A Complete Guide to Program Increment (PI) Planning in SAFe®
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.
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:
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.
PI Planning is a large-scale collaborative effort that includes:
A typical PI Planning event includes the following:
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.
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.
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.