SAFe® Inspect and Adapt Workshop

Foundations

Inspect & Adapt (I&A)

A significant event at the end of each PI where the ART demonstrates and evaluates the solution and identifies improvements.

Relentless Improvement

A core SAFe value; I&A is the primary event that operationalizes it for the ART.

Cadence

I&A occurs every Program Increment, creating a regular rhythm of reflection and improvement.

Whole ART Participation

All teams and key stakeholders participate so improvement is shared and systemic.

Three Parts

PI System Demo

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

Quantitative & Qualitative Measurement

Reviewing metrics and perceptions to assess the ART's performance for the PI.

Problem-Solving Workshop

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

Measurement

Business Value Achieved

Comparing planned versus actual PI objective value to assess outcomes and predictability.

Predictability Measure

The ratio of actual to planned business value, indicating how reliably the ART delivers.

Flow Metrics

Measures of how work moves that reveal systemic issues to address.

Team and ART Health

Qualitative assessments of how teams feel work is going, complementing the numbers.

Problem-Solving

Identify the Problem

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

Root-Cause Analysis

Digging beneath symptoms to find underlying causes so fixes prevent recurrence.

Fishbone Diagram

A cause-and-effect diagram organizing potential causes into categories.

5 Whys

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

Brainstorming Solutions

Generating potential improvements to address the identified root causes.

Improvement

Improvement Backlog Items

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

Prioritizing Improvements

Sequencing actions by impact and feasibility to tackle the most valuable first.

SMART Actions

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

Closing the Loop

Tracking improvement actions to completion and verifying their effect.

Facilitation

Facilitating I&A

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

Timeboxing

Keeping each part of the event to time so the whole ART stays engaged and productive.