PI Planning: How Run by Ideas Helps Agile Organizations Achieve Success
As an Atlassian Solution Partner, Run by Ideas understands the challenges that come with implementing agile methodologies in organizations. One of the key challenges is how to plan and prioritize work across multiple teams and stakeholders. That’s where PI Planning comes in, a powerful technique used in SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework) to coordinate and align work across teams and stakeholders. In this blog, we will explore the value of PI Planning, how it works, and how it can be leveraged with the help of Jira Software Cloud.
What is PI Planning?
PI Planning is a quarterly planning exercise that enables agile teams to align their work with business goals and objectives. It is a two-day event where teams come together to plan and prioritize work for the upcoming quarter. PI Planning is a key element of SAFe, which is designed to help organizations scale agile practices across the enterprise. During PI Planning, teams create a Program Increment (PI) plan, which outlines the work that will be done over the next 8-12 weeks.
How does PI Planning work?
PI Planning involves a structured process that enables teams to plan and prioritize work across multiple teams and stakeholders. Here’s how it works:
Define Objectives: The first step in PI Planning is to define the business objectives and goals for the upcoming quarter. These objectives should be aligned with the overall business strategy and should be measurable.
Set OKRs: Once the objectives are defined, teams set their own OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) that support the overall business objectives. OKRs are used to define what success looks like for each team and to measure progress throughout the quarter.
Identify Initiatives: Teams then identify the initiatives that will enable them to achieve their OKRs. Initiatives are high-level projects or programs that are used to achieve specific business outcomes.
Break down Epics: Once the initiatives are identified, teams break them down into smaller, more manageable pieces called Epics. Epics are large, cross-functional initiatives that can be broken down into smaller, more manageable pieces of work.
Prioritize Work: Teams then prioritize their work based on the business objectives, OKRs, and initiatives. This helps ensure that the most important work is done first and that teams are working on the most important things.
Plan the PI: Finally, teams plan the PI by creating a detailed roadmap that outlines the work that will be done over the next 8-12 weeks. This includes a backlog of work, sprint planning, and other key activities.
According to the 15th Annual State of Agile report, 72% of organizations report that PI Planning has helped them improve their alignment and collaboration across teams and stakeholders.
The survey aims to provide insights into the adoption and maturity of agile practices in organizations worldwide. It collects data from a diverse range of organizations, including those in technology, finance, healthcare, and government sectors.
Who Should Attend the PI Planning Event?
PI Planning is a collaborative process that involves multiple teams and stakeholders, so it’s important to ensure that the right people are involved. Here are some key roles that should attend the PI Planning event:
Business Owners: Business Owners are responsible for defining the business objectives and outcomes that teams will be working towards. They are key stakeholders in the planning process and should be involved in setting the direction for the upcoming quarter.
Product Managers: Product Managers are responsible for defining the product roadmap and ensuring that it aligns with business objectives. They should attend the PI Planning event to provide input on the prioritization of features and to ensure that the product roadmap aligns with the overall business strategy.
Scrum Masters: Scrum Masters are responsible for facilitating the PI Planning event and ensuring that it runs smoothly. They should attend the event to provide guidance on the process and to ensure that all teams are aligned with the overall goals.
Agile Teams: Agile Teams are responsible for executing the work and delivering value. They should attend the PI Planning event to provide input on the prioritization of work and to ensure that their work aligns with the overall business objectives.
What is Expected from Attendees during PI Planning?
During the PI Planning event, attendees are expected to actively participate in the planning process. This includes:
Providing Input: Attendees should provide input on the prioritization of work and ensure that their work aligns with the overall business objectives.
Collaborating: Attendees should collaborate with other teams and stakeholders to ensure that work is aligned and dependencies are identified.
Planning: Attendees should actively participate in the planning process by creating roadmaps, backlogs, and sprint plans.
Aligning: Attendees should align their work with the overall business objectives and ensure that their work supports the initiatives and OKRs identified during the planning process.
Partnering with an Expert in Jira and SAFe
PI Planning is a critical process that enables agile teams to align their work with business objectives and achieve success. By involving the right people, preparing in advance, and actively participating in the planning process, organizations can ensure that they are on the right track to achieve their business goals. With the help of Jira Software Cloud and an expert Atlassian Solution Partner like Run by Ideas, organizations can implement PI Planning and achieve success with SAFe.
