SA SAFe Agilist Framework Overview 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which SAFe configuration is designed for a single Agile Release Train (ART) without portfolio-level constructs?
- Full SAFe
- Large Solution SAFe
- Essential SAFe (Correct answer)
- Portfolio SAFe
Correct answer: Essential SAFe
Essential SAFe is the simplest configuration containing only the ART and Team levels, making it the starting point for most SAFe implementations.
Question 2: What is the recommended duration for a SAFe Program Increment (PI)?
- 2–4 weeks
- 8–12 weeks (Correct answer)
- 6 months
- 1 year
Correct answer: 8–12 weeks
A Program Increment typically lasts 8–12 weeks and consists of four development Iterations plus one Innovation and Planning (IP) Iteration.
Question 3: In SAFe, what is the primary purpose of the System Demo?
- Replace the Sprint Review for each team
- Show integrated ART-level working software at the end of each Iteration (Correct answer)
- Present the PI roadmap to business stakeholders
- Demonstrate portfolio epics to executives
Correct answer: Show integrated ART-level working software at the end of each Iteration
The System Demo provides an integrated view of all teams' work on the ART at the end of each Iteration, enabling stakeholder feedback on the full system.
Question 4: Which role is responsible for defining and prioritizing the ART Backlog in SAFe?
- Release Train Engineer
- Product Manager (Correct answer)
- System Architect
- Business Owner
Correct answer: Product Manager
The Product Manager owns and prioritizes the ART Backlog, working with Business Owners and stakeholders to define features aligned to business value.
Question 5: What does the SAFe principle 'Apply systems thinking' primarily encourage teams to do?
- Use only automated testing tools across the enterprise
- Understand the whole value stream rather than optimizing local parts in isolation (Correct answer)
- Create a unified system architecture across all ARTs
- Implement a single backlog for the entire portfolio
Correct answer: Understand the whole value stream rather than optimizing local parts in isolation
Applying systems thinking means understanding interdependencies within the larger system and avoiding local optimizations that suboptimize the whole.
Question 6: In SAFe's Lean-Agile Mindset, which concept underpins the idea that leaders must be teachers of the new way of working?
- Continuous Delivery Pipeline
- SAFe House of Lean (Correct answer)
- PI Planning
- Scrum of Scrums
Correct answer: SAFe House of Lean
The SAFe House of Lean places 'Leadership' as its foundation, emphasizing that leaders must model, teach, and coach Lean-Agile values and principles.
Question 7: Which SAFe event serves as the primary alignment mechanism for all teams on an ART before a new PI begins?
- Inspect & Adapt
- Scrum of Scrums
- PI Planning (Correct answer)
- ART Sync
Correct answer: PI Planning
PI Planning is a two-day event where all ART teams align on vision, plan Iteration objectives, identify risks, and establish cross-team dependencies.
SA SAFe Agilist Framework Overview 2
Which SAFe configuration is designed for a single Agile Release Train (ART) without portfolio-level constructs?