Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe)
Comprehensive Questions (Frequently
Tested) with Verified Answers Graded
A+
Agile Architecture - Answer: A set of values and practices that support the active evolution of
the design and architecture of a system while implementing new system capabilities.
Agile Release Train (ART) - Answer: A long-lived team of Agile teams, which, along with other
stakeholders, incrementally develops, delivers, and where applicable operates, one or more
solutions in a value stream.
Agile Team - Answer: A cross-functional group of 5 to 11 people who have the responsibility to
define, build, test, and where applicable deploy, some element of Solution value—all in a short
Iteration timebox. Specifically, this group incorporates the Dev Team, Scrum Master, and
Product Owner roles.
Architectural Runway - Answer: Consists of the existing code, components, and technical
infrastructure needed to implement near-term features without excessive redesign and delay.
Built-in Quality - Answer: Practices that ensure each Solution element, at every increment,
meets appropriate quality standards throughout development.
Business Owners - Answer: A small group of stakeholders who have the primary business and
technical responsibility for governance, compliance, and return on investment (ROI) for a
Solution developed by an Agile Release Train (ART). They are key stakeholders on the ART who
must evaluate fitness for use and actively participate in certain ART events.
,Business Solutions and Lean Systems Engineering - Answer: A competency which describes how
to apply Lean-Agile principles and practices to the specification, development, deployment, and
evolution of large, complex software applications and cyber-physical systems.
Capabilities - Answer: A higher-level solution behavior that typically spans multiple ARTs. Each is
sized and split into multiple features to facilitate their implementation in a single PI.
Communities of Practice (CoPs) - Answer: Organized groups of people who have a common
interest in a specific technical or business domain. They collaborate regularly to share
information, improve their skills, and actively work on advancing the general knowledge of the
domain.
Compliance - Answer: A strategy and a set of activities and artifacts that allow teams to apply
Lean-Agile development methods to build systems that have the highest possible quality, while
simultaneously assuring they meet any regulatory, industry, or other relevant standards.
Continuous Delivery Pipeline (or 'the 'pipeline') - Answer: The workflows, activities, and
automation needed to shepherd a new piece of functionality all the way from ideation to an on-
demand release of value to the end user.
Continuous Deployment (CD) - Answer: The process that fosters innovation and builds
alignment on what should be built by continually exploring market and Customer needs, and
defining a Vision, Roadmap, and set of Features for a Solution that addresses those needs.
Continuous Exploration (CE) - Answer: The process that fosters innovation and builds alignment
on what should be built by continually exploring market and Customer needs, and defining a
Vision, Roadmap, and set of Features for a Solution that addresses those needs.
, Continuous Integration (CI) - Answer: The process of taking features from the Program Backlog
and developing, testing, integrating, and validating them in a staging environment where they
are ready for deployment and release.
Core Values - Answer: These represent the fundamental beliefs that are key to SAFe's
effectiveness. These guiding principles help dictate behavior and action for everyone who
participates in a SAFe portfolio.
Those principles are:
1. Alignment
2. Built-in quality
3. Transparency
4. Program execution
Customers - Answer: The ultimate buyer of every Solution. They are an integral part of the Lean-
Agile development process and the Value Stream and have specific responsibilities in SAFe.
Dev Team - Answer: A subset of the Agile Team. It consists of dedicated professionals who can
develop, test, and deploy a Story, Feature, or component. This subset typically includes software
developers and testers, engineers, and other dedicated specialists required to complete a
vertical slice of functionality.
DevOps - Answer: A mindset, a culture, and a set of technical practices. It provides
communication, integration, automation, and close cooperation among all the people needed
to plan, develop, test, deploy, release, and maintain a Solution.
Uses the CALMR approach:
* Culture of Shared Responsibility
* Automation of Continuous Delivery Pipeline
Comprehensive Questions (Frequently
Tested) with Verified Answers Graded
A+
Agile Architecture - Answer: A set of values and practices that support the active evolution of
the design and architecture of a system while implementing new system capabilities.
Agile Release Train (ART) - Answer: A long-lived team of Agile teams, which, along with other
stakeholders, incrementally develops, delivers, and where applicable operates, one or more
solutions in a value stream.
Agile Team - Answer: A cross-functional group of 5 to 11 people who have the responsibility to
define, build, test, and where applicable deploy, some element of Solution value—all in a short
Iteration timebox. Specifically, this group incorporates the Dev Team, Scrum Master, and
Product Owner roles.
Architectural Runway - Answer: Consists of the existing code, components, and technical
infrastructure needed to implement near-term features without excessive redesign and delay.
Built-in Quality - Answer: Practices that ensure each Solution element, at every increment,
meets appropriate quality standards throughout development.
Business Owners - Answer: A small group of stakeholders who have the primary business and
technical responsibility for governance, compliance, and return on investment (ROI) for a
Solution developed by an Agile Release Train (ART). They are key stakeholders on the ART who
must evaluate fitness for use and actively participate in certain ART events.
,Business Solutions and Lean Systems Engineering - Answer: A competency which describes how
to apply Lean-Agile principles and practices to the specification, development, deployment, and
evolution of large, complex software applications and cyber-physical systems.
Capabilities - Answer: A higher-level solution behavior that typically spans multiple ARTs. Each is
sized and split into multiple features to facilitate their implementation in a single PI.
Communities of Practice (CoPs) - Answer: Organized groups of people who have a common
interest in a specific technical or business domain. They collaborate regularly to share
information, improve their skills, and actively work on advancing the general knowledge of the
domain.
Compliance - Answer: A strategy and a set of activities and artifacts that allow teams to apply
Lean-Agile development methods to build systems that have the highest possible quality, while
simultaneously assuring they meet any regulatory, industry, or other relevant standards.
Continuous Delivery Pipeline (or 'the 'pipeline') - Answer: The workflows, activities, and
automation needed to shepherd a new piece of functionality all the way from ideation to an on-
demand release of value to the end user.
Continuous Deployment (CD) - Answer: The process that fosters innovation and builds
alignment on what should be built by continually exploring market and Customer needs, and
defining a Vision, Roadmap, and set of Features for a Solution that addresses those needs.
Continuous Exploration (CE) - Answer: The process that fosters innovation and builds alignment
on what should be built by continually exploring market and Customer needs, and defining a
Vision, Roadmap, and set of Features for a Solution that addresses those needs.
, Continuous Integration (CI) - Answer: The process of taking features from the Program Backlog
and developing, testing, integrating, and validating them in a staging environment where they
are ready for deployment and release.
Core Values - Answer: These represent the fundamental beliefs that are key to SAFe's
effectiveness. These guiding principles help dictate behavior and action for everyone who
participates in a SAFe portfolio.
Those principles are:
1. Alignment
2. Built-in quality
3. Transparency
4. Program execution
Customers - Answer: The ultimate buyer of every Solution. They are an integral part of the Lean-
Agile development process and the Value Stream and have specific responsibilities in SAFe.
Dev Team - Answer: A subset of the Agile Team. It consists of dedicated professionals who can
develop, test, and deploy a Story, Feature, or component. This subset typically includes software
developers and testers, engineers, and other dedicated specialists required to complete a
vertical slice of functionality.
DevOps - Answer: A mindset, a culture, and a set of technical practices. It provides
communication, integration, automation, and close cooperation among all the people needed
to plan, develop, test, deploy, release, and maintain a Solution.
Uses the CALMR approach:
* Culture of Shared Responsibility
* Automation of Continuous Delivery Pipeline
