SSM Exam Questions & Answers

One of the characteristics of high-performing teams is having fun with the work and with each other. According to SAFe, high-performing teams enjoy their work and have a positive team spirit. They celebrate their achievements and learn from their failures. They also have a strong sense of camaraderie and trust, which fosters collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement12.

: 1: Exam Study Guide: SSM (6.0) - SAFe Scrum Master - scaledagile.com1 2: High-Performing Teams - Scaled Agile Framework2

One benefit of having an IP Iteration every PI is that it creates an estimating buffer for meeting PI objectives. PI objectives are a set of SMART goals that align the teams and stakeholders to a common vision and mission for the upcoming Program Increment (PI).They are derived from the business context, priorities, and dependencies, and are agreed upon and committed by the teams during PI Planning1However, since PI objectives are based on estimates and assumptions, there is always a degree of uncertainty and variability in the delivery process. To account for this, SAFe recommends that teams reserve 10% of their capacity for each PI as an estimating buffer.This buffer is used during the IP Iteration, which is a unique, dedicated iteration that occurs every PI and provides dedicated time for innovation, continuing education, PI Planning, and Inspect and Adapt events2By having an IP Iteration as an estimating buffer, the teams can improve the predictability and flow of value delivery, as well as reduce the stress and pressure of meeting the PI objectives23

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PI Objectives - Scaled Agile Framework

Innovation and Planning Iteration - Scaled Agile Framework

SAFe Scrum Master Course Outline

One benefit of PI Planning is that it allows for faster decision-making by bringing together all the members of the Agile Release Train (ART) and the relevant stakeholders in a face-to-face (or virtual) event. PI Planning provides an opportunity for the ART to align on a common vision and mission, review the business context and priorities, identify and resolve dependencies and risks, and commit to a realistic and achievable plan for the next Program Increment (PI). By having everyone involved in the planning process, the ART can leverage the collective knowledge and expertise of the participants, reduce ambiguity and uncertainty, and make informed and timely decisions that support the delivery of value to the customers.

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PI Planning - Scaled Agile Framework

Planning Interval (PI) - Scaled Agile Framework

Preparing for PI Planning | Checklist for Scrum Masters and Product ...

Scrum Master - Scaled Agile Framework

Scrum Master role in PI Planning - ValueGlide

According to SAFe, one output of a successful Iteration Retrospective is the creation of a few improvement Stories that enter the Team Backlog for the next iteration. These stories reflect the team's agreement on what they can do better in terms of their process, practices, and performance. The improvement stories are visible and prioritized along with the other stories in the backlog. They help the team implement the concept of relentless improvement, which is one of the core values of SAFe.

:Iteration Retrospective - Scaled Agile Framework,Exam Study Guide: SSM (6.0) - SAFe Scrum Master

One way a Scrum Master/Team Coach can support productive team Backlog Refinement sessions is to ensure subject matter experts are invited. Subject matter experts (SMEs) are people who have specialized knowledge or skills related to the domain or technical aspects of the product or solution. They can provide valuable input and feedback to the team during Backlog Refinement, such as clarifying requirements, validating assumptions, identifying dependencies, and suggesting solutions. SMEs can also help the team to split, estimate, and prioritize the backlog items more effectively and accurately. By inviting SMEs to the Backlog Refinement sessions, the Scrum Master/Team Coach can facilitate better collaboration, communication, and alignment among the team and the stakeholders.

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Team Backlog - Scaled Agile Framework

Exam Study Guide: SSM (6.0) - SAFe Scrum Master - scaledagile.com

What is backlog refinement? | Miro