What Is PI Planning?

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What Is PI Planning?

A Complete Guide to Program Increment (PI) Planning in SAFe®

Introduction

PI Planning, or Program Increment Planning, is a cornerstone of the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe®). It’s a structured, face-to-face (or remote) planning event that brings together multiple Agile teams, stakeholders, and leaders to align on a shared vision and deliverables for the upcoming increment, typically spanning 8 to 12 weeks.

Why Is PI Planning Important?

PI Planning ensures that Agile Release Trains (ARTs) operate with strategic alignment, team collaboration, and clear objectives. It’s more than just scheduling work; it’s about fostering transparency, building trust, surfacing dependencies early, and aligning technical and business priorities.

Key outcomes include:

  • Committed Team Objectives

  • Program Board showing cross-team dependencies and milestones

  • Improved time-to-market

  • Early identification of risks and issues

  • Engagement from both business and technical stakeholders

When Does PI Planning Happen?

PI Planning occurs at the start of each Program Increment (usually quarterly). It typically spans two days, though remote or hybrid teams may extend this timeline slightly to accommodate time zones and digital collaboration.

Who Attends PI Planning?

PI Planning is a large-scale collaborative effort that includes:

  • Agile Teams (Scrum Masters, Product Owners, Developers)

  • Release Train Engineer (RTE)

  • Product Management

  • System Architects

  • Business Owners

  • Stakeholders and Executives

The PI Planning Agenda

A typical PI Planning event includes the following:

Day 1:

  • Business context from executives

  • Product vision and roadmap

  • Architecture and UX briefings

  • Team breakout sessions for draft planning

Day 2:

  • Final plan reviews

  • Management review and problem-solving

  • Confidence vote

  • Risk identification (ROAMing)

  • Plan rework if needed

  • Final PI Objectives presentation

In-Person vs. Remote PI Planning

While originally designed for in-person, PI Planning has adapted successfully to remote and hybrid formats. Tools like Miro, MURAL, and SAFe’s integrated platforms help facilitate distributed collaboration, real-time planning, and digital program boards.

Common Challenges in PI Planning

  • Lack of preparation (unclear backlogs or undefined dependencies)

  • Technical difficulties during remote events

  • Inadequate stakeholder participation

  • Misaligned objectives or priorities

ICON Agility Services offers expert facilitation and coaching to help organizations prepare for, execute, and improve their PI Planning sessions. Explore our detailed blog on 5 Things to Know Before Your First PI Planning.

Conclusion

PI Planning is more than a meeting; it’s a critical event that shapes how organizations deliver value at scale. By aligning strategy, execution, and collaboration across teams, PI Planning sets the foundation for successful Agile Release Trains.

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