SAFe Principles & Core Values Flashcards
Which SAFe principle addresses the “cone of uncertainty”?
A. SAFe Principle #1 Take an economic view
B. SAFe Principle #2 Apply systems thinking
C. SAFe Principle #3 Assume variability; preserve options
D. SAFe Principle #4 Build incrementally with fast, integrated learning cycles
E. SAFe Principle #5 Base milestones on objective evaluation of working systems
F. SAFe Principle #6 Visualize and limit WIP, reduce batch sizes, and manage queue length
G. SAFe Principle #7 Apply cadence, synchronize with cross-domain planning
H. SAFe Principle #8 Unlock the intrinsic motivation of knowledge workers
I. SAFe Principle #9 Decentralize decision-making
J. SAFe Principle #10 Organize around value
C. SAFe Principle #3 Assume variability; preserve options
Solution development is an inherently uncertain process. Technical variability and market variability are present throughout the development process. Team s use Set-Based Design (SBD) or Set-Based Concurrent Engineering (SBCE) to manage these variabilities and preserve design options.
In this approach, developers cast a wider design net initially, considering multiple design choices at the start. After that, they continuously evaluate economic and technical trade-offs—typically as exhibited by the objective evidence presented at integration-based learning points.
What is the iterative learning style practiced as part of SAFe Principle #4 to Build incrementally with fast, integrated learning cycles?
A. Explore - Integrate - Deploy - Release
B. Plan - Do - Check - Adjust
C. Check-Adjust - Plan - Do
D. Plan-Build-Run
B. Plan - Do - Check - Adjust
Facilitating small batch sizes is a practice of which SAFe Principle?
A. SAFe Principle #1 Take an economic view
B. SAFe Principle #2 Apply systems thinking
C. SAFe Principle #3 Assume variability; preserve options
D. SAFe Principle #4 Build incrementally with fast, integrated learning cycles
E. SAFe Principle #5 Base milestones on objective evaluation of working systems
F. SAFe Principle #6 Visualize and limit WIP, reduce batch sizes, and manage queue length
G. SAFe Principle #7 Apply cadence, synchronize with cross-domain planning
H. SAFe Principle #8 Unlock the intrinsic motivation of knowledge workers
I. SAFe Principle #9 Decentralize decision-making
J. SAFe Principle #10 Organize around value
D. SAFe Principle #4 Build incrementally with fast, integrated learning cycles
Build incrementally with fast, integrated learning cycles: - Improves learning efficiency by decreasing the time between action and effect - Reduces the cost of risk-taking by truncating unsuccessful paths quickly - Is facilitated by small batch sizes - Requires increased investment in development environment
The shorter the cycles, the faster the
learning.
Leveraging integration points to control product development is a skill of which SAFe Principle?
A. SAFe Principle #1 Take an economic view
B. SAFe Principle #2 Apply systems thinking
C. SAFe Principle #3 Assume variability; preserve options
D. SAFe Principle #4 Build incrementally with fast, integrated learning cycles
E. SAFe Principle #5 Base milestones on objective evaluation of working systems
F. SAFe Principle #6 Visualize and limit WIP, reduce batch sizes, and manage queue length
G. SAFe Principle #7 Apply cadence, synchronize with cross-domain planning
H. SAFe Principle #8 Unlock the intrinsic motivation of knowledge workers
I. SAFe Principle #9 Decentralize decision-making
J. SAFe Principle #10 Organize around value
D. SAFe Principle #4 Build incrementally with fast, integrated learning cycles
Building incrementally with fast integrated learning cycles uses its integration points to control product development and accelerate learning.
Which SAFe Principle teaches that “Development can proceed no faster than the slowest learning loop.”?
A. SAFe Principle #1 Take an economic view
B. SAFe Principle #2 Apply systems thinking
C. SAFe Principle #3 Assume variability; preserve options
D. SAFe Principle #4 Build incrementally with fast, integrated learning cycles
E. SAFe Principle #5 Base milestones on objective evaluation of working systems
F. SAFe Principle #6 Visualize and limit WIP, reduce batch sizes, and manage queue length
G. SAFe Principle #7 Apply cadence, synchronize with cross-domain planning
H. SAFe Principle #8 Unlock the intrinsic motivation of knowledge workers
I. SAFe Principle #9 Decentralize decision-making
J. SAFe Principle #10 Organize around value
D. SAFe Principle #4 Build incrementally with fast, integrated learning cycles
SAFe Principle #4 champions which of the following?
A. Use frequent integration points reduce risk
B. Allow for continuous, cost-effective adjustments towards an optimum Solution
C. Calculate cost of delay
D. Unlock intrinsic motivation with autonomy, mastery, and purpose
A. Use frequent integration points reduce risk
SAFe Principle #4 Build incrementally with fast, integrated learning cycles
What are the 4 Core Values of SAFe?
