Program Increment Planning (Agile) Training Course

 Program Increment Planning (Agile) Training Course 

Introduction
Program Increment Planning (PI Planning) is a critical event within the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) that aligns teams, stakeholders, and business objectives to deliver high-value outcomes efficiently. Program Increment Planning (Agile) Training Course offers comprehensive insights into Agile release planning, strategic alignment, and iterative delivery processes, emphasizing the collaboration, transparency, and adaptability required for successful large-scale Agile implementation. Participants will gain hands-on experience in planning, risk management, dependency mapping, and program execution, ensuring that Agile principles translate into measurable business impact. 

In today’s rapidly evolving business environment, organizations require dynamic frameworks to respond to market changes, customer needs, and emerging technologies. This training course equips participants with the skills to lead PI Planning sessions, prioritize backlogs, facilitate cross-team collaboration, and optimize program outcomes. Through case studies, interactive exercises, and real-world scenarios, learners will understand how to drive value delivery while fostering a culture of continuous improvement. This course is designed for Agile practitioners, Scrum Masters, Release Train Engineers, Product Owners, and organizational leaders aiming to scale Agile practices across multiple teams and departments. 

Course Objectives
By the end of this training course, participants will be able to: 

1.      Understand the fundamentals and framework of Program Increment Planning within SAFe. 

2.      Conduct effective PI Planning sessions with multiple Agile teams. 

3.      Align business objectives with Agile delivery strategies. 

4.      Prioritize backlogs to maximize program value and ROI. 

5.      Identify and manage risks, dependencies, and impediments during PI Planning. 

6.      Facilitate cross-team collaboration and stakeholder engagement. 

7.      Apply Agile metrics to monitor performance and progress. 

8.      Integrate customer feedback into PI Planning cycles. 

9.      Enhance transparency and communication across teams and leadership. 

10.  Optimize Agile Release Train (ART) performance for continuous delivery. 

11.  Develop realistic iteration plans and capacity forecasting. 

12.  Implement tools and techniques for remote or hybrid PI Planning sessions. 

13.  Foster a culture of continuous improvement and adaptive planning. 

Organizational Benefits 

·         Improved alignment between strategic goals and team delivery. 

·         Enhanced cross-functional collaboration and communication. 

·         Increased predictability in product delivery timelines. 

·         Reduced risk of project delays and resource conflicts. 

·         Better visibility into program objectives and progress. 

·         Improved capacity planning and resource allocation. 

·         Faster response to market changes and customer feedback. 

·         Higher employee engagement and accountability. 

·         Enhanced ROI through prioritized value delivery. 

·         Strengthened organizational Agile maturity. 

