Pass the Scrum Advanced Scrum Master SAFe-SASM Questions and answers with CertsForce

The program predictability measure is the primary metric used during the quantitative measurement part of the Inspect and Adapt (I&A) event in SAFe. This measure assesses how reliably the Agile Release Train (ART) can deliver business value within the Program Increment (PI) timebox. It helps to:

Evaluate the team's ability to meet their commitments.

Identify areas where predictability can be improved.

Ensure that the business value planned for the PI is actually delivered.

By focusing on the predictability of business value, organizations can better align their planning and execution efforts, ultimately enhancing customer satisfaction and achieving strategic goals more effectively.

SAFe Scrum Master References

SAFe Inspect and Adapt events

SAFe 5.0 framework: using program predictability as a key metric to assess and improve ART performance.

Teams that fear conflict exhibit certain characteristics that can hinder their success:

They ignore controversial topics that are critical to team success (B): When teams avoid addressing difficult or controversial issues, they miss out on resolving important problems that could impact their success. Ignoring such topics can lead to unresolved conflicts, misalignment, and suboptimal decision-making.

They fail to tap into all the opinions and perspectives of team members (C): Fear of conflict can prevent team members from voicing their opinions and sharing diverse perspectives. This lack of open communication can result in missed opportunities for innovation and improvement, as well as decisions that do not reflect the collective wisdom of the team.

SAFe Scrum Master References

SAFe Principles: fostering a culture of open communication and collaboration

Anti-Pattern Explanation:Iteration Planning should not be the first time the team hears about the business intent of the work they are about to start. This should have been communicated earlier through backlog refinement sessions and ongoing interactions with the Product Owner (PO).

Business Intent Communication:The PO should regularly update the team on the business context and intent behind backlog items to ensure alignment and readiness for Iteration Planning.

Impact:Introducing business intent for the first time during Iteration Planning can lead to confusion, inadequate preparation, and a rushed planning session, which undermines the effectiveness of the iteration.

SAFe Scrum Master References:

SAFe emphasizes the importance of continuous backlog refinement and clear communication of business intent to ensure that teams are well-prepared for Iteration Planning.

The Scrum of Scrums meeting during PI Planning is designed to identify and manage dependencies across teams. This meeting allows representatives from each team to come together and discuss how their plans intersect and where they might impact each other.

Dependency Identification:Teams identify dependencies early to manage risks and align their efforts.

Coordination:Facilitates better coordination and integration of work between multiple teams.

Communication:Provides a forum for raising issues and ensuring that all teams are aware of potential impacts on their work.

This helps in creating a more cohesive and integrated approach to delivering the Program Increment (PI).

SAFe Scrum Master References:

SAFe Advanced Scrum Master Training Material, Chapter on PI Planning​​

The Scrum Master should coach Lee to discuss his progress in the context of the Iteration goals. By framing his updates around how his work contributes to the broader objectives of the iteration, Lee can provide the team with better visibility into his progress and the impact of his work. This approach encourages team members to think beyond individual tasks and understand how their efforts align with the team's goals, fostering greater collaboration and accountability.

SAFe Scrum Master References

SAFe Principles: focusing on outcomes and aligning individual efforts with team goals

SAFe 5.0 framework: effective daily stand-up practices

The decision to implement pair programming in future iterations is a team-level improvement action that stems from reflecting on their current processes and identifying areas for enhancement. This is best captured during the team's retrospective:

Retrospective Purpose:The retrospective is a regular meeting where the team reflects on what went well, what didn’t, and what could be improved.

Action Items:Decisions and action items, such as adopting pair programming, are documented in the retrospective notes to ensure they are followed up in future iterations.

Continuous Improvement:Capturing this in the retrospective notes ensures the team is committed to continuous improvement and has a clear record of their decisions and plans for process enhancements.

SAFe Scrum Master References:

SAFe Advanced Scrum Master Training Material, Chapter on Team Retrospectives​​.

The Inspect and Adapt (I&A) event is a critical component in the SAFe framework, held at the end of each Program Increment (PI). The main output of the I&A event is a set of improvement items that are intended to be actioned in the next PI Planning event. This helps in ensuring continuous improvement in the process and products.

PI System Demo:Demonstrates the current state of the solution and provides an opportunity for the stakeholders to inspect the progress.

Quantitative Measurement:Teams review metrics that reflect the current state of the development process.

Problem-Solving Workshop:Identifies root causes of the biggest problems and formulates improvement items.

Improvement Backlog:The improvement items identified are prioritized and added to the team's backlog for the next PI.

This cycle of continuous feedback and improvement helps in refining the development process and enhancing the team's performance.

SAFe Scrum Master References:

SAFe Advanced Scrum Master Training Material, Chapter on Inspect and Adapt​​.

When a team struggles with breaking down large stories into smaller ones, the Scrum Master can coach them by demonstrating specific story-splitting techniques. This hands-on approach provides practical examples of how large stories can be decomposed into smaller, more manageable tasks. Techniques might include splitting by workflow steps, by business rules, by user roles, or by data boundaries. By using a specific example, the Scrum Master can illustrate the process and benefits, helping the team develop this essential skill.

SAFe Scrum Master References

SAFe Agile Principles: continuous delivery of value

SAFe 5.0 framework: techniques for effective story splitting