A. Authenticity, LifeLong Learning, Growing Others, Emotional Intelligence
B. Vision, Mission, Strategy, Plan
C. Alignment, Transparency, Built-in Quality, Program Execution
D. Vision, Leadership, Coalition for Change, Psychological Safety
C. Alignment, Transparency, Built-in Quality, Program Execution
SAFe is based on four primary bodies of knowledge: Agile development, Lean product development, systems thinking, and DevOps. That makes SAFe broad, deep and scaleable. But at its core, SAFe places the highest value on four core values: alignment, built-in quality, transparency, and program execution.
These guiding principles help dictate behavior and action for everyone who participates in a SAFe portfolio.
Which of the following does NOT exhibit the the core value of “Alignment”?
A. Communicate the mission, vision, and strategy
B. Provide briefings and participate in PI Planning
C. Participate in backlog review and preparation
D. Visualize all relevant work
E. Organize around Value Streams
F. Constantly check for understanding
D. Visualize all relevant work
Alignment is needed to keep pace with fast change, disruptive competitive forces, and geographically distributed teams. The responsibility for strategy and alignment cannot rest with the combined opinions of the teams, no matter how good they are. Alignment must rely on the Enterprise business objectives.
Which of the 4 SAFe Core Values “does not imply or encourage top-down command and control but rather enables empowerment, autonomy, and decentralized decision-making.”?
A. Transparency
B. Alignment
C. Built-in Quality
D. Program Execution
B. Alignment
Which of the following does NOT exhibit the the core value of “Transparency”?
A. Constantly check for understanding
B. Admit your own mistakes
C. Support others who acknowledge and learn from their mistakes
D. Take ownership and responsibility for errors
E. Don’t shoot the messenger
F. Visualize all relevant work
A. Constantly check for understanding
Without openness, facts are obscure and decision-making is based on speculative assumptions and lack of data. To ensure openness—trust is needed. Trust exists when the business and development can confidently rely on another to act with integrity, particularly in times of difficulty. Without trust no one can build high-performance teams and programs, nor build (or rebuild) the confidence needed to make and meet reasonable commitments.
Transparency is an enabler of trust.
Which SAFe Core Value is trust an enabler of?
A. Alignment
B. Transparency
C. Built-in Quality
D. Program Execution
B. Transparency
Which of the following does NOT exhibit the the core value of “Built-in Quality”?
A. Refuse to accept low-quality work
B. Support investments in technical debt reduction
C. Ensure UX, architecture, operations, security, compliance, and others are part of the flow of work
D. Take ownership and responsibility for errors
D. Take ownership and responsibility for errors
Built-in Quality ensures that every element and every increment of the solution reflects quality standards throughout the development lifecycle. Quality is not “added later.” Building quality in is a prerequisite of Lean and flow—without it, the organization will likely operate with large batches of unverified, unvalidated work. Excessive rework and slower velocities are likely results.
The bigger the system, the more important endemic quality is, so there can be no ambiguity about the importance of built-in quality in large-scale systems. It is mandatory.
Which of the following is NOT one of the 5 aspects of Built-in Quality?
A. FLOW
B. LEAN
C. ARCHITECTURE and DESIGN QUALITY
D. CODE QUALITY
E. SYSTEM QUALITY
F. RELEASE QUALITY
B. LEAN
LEAN is NOT one of the specific aspects of Built-In Quality.
Built-in quality is a major foundational element of SAFe, and since it’s impossible to localize the quality discussion to every specific activity or artifact that affects quality, the SAFe Built-in Quality article organizes quality thinking around five specific aspects—Flow, Architecture and Design Quality, Code Quality, System Quality and Release Quality,
Which of the following does NOT exhibit the the core value of “Program Execution”?
A. Participate as an active Business Owner
B. Celebrate high quality and predictability delivered PI’s
C. Ensure UX, architecture, operations, security, compliance, and others are part of the flow of work
D. Aggressively remove impediments and demotivators
C. Ensure UX, architecture, operations, security, compliance, and others are part of the flow of work
SAFe uses Program Execution to place an intense focus on working systems and business outcomes.
That is the purpose of the ART, and that is why SAFe focuses implementation initially at Essential SAFe. In turn, the ability of Value Streams to deliver value depends on the ability of the ARTs and Solution Trains.
Coupled with the other core values alignment, transparency, and built-in quality on the team’s side, they have a little ‘wind at their back.’ That enables a focus on execution. And if they struggle—and they will, because complex solution development is hard—they have the cornerstone of the Inspect and Adapt workshops.
In that way, they close the loop and execute better and better during each Program Increment.
Which aspect of the House of Lean is responsible for driving the shortest sustainable lead time, ensuring the best quality and value to people and society, promoting high morale and safety and customer delight?
A. Value
B. Respect for People and Culture
C. Flow
D. Innovation
E. Relentless Improvement
F. Leadership
A. Value
