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

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.

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?

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

The 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

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]

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

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

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

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

= 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

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]

 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

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

 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

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

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

 A high-functioning Agile Team is a cross-functional group of typically ten or fewer individuals with all the skills necessary to define, build, test, and deliver value to their customer1. Team A is not cross-functional because they depend on another team to test and deploy their work, which creates handoffs and delays in the value delivery process. A cross-functional team should be able to perform all the activities required to deliver a potentially releasable increment of value in each iteration2. Team A should collaborate with the other team to integrate their testing and deployment capabilities and form a single Agile Team that can deliver value independently. References: Agile Teams - Scaled Agile Framework, 7 Qualities of High-Performing Agile Teams | AgileConnection

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

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

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

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

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The 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

During the second team breakout session, the teams finalize their plans and objectives for the upcoming PI. They also review and adjust their load and capacity based on the feedback from the draft plan review. The teams then commit to do everything they can to meet the agreed-to-objectives, which are captured in the SMART format (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound). References: PI Planning - Scaled Agile Framework, PI Planning - Scaled Agile Framework

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

 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 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

One way to address substantial rework is to regularly engage with the Customer and Business Owner, who are the key stakeholders of the Agile team. By involving them in the feedback loops, such as the Team and System Demos, the team can validate their assumptions, get early and frequent feedback, and incorporate changes as needed. This helps to avoid building the wrong thing or building it incorrectly, which can lead to rework and waste. References: SAFe for Teams Student Workbook: materials and exercises from Lesson 6; [v5.scaledagileframework.com/get-feedback/]; [v5.scaledagileframework.com/team-and-technical-agility/]

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

 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

 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 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

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

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 principle that includes “working software is the primary measure of progress” is one of the twelve principles behind the Agile Manifesto. The Agile Manifesto is a declaration of four values and twelve principles that guide the Agile software development movement. The value that corresponds to this principle is “working software over comprehensive documentation”. The principle states that the ultimate goal of any software development project is to deliver working software that satisfies the customer’s needs and expectations, and that any other intermediate or auxiliary artifacts, such as plans, documents, models, or reports, are secondary and should not distract from the main objective. The principle also implies that working software should be delivered frequently and continuously, and that the progress of the project should be measured by the amount and quality of the software delivered, not by the adherence to a predefined plan or schedule. References: Principles behind the Agile Manifesto, Agile Manifesto - Scaled Agile Framework

According to the Scaled Agile Framework, the ART Planning Board is a visualization of the PI’s feature delivery dates, feature dependencies among teams, and relevant milestones1. Features are the primary elements that are planned and tracked on the ART Planning Board2.

Epics, user stories, and tasks are not found on the ART Planning Board, but they are related to features in different ways. Epics are large initiatives that span multiple ARTs and PIs, and they are decomposed into features and enablers2. User stories and tasks are smaller units of work that are used by teams to implement features within iterations2.

System Demo is a critical event that provides stakeholders an integrated view of the new features delivered by the Agile Release Train (ART) over the past iteration. It offers the ART a fact-based measure of current, system-level progress within the Program Increment (PI). It also enables fast feedback and learning cycles, which help the ART build the right solution and improve quality. The System Demo takes place as close to the end of the iteration as possible, ideally the next day. It requires implementing the scalable engineering practices necessary to support Continuous Integration across the ART12. References: System Demo - Scaled Agile Framework, Sample Test: SAFe® Practitioner - scaledagile.com

Decentralized decision-making is one of the principles of the Lean-Agile mindset, which is the foundation of SAFe. It empowers teams and individuals to make decisions based on the local context and the best available information, rather than waiting for approval from higher authorities. This reduces delays, increases speed, and improves responsiveness to customer needs. It also fosters innovation, learning, and ownership of the outcomes. References: Lean-Agile Mindset, Unlock the Intrinsic Motivation of Knowledge Workers, Exam Study Guide: SP (6.0) - SAFe Practitioner

 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

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

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

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

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.

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 Portfolio Kanban system is a method to visualize and manage the flow of portfolio Epics, from ideation through analysis, implementation, and completion1. The analyzing step of the Portfolio Kanban system involves developing a Lean business case for the Epic and presenting it to Lean Portfolio Management (LPM) for approval1. If the Epic receives a ‘go’ decision from LPM, it will be moved to the ready state in the Portfolio Kanban, where it will wait until one or more Agile Release Trains (ARTs) have the capacity to implement it1. The other options are incorrect because:

• A. The Epic Owner does not have the authority to approve the Lean business case. Only LPM can make the final decision on whether to proceed with the Epic or not1.
• C. The Epic will not remain in the analyzing step after receiving a ‘go’ decision from LPM. It will be moved to the ready state, where it will be prioritized using weighted shortest job first (WSJF) and other factors1.
• D. The Epic will not be implemented based on its WSJF ranking alone. It will also depend on the availability and alignment of the ARTs that can deliver the Epic1. References: 1: Portfolio Kanban - 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]

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

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

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

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

Business Owners are key ART stakeholders who have the primary business and technical responsibility for return on investment (ROI), governance, and compliance. They evaluate the fitness for use and actively participate in ART events and solution development. They also use a scale of 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest) to assign the business value to the team PI objectives after negotiation with the teams and other stakeholders. They typically assign the highest values to the customer-facing objectives. References: Business Owners - Scaled Agile Framework, PI Objectives - Scaled Agile Framework

