SAFe Essentials
Scale agile across teams, programs, and portfolios
free · no signup · 7-9 hours · 6 modules · 19 lessons · intermediate
What You'll Learn
6 outcomesBy the end of this curriculum, you will be able to:
- Understand the Lean-Agile mindset and SAFe's 10 principles
- Operate effectively as a team member within an Agile Release Train
- Participate in and contribute to PI Planning events
- Understand how large solutions coordinate multiple ARTs
- Apply Lean Portfolio Management concepts to connect strategy and execution
- Recognize common SAFe anti-patterns and how to address them
Who This Is For
- Developers and team members working in SAFe organizations
- Scrum Masters and coaches preparing for scaled environments
- Product Owners and Product Managers navigating SAFe roles
- Leaders evaluating or sponsoring SAFe transformations
- Anyone curious about how agile works beyond a single team
Curriculum
6 modules · 19 lessons6 modules covering SAFe from foundations through implementation
Foundations & Lean-Agile Mindset
70 minUnderstand why scaling agile is hard, the mindset shift SAFe requires, and the principles that underpin every level of the framework. This foundation prevents cargo-cult adoption.
Learning Objectives
- Understand the problems SAFe was designed to solve
- Internalize the Lean-Agile mindset and SAFe House of Lean
- Apply the 10 SAFe principles to real-world decisions
Team Level
55 minHow agile teams operate within SAFe—roles, iteration mechanics, quality practices, and backlog management. Teams are the foundation; everything else builds on team-level excellence.
Learning Objectives
- Understand agile team composition and roles in SAFe
- Run effective iterations with planning, execution, review, and retrospective
- Apply built-in quality practices at the team level
Program Level (ART)
65 minThe Agile Release Train is SAFe's primary scaling mechanism. Learn how PI Planning aligns teams, System Demos prove integration, and Inspect & Adapt drives continuous improvement.
Learning Objectives
- Understand the Agile Release Train structure and key roles
- Plan and facilitate effective PI Planning events
- Run meaningful System Demos that drive feedback
Large Solution
50 minWhen one ART isn't enough—how the Solution Train coordinates multiple ARTs building a single large product. Covers capabilities, solution-level events, and supplier coordination.
Learning Objectives
- Understand when and why the Large Solution level is needed
- Describe the Solution Train structure and its key roles
- Distinguish capabilities and enablers from features
Portfolio Level
50 minConnect strategy to execution with Lean Portfolio Management. Learn to fund value streams, manage epics, and align organizational investment with business outcomes.
Learning Objectives
- Understand Lean Portfolio Management and its three dimensions
- Connect strategic themes to value stream investment
- Manage the portfolio kanban for epic flow
Implementation
55 minHow to actually adopt SAFe—the implementation roadmap, launching your first ART, common anti-patterns, and measuring whether the transformation is working.
Learning Objectives
- Follow the SAFe Implementation Roadmap step by step
- Launch an Agile Release Train successfully
- Measure transformation progress with meaningful metrics
Additional Resources
5 referencesRecommended reading and references for deeper learning
SAFe 6.0 Framework
websiteThe official SAFe website with complete framework documentation, articles, and guidance.SAFe 6.0 Distilled
bookRichard Knaster and Dean Leffingwell's accessible guide to SAFe—the best starting point for deeper learning.The Art of Avoiding a Train Wreck
bookEm Campbell-Pretty's practical guide to launching ARTs and running PI Planning effectively.Lean Enterprise
bookJez Humble, Joanne Molesky, and Barry O'Reilly on applying Lean and Agile principles at enterprise scale.The Principles of Product Development Flow
bookDon Reinertsen's foundational work on economic decision-making—the intellectual basis for many SAFe principles.
Start Your SAFe Journey
This curriculum is completely free. No signup required. Start learning at your own pace and understand how agile scales across organizations.
Start Module 1: Foundations & Lean-Agile Mindset