Which of the four SAFe Core Values is an enabler of trust?

A. Built-in Quality

B. Program Execution

C. Alignment

D. Transparency

The correct answer is

D. Transparency

Explanation

Transparency is the SAFe Core Value that serves as an enabler of trust. Transparency in the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) context means making all aspects of the Agile process visible to all stakeholders. This includes the progress and outcomes of work, the challenges faced, and the decisions made. By being transparent, organizations foster an environment of trust, where team members feel more comfortable sharing their insights, concerns, and suggestions. This open communication leads to better problem-solving, decision-making, and alignment across teams and stakeholders, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of Agile practices and contributing to the overall success of the enterprise.

Let’s delve into the other three SAFe Core Values, explaining their importance and how they contribute to the overall effectiveness of the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe):

1. Built-in Quality

Quality is not an afterthought in SAFe; it’s integrated into every step of the development process. Built-in quality ensures that each component of the system meets quality standards from the outset, preventing defects and reducing the cost and time associated with rework. This core value emphasizes practices such as Test-Driven Development (TDD), Continuous Integration (CI), and Pair Programming, among others, to ensure quality is maintained. By prioritizing quality at every stage, teams can deliver more reliable, durable, and high-performing products to their customers.

2. Program Execution

This core value emphasizes the importance of executing Agile Release Trains (ARTs) effectively and delivering value through successful Program Increments (PIs). High-performing ARTs are central to a successful SAFe implementation, as they enable organizations to achieve their strategic goals and respond to market changes more efficiently. Program execution involves coordinating multiple teams to work in sync, focusing on the incremental delivery of value, and ensuring that the solutions meet customer needs and organizational objectives. Excellence in program execution ensures that the enterprise can capitalize on the benefits of Lean-Agile software and systems development at scale.

3. Alignment

In the context of SAFe, alignment refers to ensuring that everyone in the organization—from team members to top management—is working toward common goals and understands the strategic objectives of the enterprise. This core value is critical in a scaled Agile environment, where numerous teams and ARTs may be working on different aspects of a solution. Through practices like PI Planning, Strategic Themes, and Lean Portfolio Management, SAFe helps maintain alignment across all levels of the organization. This ensures that decisions, efforts, and investments are all directed toward the most valuable outcomes for the business, enabling the organization to move swiftly and cohesively in its desired direction.

Each of these core values plays a vital role in the successful implementation of SAFe, contributing to the framework’s ability to enable enterprises to scale Agile practices and deliver value more effectively. Together with Transparency, they create a robust foundation for building trust, ensuring quality, executing programs effectively, and maintaining alignment across the organization.

Other SAFe Scrum Master Question – The purpose of Continuous Integration is to deliver what?