Inspect, Adapt, & Excel Workshop

Foundations

Inspect & Adapt (I&A)

A significant event where the current state of the solution is demonstrated and evaluated, and teams identify improvements through structured problem-solving.

Relentless Improvement

The ongoing pursuit of better ways of working, a core SAFe value that I&A operationalizes.

Data-Driven Reflection

Using real quantitative and qualitative data, not just opinion, to guide improvement decisions.

Excel Through Improvement

Turning reflection into concrete, prioritized actions that measurably improve performance.

The Event

Three Parts of I&A

The PI System Demo, quantitative and qualitative measurement, and the retrospective and problem-solving workshop.

PI System Demo

A demonstration of the full, integrated increment from the Program Increment to stakeholders.

Quantitative Measurement

Reviewing metrics such as business value achieved, predictability, and flow to assess performance.

Qualitative Measurement

Gathering team and stakeholder perceptions to complement the numbers.

Retrospective

Teams reflect on what went well and what to improve before the problem-solving workshop.

Measurement

Predictability Measure

Comparing planned versus actual business value to gauge how reliably the train delivers.

Flow Metrics

Measures of how work moves — velocity, time, efficiency — used to spot systemic issues.

Business Value Achieved

The value delivered against PI objectives, assigned by Business Owners, used to assess outcomes.

Problem-Solving

Problem-Solving Workshop

A structured root-cause analysis where teams identify the biggest problems and address them.

Identify the Problem

Agreeing on a clear, specific statement of the problem to solve.

Fishbone (Ishikawa) Diagram

A cause-and-effect diagram that organizes potential root causes into categories.

5 Whys

Repeatedly asking why to trace a problem to its underlying root cause.

Root Cause

The fundamental reason a problem occurs; fixing it prevents recurrence.

Pareto Analysis

Focusing on the vital few causes that produce most of the impact.

Improvement

Improvement Backlog Items

Actionable items generated from the workshop, added to the backlog and committed in the next PI.

Prioritizing Improvements

Sequencing improvement actions by impact and feasibility so the most valuable are tackled first.

SMART Actions

Improvement actions that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.

Closing the Loop

Tracking improvement actions to completion and verifying they had the intended effect.

Applying It

Facilitating I&A

Guiding the event so it stays data-driven, focused, and produces committed improvements.

Continuous Excellence

Repeating inspect-and-adapt every PI so performance keeps improving over time.