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

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

 The Continuous Delivery Pipeline represents the workflow, activities, and automation needed to deliver new functionality more frequently. It consists of four elements: Continuous Exploration, Continuous Integration, Continuous Deployment, and Release on Demand. The pipeline enables faster value delivery, higher quality, and lower risk. References: Exam Study Guide: SP (6.0) - SAFe® Practitioner, Continuous Delivery Pipeline, Lesson 4: Deliver Value

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

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

= 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

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

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

 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 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

 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

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

n: = Separating release elements from the Solution means identifying specific release elements, such as Features or components, that can be released independently of the entire Solution. This technique provides several benefits, such as1:

• It enables faster delivery of value to customers by releasing the most important or urgent elements first
• It reduces the risk of releasing complex or interdependent elements that may cause errors or failures
• It allows for more flexibility and responsiveness to changing customer needs and market conditions
• It supports continuous integration and deployment by allowing smaller and more frequent releases

References: = 1: Release on Demand - Scaled Agile Framework2

 Trust is the foundation of any successful collaboration, especially between the business and development teams, who often have different perspectives, expectations, and incentives. Trust exists when everyone can confidently rely on one another to act with integrity, particularly in times of difficulty. Without trust, it is impossible to build high-performing teams and trains or build (or rebuild) the confidence needed to make and meet reasonable commitments1. One way to gain trust between the business and development is to deliver predictability, which means that the teams and the Agile Release Train (ART) can consistently deliver value in the shortest sustainable lead time, with the best quality and value, and meet the agreed-upon objectives and goals2. Predictability is achieved by applying the SAFe principles and practices, such as aligning to a common mission and vision, planning and executing in iterations and increments, applying systems thinking and feedback loops, and embracing change and innovation3. Predictability helps to establish and maintain trust between the business and development, as it demonstrates the reliability, transparency, and accountability of the teams and the ART, and it enables the business to make informed decisions and provide timely feedback4. The other options are not the best ways to gain trust between the business and development, as they either do not address the core issue of trust, or they may have negative consequences. Automating the delivery pipeline is a technical practice that supports DevOps and continuous delivery, and it can improve the speed, quality, and efficiency of the value delivery, but it does not necessarily build trust between the business and development, as it does not address the communication, collaboration, and alignment aspects of trust. Releasing new value to production every day is a desirable outcome of DevOps and continuous delivery, and it can provide fast feedback and validation of the value delivered, but it does not guarantee trust between the business and development, as it may also introduce risks, errors, and instability, and it may not reflect the actual needs and expectations of the customers and stakeholders. Maintaining iterations as a safe zone is a practice that protects the teams from external interference and distractions during the iteration execution, and it can help the teams focus on their work and deliver value, but it does not foster trust between the business and development, as it may also create silos, isolation, and resistance to change, and it may prevent the teams from collaborating and communicating with the business and other teams. References: Core Values - Scaled Agile Framework, Predictability - Scaled Agile Framework, SAFe Lean-Agile Principles - Scaled Agile Framework, How can trust be gained between the business and development?

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

Emergent design and intentional architecture are two complementary approaches to designing and evolving a system’s architecture. Emergent design enables fast, local control so that teams can react appropriately to changing requirements without excessive attempts to future-proof the system. Intentional architecture provides the guidance needed to ensure that the whole system has conceptual integrity and is fit for its purpose. Balancing these two approaches is required for speed of value delivery and Solution Intent, which is the representation of the desired and actual solution behavior, including the functional and nonfunctional aspects. Solution Intent guides the development and evolution of the solution and helps align the teams and stakeholders on the vision and goals of the solution. References: Architectural Runway, Agile Architecture in SAFe, Balancing Emergent Design and Intentional Architecture in Agile Software Development

Iteration goals are short, specific, and measurable statements that describe what the Agile team intends to accomplish in an Iteration. They are derived from the team backlog, the PI objectives, and the team vision. Iteration goals help to align the team to a common vision of work in the Iteration, and provide clarity, focus, and motivation. Iteration goals also enable the team to communicate their progress and dependencies to other teams and stakeholders, and to demonstrate value delivery in the system demo. References: Exam Study Guide: SP (6.0) - SAFe® Practitioner, Iteration GoalsQUESTION NO: 41

Which situation should use the Large Solution SAFe configuration?

A. Organizations that need to have System Demos after each Iteration

B. Organizations that operate in an environment that requires compliance for complex, high-assurance systems

C. Organizations that need to scale Agile across the Enterprise

D. Every large Enterprise that uses SAFe

Answer: B

The Large Solution SAFe configuration is for enterprises that are building large and complex solutions that typically require multiple Agile Release Trains (ARTs) and Suppliers, but do not require portfolio-level considerations1. This configuration is suitable for organizations that operate in an environment that requires compliance for complex, high-assurance systems, such as aerospace, defense, automotive, medical, and financial industries2. The Large Solution SAFe configuration includes a stronger focus on capturing requirements in the Solution Intent, coordinating multiple ARTs and Suppliers, and ensuring compliance with regulations and standards3. References: Large Solution - Scaled Agile Framework, Large Solution SAFe - Scaled Agile Framework, Different SAFe Configurations Explained | Inflectra

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

 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

 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

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

The Inspect and Adapt workshop 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 Agile Release Train (ART) teams. The workshop consists of three parts: PI System Demo, Quantitative and qualitative measurement, and Retrospective and problem-solving workshop. The PI System Demo is the first part of the workshop, where the ART shows all the Features they have developed during the PI to the stakeholders and customers. The demo provides feedback on the value delivered and the quality of the solution. The other parts of the workshop focus on measuring the performance of the ART and identifying improvement actions for the next PI. References: Inspect and Adapt, PI System Demo

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/]

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

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