Leading SAFe® with Certified SAFe® Agilist (SA)

Part 1: Introduction to SAFe

• An overview of the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe)
• Strategies for implementing SAFe
• Exploring the history and core values of SAFe

Part 2: Embracing Lean Thinking

• Understanding Lean Software Development and Product Development Flow
• Utilizing Lean tools and techniques
• Concepts like House of Quality, Optimal Batch Size, and Product Development Flow
• Managing flow under uncertainty
• Decentralized control
• Value Stream Mapping
• Real-world exercises including “Pass the Pennies,” “Work-In-Progress (WIP) Constraints,” and “Decentralizing Decisions”
• Identifying value streams to differentiate your enterprise in the market

Part 3: Agile Development

• Application of Agile development principles and practices across the enterprise
• Overview of business benefits from Agile transformation
• Case studies illustrating real-world benefits
• Real-world exercise: “Accelerating Value Delivery” involving project value delivery curves

Part 4: SAFe at the Team Level

• Hands-on exploration of SAFe practices for teams, including Scrum and XP methods
• Focus on technical, project management, and economic prioritization practices
• Overview of Scrum plus XP in SAFe
• Roles within ScrumXP
• The significance of “Ba” (a shared context)
• Backlog sizing and estimating
• Agile planning
• Code quality and continuous integration
• Real-world exercises including “The Ball Point Game,” “Relative Estimation,” “Sprint Goals,” “Sprint Planning,” “Sprint Execution,” and “Sprint Retrospective”

Part 5: SAFe at the Program Level

• Identifying, implementing, and executing an Agile Release Train (ART) within your organization
• Understanding the rules, roles, and opportunities within an ART
• Creating a program vision and roadmap
• Optimizing ROI and managing the cost of delay
• Estimating ART duration
• Release planning and managing the train
• Real-world exercise: Prioritizing the program backlog using the Weighted Shortest Job First economic prioritization method

Part 6: SAFe at the Portfolio Level

• Defining Agile Portfolio Management and transformational patterns
• Topics include Strategy and Investment Funding, Program Management, and Governance
• Addressing legacy mindsets
• Exploring transformational patterns for Agile Portfolio Management

Part 7: Agile Architecture

• Understanding Agile Architecture principles
• The role of Enterprise and System Architects in SAFe
• Architecting in an evolutionary, continual-flow model of development
• Real-world exercise: Agile Architecture Discussion involving small group discussions

Part 8: Scaling Leadership

• Strategies for scaling Lean and Agile leadership across the enterprise
• Becoming a Lean|Agile Leader
• Managing knowledge workers
• Articulating product vision and analyzing the value stream
• Assessing Agile teams
• Real-world exercise: Coaching with Powerful Questions, including practice in Reflective Listening and asking Powerful Questions.

• Lead an enterprise Agile transformation and drive change across all levels.
• Apply lean thinking techniques effectively at the Team, Program, and Portfolio levels.
• Utilize Lean, Agile, and Product Development Flow principles to enhance productivity, boost employee engagement, reduce time to market, and enhance product quality.
• Infuse Agile practices throughout your entire organization, extending beyond just the IT department.
• Establish Agile Release Trains that align the efforts of both Agile and non-Agile teams to deliver greater stakeholder value.
• Promote collaboration across all layers of your organization, enabling teams to deliver complex cross-functional projects in 10 to 12-week increments.
• Enhance communication and focus within your organization’s Agile implementation.
• Successfully pass the SAFe Agilist Certification Exam.

All individuals are encouraged to attend the course, irrespective of their prior experience. However, we highly recommend the following prerequisites for those planning to take the SAFe 6 Agilist (SA) certification exam:

• A minimum of 5 years of experience in software development, testing, business analysis, product management, or project management.
• Familiarity with Scrum methodologies.

Attendees who successfully pass the certification exam will receive the following benefits:

• A one-year membership to the SAFe Community Platform, providing access to the SAFe Community of Practice.
• Opportunities to connect with other Certified SAFe professionals through Meetup groups and events.
• Access to a diverse range of learning resources to assist you on your SAFe journey.

Completion of this course grants you access to the exam and all associated study materials through your Learning Plan within the SAFe Community Platform.

• Exam Name: SAFe 6 Agilist Exam
• Exam Format: Multiple-choice (single answer) or multiple-select (2-3 answers)
• Exam Delivery: Web-based (single-browser), closed book, no external assistance, timed
• Exam Access: Candidates can access the exam within the SAFe Community Platform upon successful completion of the Leading SAFe course.
• Exam Duration: Once the exam commences, candidates have 90 minutes (1.5 hours) to complete it.
• Number of Questions: 45
• Passing Score: SA6 = 35 out of 45 (77%)
• Language: English
• Exam Cost: The first exam attempt is included as part of the course registration fee if taken within 30 days of course completion. Each retake attempt costs $50.
• Retake Policy: A second attempt on the exam (first retake) can be taken immediately after the first attempt. A third attempt requires a 10-day wait, while a fourth attempt necessitates a 30-day wait.