Description

Introduction 

Program Increment (PI) Planning is one of the most critical events in the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe), bringing together all teams within an Agile Release Train (ART) to align on a shared vision, define objectives, identify risks, and commit to delivering value in the upcoming PI. As a large-scale, synchronized planning event, PI Planning ensures transparency, collaboration, and alignment across multiple teams, stakeholders, and business owners. Effective preparation and execution of PI Planning help organizations establish clear priorities, manage dependencies, and create a realistic, data-driven plan for delivering high-quality outcomes. This training provides a detailed understanding of the processes, roles, tools, and best practices that enable successful PI Planning and ensure smooth execution throughout the Program Increment.

Prerequisites

• Basic understanding of Agile and Scrum

• Familiarity with SAFe concepts and terminologies (recommended)

• Awareness of Agile Release Trains (ARTs)

• Experience with team-level or project planning (optional)

Table of Contents

1. Introduction to PI Planning
1.1 Purpose and Importance of PI Planning
1.2 When and How Often PI Planning Occurs
1.3 Key Participants and Their Roles
1.4 Benefits of Cross-Team Alignment

2. Preparing for PI Planning
2.1 Setting the Business Context
2.2 Preparing the Vision and Product Roadmap
2.3 Feature Readiness and Backlog Refinement
2.4 ART Readiness and Capacity Planning
2.5 Logistics: Tools, Agenda, and Setup (Remote/Hybrid Planning)

3. The PI Planning Agenda
3.1 Day 1 Agenda: Context, Vision, and Breakouts
3.2 Day 2 Agenda: Management Review, Planning Adjustments
3.3 Team Breakout Sessions
3.4 Draft Planning Review and ART Sync
3.5 Final Plan Review and Confidence Vote

4. Team-Level PI Planning Activities
4.1 Identifying Iteration Goals
4.2 Story Mapping and Estimation
4.3 Identifying Dependencies and Risks
4.4 Creating the Team PI Objectives
4.5 Aligning with Program Features

5. ART-Level PI Planning Activities
5.1 Consolidating Team Objectives
5.2 Business Owner Engagement
5.3 Risk Management Using ROAM
5.4 Finalizing the ART PI Objectives
5.5 Communicating the ART Plan

6. Post-PI Planning Activities
6.1 Drafting Iteration Plans
6.2 Syncing Dependencies Across Teams
6.3 Preparing Backlogs for Iteration 1
6.4 Tracking Progress Using PI Metrics

7. Best Practices for Successful PI Planning
7.1 Ensuring Feature Readiness
7.2 Fostering Collaboration and Transparency
7.3 Effective Time Management During Breakouts
7.4 Using Digital Tools for Distributed Planning
7.5 Continuous Improvement for Future PI Planning Events

Program Increment (PI) Planning is the cornerstone of alignment and synchronization in SAFe, enabling teams and stakeholders to create a shared vision, commit to common objectives, and plan for predictable value delivery. When executed effectively—with proper preparation, engaged participants, clear communication, and strong facilitation—PI Planning strengthens collaboration across teams, improves decision-making, and ensures organizational focus on the highest priorities. Mastering the preparation and execution of PI Planning empowers Agile Release Trains to deliver consistent, customer-centric value throughout each Program Increment.