In project management, PI (Program Increment) Planning is a crucial activity that enables organizations to align their teams, set priorities, and plan for the upcoming program increment.
PI Planning is essential to the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) methodology, which aims to improve collaboration, coordination, and delivery in large-scale projects.
This guide will provide an overview of PI Planning, its components, steps to implement it effectively, standard models, examples of its application in the workplace, and the benefits it brings to corporate settings.
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Definition
PI Planning is a collaborative event that brings together multiple Agile teams to plan and synchronize their work for a program increment.
A program increment typically spans 8-12 weeks and represents a timebox during which teams work together to deliver features, enhancements, or capabilities.
PI Planning involves cross-functional teams, stakeholders, and product owners, who collectively define objectives, prioritize work, and establish a shared understanding of the upcoming increment.
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Importance of PI Planning
PI Planning is essential for several reasons.
Firstly, it promotes alignment and coordination among teams by providing a structured forum for communication and collaboration.
It ensures that all teams are working towards a standard set of goals and objectives, reducing silos and fostering a sense of shared ownership.
Secondly, PI Planning enables early identification and resolution of dependencies, risks, and impediments, allowing teams to proactively address potential roadblocks, such as access to employee training courses.
Lastly, PI Planning provides a predictable cadence for planning and delivery, enabling organizations to adapt and respond effectively to changing market conditions.
Components of PI Planning
PI Planning consists of five key components:
- Vision and Objectives: During PI Planning, the product owner and stakeholders present the vision and objectives for the upcoming program increment. This sets the context and provides a shared understanding of the goals that must be achieved.
- Team Breakouts: Teams break out into smaller groups to discuss and estimate the work required to achieve the objectives. They identify dependencies, risks, and potential challenges and create a plan for the increment.
- Management Review: The management team reviews the teams’ plans, provides feedback, and ensures alignment with organizational goals and strategies. They also address any conflicts or issues that arise during the planning process.
- Risk and Dependency Management: Teams identify and manage risks and dependencies that may impact the successful delivery of the program increment. They collaborate to find solutions, mitigate risks, and resolve dependencies.
- Final Plan and Commitment: At the end of the PI Planning event, teams present their final plans and commitments for the program increment. This includes a high-level roadmap, prioritized features, and a clear understanding of the work to be done.
Why Companies are Interested in PI Planning
Companies are increasingly interested in PI Planning because it offers several benefits.
Firstly, it improves predictability and reduces uncertainty by providing a structured planning process. This allows organizations to set realistic expectations and deliver value consistently.
Secondly, PI Planning enhances team collaboration and communication, fostering a culture of shared responsibility and accountability. It also promotes transparency and visibility, enabling stakeholders to track progress and make informed decisions.
Lastly, PI Planning helps organizations adapt to changing market conditions by providing a regular cadence for reassessing and adjusting priorities.
10 Steps to Use PI Planning
- Prepare and Set Objectives: Before the PI Planning event, gather the necessary information, define objectives, and communicate them to the teams.
- Assemble the Teams: Identify the Agile teams participating in the PI Planning event and ensure representation from all relevant stakeholders.
- Establish a Cadence: Determine the frequency and duration of the program increments, ensuring they align with the organization’s needs and capacity.
- Create a Shared Vision: Clearly articulate the vision and objectives for the program increment, ensuring alignment with the organization’s strategic goals.
- Breakout Sessions: Facilitate breakout sessions where teams collaborate to estimate, plan, and prioritize the work required to achieve the objectives.
- Manage Dependencies: Identify and manage dependencies between teams and features, ensuring that potential bottlenecks are addressed early on.
- Risk Identification and Mitigation: Encourage teams to identify and mitigate risks that may impact the successful delivery of the program increment.
- Management Review and Feedback: Engage the management team to review the plans created by the teams, provide feedback, and ensure alignment with organizational goals.
- Finalize the Plan: Consolidate the teams’ plans into a final roadmap, prioritized features, and a clear understanding of the work to be done.
- Communicate and Commit: Communicate the finalized plan to all stakeholders, ensuring everyone understands their roles, responsibilities, and commitments for the program increment.
Each of these steps is important as it contributes to the overall success of PI Planning. They ensure that teams clearly understand the objectives, collaborate effectively, manage risks and dependencies, and align their plans with organizational goals.
Common Model of PI Planning
A common model of PI Planning follows a two-day event structure.
Day one focuses on establishing a shared understanding of the vision, objectives, and priorities, while day two is dedicated to detailed planning and commitment.
This model allows teams to align their work, identify and address risks and dependencies, and create a realistic and achievable plan.
Examples of PI Planning in the Workplace
- Software Development: In a software development organization, PI Planning can be used to align multiple Agile teams working on different modules or components of a product. It ensures that all teams are synchronized, manage dependencies, and the product roadmap is well-defined.
- Product Launch: PI Planning can be applied to plan the launch of a new product or service. It brings together cross-functional teams responsible for marketing, sales, operations, and development to coordinate their efforts and ensure a successful launch.
- Infrastructure Projects: PI Planning can be used in infrastructure projects like building a new data center or implementing a network upgrade. It helps align different teams involved in the project, manage dependencies, and ensure timely delivery.
- Marketing Campaigns: PI Planning can be utilized to plan and execute marketing campaigns. It enables marketing teams to align their activities, set priorities, and ensure a cohesive and coordinated approach to campaign execution.
- Organizational Transformation: PI Planning can be employed during organizational transformations, such as adopting Agile practices or implementing new technologies. It helps teams navigate the change, align their efforts, and ensure a smooth transition.
Features and Benefits of PI Planning in Corporate Settings
Some key features of PI Planning include:
- Collaboration and coordination among teams.
- Identification and resolution of dependencies and risks.
- A clear understanding of objectives and priorities.
- Predictable cadence for planning and delivery.
- Alignment with organizational goals and strategies.
The benefits of PI Planning in corporate settings include:
- Improved predictability and delivery of value.
- Enhanced collaboration and communication.
- Early identification and mitigation of risks and dependencies.
- Adaptability to changing market conditions.
- Increased transparency and visibility for stakeholders.
In summary, PI Planning is a critical activity in project management that enables organizations to align their teams, set priorities, and plan for program increments.
By following the steps outlined in this guide and leveraging the benefits of PI Planning, companies can enhance their ability to deliver value consistently and adapt to changing market dynamics.
With 30+ years of experience, Catherine Fitzgerald, B.A., M.A., PGDip, founded Oak Innovation in 1995. Catherine received her Bachelor’s degree and Master’s from University College Cork. She holds qualifications in Professional Development And Training from University College Galway. She is completing a second Master’s from University College Cork. Since 1995, clients include Apple, Time Warner, and Harvard University.