?

Adding more developers to the team Changing project management methodology Introducing the role of Release Train Engineer Reducing team size significantly Implementing DevOps without guidance Creating a completely flat team hierarchy

Correct Answer: Introducing the role of Release Train Engineer

The Release Train Engineer (RTE) is a key role in SAFe, acting as a servant leader for the Agile Release Train, ensuring clear communication and alignment.

Question 3

Your organization is transitioning to SAFe but is struggling with organization-wide alignment on the larger okay. What is the best recommended approach to handle this situation in SAFe?

Scale back the transition to SAFe and stick to traditional project management Ignore the alignment challenge and continue with the transition to SAFe Dictate alignment decisions top-down from the executive level Leverage the Portfolio Vision, Roadmap and Program Backlog to align teams with strategic themes and business initiatives

Correct Answer: Leverage the Portfolio Vision, Roadmap and Program Backlog to align teams with strategic themes and business initiatives

The Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) focuses heavily on alignment and synchronization between teams in order to provide larger value streams. In this context, leveraging the Portfolio Vision, Roadmap and Program Backlog is recommended especially when there is a struggle with organization-wide alignment. These tools help align teams with strategic themes and business initiatives, thus ensuring everyone has a clear understanding of what objectives they're working towards. Ignoring the alignment challenge and continuing with the transition to SAFe would only exacerbate the lack of alignment in the organization, leading to less effective implementation of SAFe. Dictating alignment decisions top-down from the executive level is against the principles of SAFe, which encourages cross-functional, self-organizing teams that contribute to decision-making. Lastly, scaling back the transition to SAFe and sticking to traditional project management would miss out on the benefits of agility and scalability that SAFe can provide.

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