Basics Flashcards
What are the levels of SAFe?
- Essential (a.k.a. Program, System)
- (Large) Solution
- Portfolio
- Full
What the 2 main types of Value Streams are there?
Operational value streams – Contains the steps and the people who deliver end-user value using solutions created by the development value streams
Development value streams – Contains the steps and the people who develop solutions used by operational value streams
What are the 4 types of Operational Value Streams?
Fulfillment value streams represent the steps necessary to process a customer request, deliver a digitally-enabled product or service, and receive remuneration. Examples include providing a consumer with an insurance product or fulfilling an eCommerce sales order.
Manufacturing value streams convert raw materials into the products customers purchase. Examples include consumer products, medical devices, and complex cyber-physical systems.
Software product value streams offer and support software products. Examples include ERP systems, SaaS, and desktop and mobile applications.
Supporting value streams include end-to-end workflows for various supporting activities. Examples include the lifecycle for employee hiring and retention, supplier contracting, executing the annual budget process, and completing a full enterprise sales cycle.
What is an Epic?
- container for a Solution development initiative large enough to require analysis, definition of a MVP, and financial approval before implementation
- Implementation occurs over multiple PIs and follows the ‘build-measure-learn’ cycle
What is a Capability?
- higher-level Solution behavior that typically spans multiple ARTs
- Prioritized using weighted shortest job (WSJF)
- Includes benefit hypothesis and acceptance criteria
- Structured to fit in single PI
- Split into Features for implementation
What is a Feature?
- a service that fulfills a stakeholder need
- Includes a benefit hypothesis and acceptance criteria
- Sized/split to be delivered by a single ART in a PI
- Product Management responsible for business features
- System Architects own Enabler Features
What is an Enabler?
- support activities needed to extend Architectural Runway and provide future business functionality
- Captured in all levels of backlogs
- Created/managed by System Architect
- Managed in backlogs/subject to:
- Estimating
- Visibility & tracking
- Work in process limits
- Feedback
- Presentation of results
- Different forms of Enablers – Infrastructure, Exploration, Architecture, Compliance
What types of Work Items exist in each backlog?
- Portfolio backlogs contain Epics and Enablers
- [large] Solution backlogs contain Capabilities and Enablers
- Program Backlogs contain Features and Enablers
- Team Backlogs contain Stories and Enablers
What are the types of enablers?
Exploration enablers – These support research, prototyping, and other activities needed to develop an understanding of customer needs, including the exploration of prospective Solutions and evaluating alternatives.
Architectural enablers – These are created to build the Architectural Runway, which allows smoother and faster development.
Infrastructure enablers – These are created to build, enhance, and automate the development, testing, and deployment environments. They facilitate faster development, higher-quality testing, and a faster Continuous Delivery Pipeline.
Compliance enablers – These facilitate managing specific compliance activities, including Verification and Validation (V&V), documentation and signoffs, and regulatory submissions and approvals.
What are Strategic Themes?
- Differentiating business objectives that connect a portfolio to Enterprise strategy
- Primary purpose is to drive portfolio innovation and differentiation
- Developed collaboratively -> Enterprise executives-> Enterprise Architect, Lean Portfolio Management, Portfolio Stakeholders
Why Is Vision Important?
- Provides a unifying ‘why’ for major decisions
- Sets direction for future work
- Ensures teams are aligned on a shared goal
- Allows teams and individuals to make localized decisions
At what level(s) are Vision(s) written?
Generally:
- Portfolio
- Solution
But any level can create a vision.
What is a Portfolio Canvas?
- A business model canvas adapted to charter and describe the structure and purpose of a SAFe portfolio
- Describes how a portfolio of Solutions creates, delivers, and captures value for an organization
- Helps define and align the portfolio’s Value Streams and Solutions to the portfolio vision
What is a Value Stream?
- Includes activities from recognizing an opportunity through release and validation
- Contains the steps, flow of information & material, and the people who develop the solutions used by the operational value stream
- 2 types- operational and development
- Operational – the sequence of activities needed to deliver a product or service to a customer
- Development – the sequence of activities needed to convert a business hypothesis into a technology-enabled solution that delivers customer value
What is an Agile Release Train?
- Virtual organization of 5-12 teams
- Has all capabilities (software, hardware, firmware, etc) needed to define, implement, test, deploy, release and operate Solutions
- Goal of achieving continuous flow of value
- Synchronized on common cadence of a Program Increment (PI)
- Aligned to common mission via Program Backlog