A program increment is a period in which agile Release Trains deliver incremental value in the form of running and testing systems. One of the primary purposes of PI planning is to keep everyone aware in the team to have a good experience of team collaboration. Planning, constructing, testing, and validating a full system increment, showing value, and receiving timely feedback are all part of the process. . PIs typically last between eight and twelve weeks. Four iterations of development followed by innovation and planning (IP) is the most prevalent PI pattern. As Iteration is an Agile Team, a PI is the Agile Release Train (ART).
Program Increment
One of the most important and extensive events in the Scaled Agile Framework is the PI Planning process. A large-scale planning session is held to determine the direction and activities of the Release Train in eight to twelve weeks. It is necessary to first comprehend the concepts SAFe, Program Increments, and Agile Release Trains to correctly grasp PI Planning.
Important Terms to Consider In Program Increment
PI (Program Increment):
A set period of 8-12 weeks during which the ART all the Scrum teams should have collaborated to fulfill the Increment target of the project. A specific amount of time with a defined purpose is similar to a sprint, but it covers a much larger team than a Scrum team.
Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe):
When multiple teams work on a single project, the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) technique might help. Some extra responsibilities and events help coordinate various Scrum teams operating on the same project or product.
Agile Release Train (ART):
It is a 50-125-person cross-functional team working on a single product or project. As a part of the giant corporation, they should all be focused on the ART and operate as an independent unit.
What Is the Importance of PI Planning?
The Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) assists development teams in overcoming the difficulties of integrating many teams, procedures, and projects to provide a coherent result.
The Agile Release Train (ART) is the hub for all teams working toward a common goal. Two or more tracks may be working concurrently in huge organizations, which is why teams should take a step back every eight to twelve weeks to ensure they are still functioning toward the corporate goals and broad vision.
PI Planning is planned at the start of each Program Increment and following the Inspect & Adapt Iteration. The conclusions of the Inspect & Adapt session should be included in future PI Planning content. These elements are turned into action items for the Next Iteration of the project.
How Is PI Planning Arranged?
When it comes to SAFe, PI Planning is just like any other agile methodology that promotes teams to perform in real time. The SAFe framework specifies the design and agenda of PI planning, which typically lasts two full days. Before and after the PI planning session, there is much preparation to make that everyone’s time is well spent.
The first step in PI planning is to get the team on the same page and explain the purpose of the following PI. In order to perfect their essential areas of the aim and highlight any problems or constraints, each group is then divided.
There are multiple rounds of planning during the event, with teams negotiating and evaluating each other’s plans. By bringing everyone together in the exact location simultaneously, this planning process can move along more quickly and effectively, benefiting all the groups involved. Participant feedback and suggestions for advancement are encouraged at the end of the PI planning process.
Final Remarks
Numerous advantages are gained by implementing PI planning in a company, such as ensuring that all team members and stakeholders can communicate in person. Teams are growing more and more divided in today’s development environment. Many team members may be able to attend the PI Planning meeting, but whole teams may not do so. Consideration and care must be paid to how to incorporate the valuable input of remote workers into SAFe.