SAFe Scrum Master

The team aligns on the progress of Iteration Goals

Explanation

In the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) 6.0 methodology, the Team Sync event is a crucial part of the Agile Release Train (ART). It is a daily meeting where team members synchronize their work and progress towards the Iteration Goals.

The main objectives of the Team Sync event are:

• To align the team on what was done the previous day
• To plan the work for the current day
• To identify any obstacles or impediments that might hinder progress

The other options provided are related to different events in the SAFe methodology:

• "The team is able to prepare requirements for Iteration Planning" - This is related to the Pre-Iteration Planning phase.
• "The team is able to commit to a set of goals to be delivered in the Iteration" - This is the outcome of the Iteration Planning event.
• "The team reviews and improves processes before the next Iteration" - This is the purpose of the Iteration Retrospective event.

According to the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) 6.0 methodology, all the options provided can be used by a Scrum Master or Team Coach to guide team members towards finding solutions together. However, the context and the specific problem at hand will determine the most suitable technique to use.

Here's a brief explanation of each technique:

Asking Powerful Questions

This technique involves the Scrum Master asking thought-provoking questions that encourage team members to think critically and come up with solutions. The questions should be open-ended and designed to stimulate creative thinking.

Pairing Team Members to Grow T-Shaped Skills

This technique involves pairing team members with different skill sets to work on tasks together. This not only promotes collaboration but also helps team members to broaden their skills and knowledge, hence the term "T-shaped skills".

Bringing in New Team Members to Refresh the Team Dynamic

Sometimes, introducing new team members can bring fresh perspectives and ideas, which can help in finding solutions. However, this should be done carefully to avoid disrupting the existing team dynamics.

Facilitating a Process Improvement Workshop

This involves organizing a workshop where team members can discuss their processes, identify areas of improvement, and come up with solutions to enhance their efficiency and productivity.

According to the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) 6.0 methodology, the correct statement about the team backlog is:

The team backlog is where the team refines possible Stories

Explanation

The team backlog is a prioritized list of work for the Agile Team. It includes:

• User Stories
• Defects
• Enablers

The team backlog is the property of the Agile Team and they are responsible for maintaining it. The team backlog is where the team refines possible Stories, not where they commit to work, finalize work, or accept Stories.

The process of refining Stories involves breaking down large Stories (also known as Epics) into smaller, more manageable pieces, and then further elaborating on these pieces as necessary. This process is also known as backlog grooming or backlog refinement.

Here is a simplified representation of the process:

The ''C'' in the CALMR approach to DevOps stands for culture, which is the foundation of successful DevOps adoption. Culture refers to the values, beliefs, and behaviors that guide the collaboration and alignment of everyone in the value stream. By creating a culture of shared responsibility, teams can manage the tensions caused by differing needs, such as speed, quality, security, and stability. A culture of shared responsibility means that everyone is accountable for the outcomes of their work, and that they work together to deliver value to the customers. It also means that teams respect each other's roles and expertise, and seek feedback and learning opportunities. A culture of shared responsibility fosters trust, transparency, and continuous improvement, which are essential for DevOps.

One benefit of PI Planning is that it allows for faster decision-making by bringing together all the members of the Agile Release Train (ART) and the relevant stakeholders in a face-to-face (or virtual) event. PI Planning provides an opportunity for the ART to align on a common vision and mission, review the business context and priorities, identify and resolve dependencies and risks, and commit to a realistic and achievable plan for the next Program Increment (PI). By having everyone involved in the planning process, the ART can leverage the collective knowledge and expertise of the participants, reduce ambiguity and uncertainty, and make informed and timely decisions that support the delivery of value to the customers. (Must be taken from SAFe 6 Scrum Master resources)

According to the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) 6.0 methodology, the absence of DevOps can lead to several issues. However, based on the options provided, the most relevant issue is:

Challenges between teams that build Solutions and those who operate the Solutions

This is because DevOps is a set of practices that combines software development (Dev) and IT operations (Ops). It aims to shorten the systems development life cycle and provide continuous delivery with high software quality. Without DevOps, there can be a disconnect between the teams that build the solutions and those who operate them, leading to inefficiencies and potential issues in the software development process.

Here's the answer in a table format:

According to the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) 6.0 methodology, the Scrum Master/Team Coach plays a crucial role in Program Increment (PI) Planning. Among the options provided, the most accurate one is:

Briefing the team before planning

Explanation

The Scrum Master/Team Coach is responsible for ensuring that the team is well-prepared and understands the objectives and context before the PI Planning event. This includes briefing the team on the vision, roadmap, and features that will be discussed during the planning session.

Here's a brief overview of the Scrum Master's role in PI Planning:

• Briefing the team before planning: The Scrum Master ensures that the team is ready for PI Planning by providing necessary context and information. This includes understanding the vision, roadmap, and features that will be discussed.
• Facilitate Coach Sync: This is not a typical responsibility of the Scrum Master during PI Planning.
• Participate in management review and problem-solving: While the Scrum Master may participate in these activities, it is not their primary role during PI Planning.
• Perform the ART confidence vote: This is typically done by all members of the Agile Release Train (ART), not specifically by the Scrum Master.

Here's a simplified table of the Scrum Master's role in PI Planning:

A Team's velocity is calculated by summing up the points of the fully completed stories, so it’s 8+1=9 points, excluding story C which is not completed 100%.

