SAFe 4.5 Coursebook Questions Flashcards
Where do epics and features exist in the SAFe framework?
Epics exist at the Portfolio level.
Features exist at the Program level.
Gemba is a Japanese term associated with the concept “get out of the office”. What does Gemba mean in Japanese?
It means where work is done. Often means literally the manufacturing floor.
How do you apply a fast learning cycle?
Hint: P, D, C, A.
Plan, Do, Check, Adjust.
Are phase gates good or bad to a SAFe Agilist?
What is a phase gate?
Bad. A phase-gate process (also referred to as a stage-gate process[1] or waterfall process), is a project management technique in which an initiative or project (e.g., new product development, software development, process improvement, business change) is divided into distinct stages or phases, separated by decision points (known as gates).
At each gate, continuation is decided by (typically) a manager, steering committee, or governance board. The decision is made on forecasts and information available at the time, including the business case, risk analysis, and availability of necessary resources (e.g., money, people with correct competencies).
An example of phase gating would be a checklist like Requirements Complete and then Design Complete. This could be decided by a committee.
Per SAFe what might be the next step in Deployment?
Kaboom. “Tracking progress via traditional milestone delays critical learning points until it’s too late.”
How many SAFe Principles exist? They are Lean and Agile Principles.
Nine.
Little’s Law pertains to what kind of theory?
What SAFe Principle does it relate to?
6. Visualize and limit WIP (works in procress).
Queue theory.
Little’s Law pertains to queue theory. Can you give the book’s example?
Total items in queue / average processing speed per time period = approximate wait time
A new item comes into the backlog with 30 items ahead of it. How long is the wait time?
Total items in queue of 30 / average processing speed of 10 items per quarter = 3 Quarters of processing time before the 31st item is processed.
What is BVIR? What does it look like?
It pertains to visualizing WIP queues.
Big Visible Information Radiator.
Looks like a storyboard.
It helps you visualize and limit work in process to control queues.
What is a U curve?
- Used to determine the optimal batch size by balancing transaction cost and holding cost.
8 Unlock the intrinsic motivation of knowledge workers.
One of the 9 principles of SAFe is this:
What does Harry Harlow, 1949, accidental puzzles and Rhesus monkies all have in common.
In 1949, Harry Harlow ran experiments with Rhesus monkeys and accidentally placed puzzles next to their cages.
Guess what, they solved them on their own.
And, when given “raisins” to reward them, the monkeys did WORSE.
What is Dunbar’s number?
150
Robin Dunbar is a very smart man. An anthropologist and evolutionary psychologist, Dunbar’s fame largely focuses around a single number. 150. The theory of Dunbar’s Number posits that 150 is the number of individuals with whom any one person can maintain stable relationships.
Do value streams cut across organizational silos?
Yes.
Product Owner Role.
Can you list three things they do?
- Defines and accepts s_____.
- Acts as the c_____ for developer questions
- Works w Product Manager to plan P_
- Defines and accepts stories
- Acts as the customer for developer questions
- Works w Product Manager to plan PI’s.
Among other things, the developers…
Hint:
Develop and c_____ to T___ PI objectives and i_____n plans.
- Develop and commit to Team PI objectives and iteration plans.
