Program Increment (PI) Planning is the cornerstone event in SAFe that aligns all teams on common objectives for the upcoming 8-12 week period.

PI Planning in a Hospital Setting

Participants:

• All teams in the ART (50-125+ people)
• Product Management and Product Owners
• Release Train Engineer (facilitator)
• Business Owners (clinical directors, executives)
• System Architects
• Subject Matter Experts from clinical areas

Typical Two-Day Agenda:

Day 1:

1. Business Context - Hospital executive shares strategic vision
2. Product/Solution Vision - Product Management presents roadmap
3. Architecture Vision - System Architects present technical direction
4. Team Breakouts - Teams plan their work with their Product Owners
5. Draft Plan Review - Teams present initial plans and identify dependencies

Day 2:

1. Plan Adjustments - Teams refine plans based on identified dependencies
2. Final Plan Review - Each team presents:
   • Objectives for the PI
   • Risks and impediments
   • Dependencies with other teams
3. Confidence Vote - Teams vote on confidence in meeting objectives
4. Plan Rework - If confidence is too low, plans are adjusted
5. Planning Retrospective - Lessons for improving next PI Planning

"PI Planning brings everyone together to create a shared understanding and commitment. In healthcare, this alignment between clinical and technical stakeholders is invaluable for delivering solutions that truly meet patient and provider needs."