Using the IP Iteration as intended can provide a significant benefit to the team by allowing them to focus on innovation, continuous improvement, and planning, which can lead to improved product quality and process efficiency.

Openness is one of the Scrum Values that can help Agile Teams create transparency. Being open involves sharing information, feedback, and concerns openly within the team and with stakeholders. It fosters an environment where everyone feels comfortable expressing their thoughts and ideas, leading to better collaboration and decision-making. Openness promotes transparency by ensuring that relevant information is readily available to all team members, allowing for a clear understanding of the work being done and the challenges being faced.

A servant leader is someone who focuses on the growth and well-being of the team members, prioritizing their needs, facilitating their development, and supporting them in achieving their goals. They aim to serve the team rather than being served by them, often adopting a coaching and mentoring approach to leadership. This style of leadership involves empowering team members, fostering collaboration, and creating a positive and inclusive work environment.

One of the high-performing team characteristics that Team A is demonstrating is using regular feedback loops built into the learning cycle. A high-performing Agile Team is a cross-functional group of people that have everything, and everyone, necessary to produce a working, tested increment of product. They are empowered, collaborative, aligned, and committed to delivering value to the customers and the organization. One of the factors that enable a high-performing Agile Team is using regular feedback loops to learn and improve. Feedback loops are mechanisms that provide the team with information about the outcomes and impacts of their actions, as well as the needs and expectations of their customers and stakeholders. Feedback loops help the team to validate their assumptions, measure their progress, and adjust their plans accordingly. Feedback loops also help the team to foster a culture of experimentation, innovation, and continuous improvement, as well as to increase customer satisfaction and loyalty. Team A is using regular feedback loops by releasing the functionality with a method for collecting direct customer feedback. This allows them to learn from the actual users of their product, and to incorporate their feedback into the next iteration of development. This way, they can deliver value faster and more effectively, as well as to enhance the quality and usability of their product

(Must be taken from SAFe 6 Scrum Master resources)

The best examples are: Focus on business value delivery, Ask the Team for the answer and Facilitate Team problem-solving.
Focusing on business value delivery over fosucing on certain targets
Asking the Team for the answer over providing answers for the Team
Focusing on business value delivery over fosucing on certain targets

According to the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) 6.0 methodology, Scrum Masters or Team Coaches can escalate Agile Release Train (ART) level impediments during the Scrum of Scrums (SoS) meeting. However, this option is not listed in your provided choices.

From the options you've provided, the closest event where a Scrum Master or Team Coach might escalate ART-level impediments would be the System Sync.

Here's a brief explanation of each event:

System Sync

This is a meeting where teams synchronize their work and resolve any dependencies and issues. It's a suitable place for Scrum Masters or Team Coaches to escalate ART-level impediments.

Coach Sync

This is a meeting for Agile Coaches to align on coaching strategies and share insights. It's not typically a place to escalate ART-level impediments.

PO Sync

This is a meeting for Product Owners to align on the backlog and priorities. It's not typically a place to escalate ART-level impediments.

Product Sync

This is not a standard event in SAFe. It might refer to a meeting where teams align on product features or strategy, but it's not typically a place to escalate ART-level impediments.

Here's a table summarizing the above:

According to the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) 6.0 methodology, servant leaders can encourage team member personal growth in several ways. However, based on the options provided, the most appropriate method would be:

Pair team members together to complete new or unique work

This approach is in line with the SAFe principle of fostering a learning culture. By pairing team members together, they can learn from each other, share knowledge, and develop new skills. This not only promotes personal growth but also enhances team performance and productivity.

Here's a brief explanation of why the other options are less suitable:

• Encourage team members to complete more work within areas in which they are comfortable: This approach may not necessarily promote personal growth as it does not challenge team members to learn new skills or step out of their comfort zones.
• Assign development paths to team members based on their current skills: While this can help team members improve their existing skills, it may not encourage them to learn new ones, limiting their personal growth.
• Encourage spending more time in their role over formal learning: This approach may lead to stagnation and limit personal growth as it does not provide opportunities for team members to learn new skills or gain new knowledge.

According to the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) 6.0 methodology, the organizing attribute that teams share with the other teams on their Agile Release Train (ART) is:

Synchronization to a common cadence

This is a key principle of SAFe. All teams on an ART align to a common iteration length and schedule, which is typically 10-12 weeks. This synchronization allows for better planning, coordination, and predictability across the ART.

Here's a brief explanation of the other options:

• Simultaneous release in one pipeline: While it's true that teams on an ART aim to release together, this is not an organizing attribute. It's more of a result of the synchronization and coordination efforts.
• Facilitation techniques amongst all meetings: Facilitation techniques can vary from team to team and are not necessarily shared across all teams on an ART.
• Prioritization across all backlogs: Prioritization is done at the team level, based on the Program Increment (PI) objectives and the team's understanding of the work. While there is alignment and coordination at the ART level, each team maintains its own backlog and prioritizes its work independently.

The CALMR approach to DevOps, as outlined in the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) 6.0, stands for Culture, Automation, Lean, Measurement, and Recovery. Each letter in the acronym represents a key element of the approach.

Given the options you provided, the correct answer is:

• Create a culture of shared responsibility

This aligns with the 'Culture' aspect of the CALMR approach. In this context, culture refers to fostering a collaborative environment where everyone shares responsibility for the delivery and stability of the system.

Here's a brief overview of what each element in the CALMR approach stands for: