D. The entire system is iterating

Answer DescriptionExplanation:

Cadence:Refers to a regular, predictable schedule that sets the rhythm for the team or ART (Agile Release Train) activities. It helps in aligning planning, development, and delivery cycles.

Synchronization:Ensures that multiple teams or ARTs work together in harmony, aligning their schedules, dependencies, and delivery efforts.

Benefit Explanation:Having both cadence and synchronization means that all teams within the ART are working in a coordinated manner, iterating together. This alignment ensures that dependencies are managed, integration happens regularly, and the system evolves cohesively.

SAFe Scrum Master References:

SAFe promotes cadence and synchronization to manage complex dependencies and ensure that all parts of the system evolve together, enhancing overall system integrity and quality.

A. To reliably deliver value by deploying features

Answer DescriptionExplanation:

An effective Agile Team focuses on delivering value by reliably deploying features that meet customer needs.

Value Delivery:The primary measure of success for an Agile team is the continuous delivery of valuable, working software.

Customer Focus:Teams work collaboratively to understand and deliver what is most valuable to customers.

Incremental Progress:Regularly delivering increments of the product that are potentially shippable ensures continuous feedback and improvement.

This characteristic emphasizes the Agile principle of delivering working software frequently, with a focus on customer value.

SAFe Scrum Master References:

SAFe Advanced Scrum Master Training Material, Chapter on Agile Teams​​.

C. Create a buffer state between the two states to regulate the situation

Answer DescriptionExplanation:

Creating a buffer state between two states in a Kanban board can help regulate the flow of work and address the varying completion times.

Buffer State Purpose:Acts as a holding area to balance the flow between different stages of work, smoothing out variances in completion times.

Flow Regulation:Ensures that work can continue smoothly without bottlenecks or idle times.

Work In Progress (WIP) Limits:Helps maintain a steady flow by preventing too much work from accumulating in any one state.

This approach aligns with Lean principles of managing flow and reducing variability in processes.

SAFe Scrum Master References:

SAFe Advanced Scrum Master Training Material, Chapter on Kanban Systems​​.

A. Program predictability measure

Answer DescriptionExplanation:

The primary measurement during the Inspect and Adapt (I&A) event in SAFe is the program predictability measure. This metric assesses the Agile Release Train's (ART) ability to deliver on its commitments within a Program Increment (PI). It helps teams understand how accurately they can plan and execute work, providing a basis for continuous improvement. By focusing on predictability, organizations can improve their planning processes, align better with business objectives, and ensure more reliable delivery of value.

D. Analyze quantitative & qualitative metrics

Answer DescriptionExplanation:

The first step a team should take to feed potential problems into the Problem Solving workshop is to analyze quantitative and qualitative metrics. These metrics provide objective data about the team's performance and can highlight areas where issues may be occurring. By reviewing these metrics, the team can identify trends, pinpoint specific problems, and prioritize them for discussion in the Problem Solving workshop. This approach ensures that the workshop focuses on data-driven issues, leading to more effective and targeted solutions.

SAFe Scrum Master References

SAFe 5.0 framework: importance of data-driven decision-making and problem-solving

SAFe Advanced Scrum Master learning materials: analyzing metrics for continuous improvement

C. When the Agile Team pulls a Story onto the board
D. When the Story is accepted by the Product Owner

Answer DescriptionExplanation:

In SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework), lead time is an essential metric used to measure the efficiency and effectiveness of a process. Lead time is defined as the total time it takes for a work item to move through the entire process from the moment it is initiated until it is completed. To measure lead time accurately using a Team Kanban board, two specific timestamps are crucial:

When the Agile Team pulls a Story onto the board (Timestamp C):

This is the starting point of the lead time. It marks the moment when the team commits to working on a particular story by pulling it into the workflow. This action indicates that the story is now in progress and the clock starts ticking from this point.

When the Story is accepted by the Product Owner (Timestamp D):

This is the endpoint of the lead time. It signifies that the story has been completed to the satisfaction of the team and has met the acceptance criteria defined by the Product Owner. When the Product Owner accepts the story, it indicates that the work is done and the lead time measurement stops.

These two timestamps effectively capture the duration a story takes to go through the development process, providing valuable insights into process efficiency and identifying areas for improvement.

SAFe Scrum Master References

SAFe Advanced Scrum Master learning materials

SAFe 5.0 Scrum Master Certification resources

The 2020 Scrum Guide:Scrum Guide 2020

This information aligns with the principles and practices outlined in the SAFe framework and the Scrum Guide, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of lead time measurement within a Team Kanban board context.

A. To identify dependencies across teams

Answer DescriptionExplanation:

The Scrum of Scrums meeting during PI Planning is designed to identify and manage dependencies across teams. This meeting allows representatives from each team to come together and discuss how their plans intersect and where they might impact each other.

Dependency Identification:Teams identify dependencies early to manage risks and align their efforts.

Coordination:Facilitates better coordination and integration of work between multiple teams.

Communication:Provides a forum for raising issues and ensuring that all teams are aware of potential impacts on their work.

This helps in creating a more cohesive and integrated approach to delivering the Program Increment (PI).

SAFe Scrum Master References:

SAFe Advanced Scrum Master Training Material, Chapter on PI Planning​​

D. Top improvement items for the next PI

Answer DescriptionExplanation:

One of the primary outputs from the problem-solving workshop in SAFe is identifying the top improvement items for the next Program Increment (PI). These workshops focus on analyzing issues, determining root causes, and formulating actionable improvements. By prioritizing and committing to these improvement items, teams can systematically address problems and enhance their performance and productivity in subsequent PIs.