Transform how your team works together to deliver value with our SAFe for Teams training. This course is designed to provide you and your team members with the foundational knowledge and practical skills needed to thrive in a Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) environment. You will learn how to apply Lean-Agile principles and practices, collaborate effectively, and contribute to the successful delivery of business solutions. By understanding your role within an Agile Release Train (ART), you will be able to synchronize your work, reduce dependencies, and accelerate value flow. This training is the essential first step for any team looking to embrace enterprise agility and unlock its full potential.

Our curriculum focuses on hands-on application and a deep dive into the daily workings of a high-performing SAFe team. You'll master the art of writing user stories, participating in PI Planning, and executing iterations with precision. We cover the key roles, events, and artifacts that guide your work and ensure alignment with the broader business strategy. Through interactive exercises and realistic scenarios, you'll gain the confidence to contribute effectively to your team and the ART. This course not only prepares you for a crucial role in your organization's Agile transformation but also equips you with the tools to build a culture of continuous improvement and collective success.

Duration: 10 days

Target Audience:

• Agile Team members
• Software Developers
• Testers and Quality Assurance Engineers
• Business Analysts
• Product Owners
• Scrum Masters
• System and Solution Architects
• UX Designers and Information Architects
• Technical Writers
• Any team member in a SAFe environment

Objectives:

• Understand the SAFe Lean-Agile mindset
• Learn the roles of a SAFe team member
• Discover how to apply SAFe principles and practices
• Master the mechanics of a Program Increment (PI)
• Learn to write and decompose user stories
• Participate effectively in PI Planning
• Understand the team's role in the Agile Release Train (ART)
• Collaborate with other teams to deliver solutions
• Master iteration execution and System Demos
• Understand the importance of Inspect and Adapt (I&A)

Course Modules:

Module 1: Introducing the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe)

• The importance of enterprise agility
• The four configurations of SAFe
• The SAFe House of Lean and its principles
• An overview of the Agile Release Train (ART)
• Key terminology and roles in SAFe

Module 2: The SAFe Team

• The structure and purpose of a SAFe team
• The roles of Product Owner, Scrum Master, and team members
• The importance of cross-functional teams
• Team responsibilities in the ART
• Team collaboration and self-organization

Module 3: Lean-Agile Principles for Teams

• The Agile Manifesto and its core values
• SAFe Principles as a foundation for teams
• The importance of continuous learning and improvement
• Applying Lean principles to team workflow
• The role of servant leadership within the team

Module 4: Program Increment (PI) Planning

• The purpose and agenda of PI Planning
• The team's role in preparing for the event
• Participating in breakout sessions and drafting plans
• Communicating team objectives and dependencies
• The importance of PI objectives and team commitment

Module 5: Executing the Program Increment (PI)

• Understanding the PI timeline and cadence
• The role of the team in System Demos
• The Scrum of Scrums and ART Sync meetings
• The importance of team-level ceremonies
• The role of the team in Inspect and Adapt (I&A)

Module 6: Iteration Execution

• The purpose of iteration planning
• Daily stand-ups and their importance
• Tracking progress and managing the Team Kanban board
• The role of the Product Owner in the iteration
• The importance of the Iteration Review

Module 7: Defining and Building Stories

• The relationship between Features and Stories
• Writing effective user stories and acceptance criteria
• The INVEST model for good stories
• Decomposing features into manageable stories
• Collaborating with the Product Owner on the Team Backlog

Module 8: Quality and Testing

• The importance of a definition of done
• Applying test-driven development (TDD)
• The role of the team in continuous integration
• Automating tests for faster feedback
• The importance of team-level quality practices

Module 9: The System Demo

• The purpose and agenda of the System Demo
• The team's role in preparing for the demo
• Demonstrating working functionality to stakeholders
• Gathering feedback and incorporating it into the next iteration
• The System Demo as a key event in the PI

Module 10: The Inspect and Adapt (I&A) Workshop

• The purpose of the I&A workshop
• The three parts of the workshop: PI System Demo, Quantitative Measurement, Retrospective
• The team's role in generating improvement ideas
• The importance of creating and executing improvement stories
• The I&A as a driver of continuous improvement

Module 11: Continuous Delivery Pipeline

• The role of the team in the Continuous Delivery Pipeline (CDP)
• Understanding Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment
• The importance of Built-In Quality
• How the team contributes to the release process
• The team's role in DevOps culture

Module 12: The SAFe Scrum Master and Product Owner

• The responsibilities of the Scrum Master and Product Owner
• How the team collaborates with these roles
• The PO's role in providing a clear vision
• The Scrum Master's role as a servant leader and coach
• The team's responsibility to support the PO and Scrum Master

Module 13: Collaboration within the ART

• The importance of cross-team communication
• Resolving dependencies and impediments with other teams
• The role of the Scrum of Scrums
• Shared understanding and alignment across the ART
• The importance of a unified team approach

Module 14: Team Self-Organization

• The principle of self-organizing teams
• The team's role in managing its own work
• The importance of autonomy and mastery
• Empowering teams to make decisions
• The team's role in creating a safe and productive environment

Module 15: SAFe Role-Based Training

• Understanding how the team's role fits into the larger SAFe picture
• How the team interacts with the Release Train Engineer (RTE)
• The team's relationship with System and Solution Architects
• The importance of stakeholder communication
• The role of the team in the overall Lean-Agile transformation

Training Approach

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org Tel: +254 702 249 449

Training Venue

The training will be held at our Skills for Africa Training Institute Training Centre. We also offer training for a group at requested location all over the world. The course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, and buffet lunch.

Visa application, travel expenses, airport transfers, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Skills for Africa Training Institute certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org Tel: +254 702 249 449

Terms of Payment: Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 10 working days before commencement of the training.