Target Audiences 

·         Agile Practitioners 

·         Scrum Masters 

·         Product Owners 

·         Release Train Engineers 

·         Project Managers 

·         Program Managers 

·         Business Analysts 

·         Organizational Leaders 

Course Duration: 10 days 

Course Modules 

Module 1: Introduction to Program Increment Planning 

·         Overview of SAFe and Agile principles 

·         Importance of PI Planning for large-scale projects 

·         Roles and responsibilities in PI Planning 

·         Key events and cadence of PI Planning 

·         Common challenges in PI Planning 

·         Case Study: Successful PI Planning in a multinational organization 

Module 2: Aligning Business and Program Objectives 

·         Translating business strategy into program goals 

·         Setting measurable PI objectives 

·         Identifying critical dependencies 

·         Stakeholder engagement strategies 

·         Value stream mapping for PI Planning 

·         Case Study: Aligning objectives in a complex ART 

Module 3: Backlog Prioritization and Management 

·         Techniques for backlog prioritization 

·         Weighted Shortest Job First (WSJF) method 

·         Incorporating customer feedback into prioritization 

·         Managing cross-team dependencies 

·         Balancing capacity with demand 

·         Case Study: Effective backlog prioritization in a software company 

Module 4: PI Planning Preparation 

·         Pre-planning activities and agenda creation 

·         Team readiness and alignment 

·         Risk assessment and mitigation planning 

·         Tools and templates for PI Planning 

·         Scheduling and logistics considerations 

·         Case Study: Preparation strategies for a hybrid PI Planning session 

Module 5: Execution of PI Planning 

·         Facilitating team breakout sessions 

·         Drafting iteration plans 

·         Dependency mapping across teams 

·         Risk identification and escalation 

·         Ensuring alignment with program objectives 

·         Case Study: Execution of PI Planning in a global organization 

Module 6: Managing Risks and Impediments 

·         Risk identification techniques 

·         Dependency tracking and resolution 

·         Impediment escalation process 

·         Continuous risk monitoring 

·         Reporting risk and mitigation outcomes 

·         Case Study: Risk management in an Agile Release Train 

Module 7: Iteration Planning and Forecasting 

·         Planning iterations based on team capacity 

·         Story mapping and estimation techniques 

·         Forecasting program velocity 

·         Aligning iterations with PI objectives 

·         Monitoring progress and adjustment strategies 

·         Case Study: Iteration planning in a large-scale PI 

Module 8: Agile Metrics and Performance Tracking 

·         Key performance indicators for PI Planning 

·         Metrics for ART health and progress 

·         Reporting outcomes to stakeholders 

·         Continuous improvement through metrics 

·         Using metrics for decision-making 

·         Case Study: Applying Agile metrics in PI Planning 

Module 9: Facilitating Collaboration Across Teams 

·         Communication techniques for cross-team alignment 

·         Conflict resolution strategies 

·         Encouraging knowledge sharing 

·         Remote and hybrid collaboration methods 

·         Tools for effective teamwork 

·         Case Study: Enhancing collaboration in distributed teams 

Module 10: Customer-Centric Planning 

·         Incorporating customer feedback into PI objectives 

·         Prioritizing features that maximize value 

·         Engaging stakeholders in feedback loops 

·         User story mapping and refinement 

·         Ensuring alignment with customer needs 

·         Case Study: Customer-centric PI Planning success story 

Module 11: Scaling PI Planning Across ARTs 

·         Coordinating multiple Agile Release Trains 

·         Managing inter-ART dependencies 

·         Standardizing processes for scalability 

·         Tools for scaling PI Planning 

·         Aligning cross-ART objectives 

·         Case Study: Scaling PI Planning in a multinational company 

Module 12: Tools and Technology for PI Planning 

·         Agile project management software overview 

·         Digital boards for remote PI Planning 

·         Collaboration and communication tools 

·         Automating reporting and tracking 

·         Evaluating and selecting PI Planning tools 

·         Case Study: Tool implementation for effective PI Planning 

Module 13: Continuous Improvement and Retrospective 

·         Conducting PI retrospectives 

·         Identifying areas for improvement 

·         Feedback collection and analysis 

·         Iterating planning processes for better outcomes 

·         Building a culture of continuous improvement 

·         Case Study: Retrospective-led process improvement 

Module 14: Change Management in PI Planning 

·         Managing organizational change during Agile transformation 

·         Communication plans for change adoption 

·         Leadership involvement in change management 

·         Addressing resistance and challenges 

·         Monitoring change impact on ART performance 

·         Case Study: Successful change management in a large enterprise 

Module 15: Capstone Exercise and Certification Preparation 

·         Hands-on simulation of PI Planning 

·         Collaborative team exercises 

·         Review of course learnings 

·         Feedback and coaching 

·         Preparing for certification assessments 

·         Case Study: Capstone PI Planning simulation for skill validation 

Training Methodology 

·         Interactive lectures with real-world examples 

·         Hands-on exercises and simulations 

·         Case studies from leading organizations 

·         Group discussions and peer learning 

·         Role-playing PI Planning scenarios 

·         Continuous assessment and feedback 

Register as a group from 3 participants for a Discount 

Send us an email: info@datastatresearch.org or call +254724527104 

Certification                                               

Upon successful completion of this training, participants will be issued with a globally- recognized certificate. 

Tailor-Made Course 

 We also offer tailor-made courses based on your needs. 

Key Notes              

a. The participant must be conversant with English. 

b. Upon completion of training the participant will be issued with an Authorized Training Certificate 

c. Course duration is flexible and the contents can be modified to fit any number of days. 

d. The course fee includes facilitation training materials, 2 coffee breaks, buffet lunch and A Certificate upon successful completion of Training. 

e. One-year post-training support Consultation and Coaching provided after the course. 

f. Payment should be done at least a week before commence of the training, to DATASTAT CONSULTANCY LTD account, as indicated in the invoice so as to enable us prepare better for you.