What’s PI planning in agile?

Could 5, 2023

4 min learn
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The extra groups you’re employed with, the extra complicated collaboration turns into. A small self-managing crew of seven folks usually delivers greater than three groups of the identical measurement which have cross-dependencies.

A typical strategy to fixing collaboration challenges is by including processes, however I discourage that as a result of it will get in the best way. The easiest way to extend collaboration is by simplifying it.

Complaining that collaboration is complicated isn’t an answer. To succeed, determining learn how to take care of it and aligning in a standard course is obligatory. That’s when program increment (PI) may be useful.

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What’s program increment (PI) planning?

Program increment planning, or PI planning, is the second groups get collectively to align in a shared course. They agree on what to concentrate on and what to drop. Additionally they determine dependencies and take motion to reduce impacts.

Though program increment planning is often performed with SAFe when defining the agile launch practice, the thought behind it’s relevant to any framework you employ.

I like to recommend preserving it so simple as doable as a result of collaboration normally happens as a substitute of mechanically.

The results of wonderful PI planning is:

• Output — objectives are written down, actions to take care of dependencies are outlined, and the crew roadmap is ready
• Consequence — readability on the course and empowerment to say no to distractions

What’s PI planning vs. dash planning?

Each PI planning and dash planning are important for a profitable agile course of, nevertheless they every serve distinct functions and function on totally different timelines. PI planning works at a higher-level — it’s a strategic occasion that brings a number of groups collectively to align on the upcoming program increment and get everybody on the identical web page. This system implement sometimes spans 8–12 weeks.

Then again, dash planning is a extra granular, tactical exercise. Dash planning is carried out by particular person groups firstly of every dash, which is each 2–4 weeks in a standard scrum course of. Throughout dash planning, groups break down the bigger targets established in PI planning into particular duties and person tales, offering some readability across the quantity of assets wanted and the estimated effort to complete the duties.

Principally PI planning units the stage for cross-team alignment and long-term focus, whereas dash planning ensures groups are well-coordinated and making regular progress in the direction of these overarching objectives.

How fashionable PI planning works

Personally, I dislike the identify program increment planning as a result of it sounds bureaucratic and never agile. With my groups, I name it product aim alignment.

I don’t get caught with names — I concentrate on outputs and outcomes (as described earlier than). Let me share with you the small print behind fashionable PI planning, aka product aim alignment:

• Why: clear alignment for the following quarter(s)
• What: outline which objectives to pursue, identify dependencies, outline duties, and roadmap
• When: 2–3 weeks earlier than the top of the quarter
• Who: product trio of every crew (PM, UX, and dev), and firm management
• How lengthy: 4–6 hours
• How usually: As soon as 1 / 4

Now let’s handle the how-to query in depth through the subsequent a part of this submit.

Tips on how to put together for PI planning

You can not profit from PI planning with out correct preparation. The extra groups you’ve gotten within the room, the extra preparation you want.

Earlier than the session, the next have to be nailed down:

• Product imaginative and prescient: the place do you intention to be together with your product in two to 3 years? Write it down and make it clear to everybody
• Technique: what’s your technique to allow your product imaginative and prescient? For instance, it may speed up progress by increasing to new international locations whereas preserving buyer satisfaction on the present degree
• Establishment: the place does the product stand as of now? What’s between you and the product imaginative and prescient?
• Prioritization: primarily based on all of the above, what issues most proper now? Outline a transparent prioritization by setting what to concentrate on and what to say no to

The above are primordial to downside periods. In any other case, your consequence can be watered down. But, don’t underestimate the above as a result of you’ll need to have alignment periods with all product managers and management. You may think about some days of labor. If you happen to’re taking weeks, it’s an indication one thing goes fallacious.

Operating the PI planning

After you’ve gotten nailed the preparation, it’s time to run the session. I like to recommend sharing the abstract of imaginative and prescient, technique, establishment, and prioritization with everybody earlier than the crew. This can assist them come higher ready and keep away from losing time.

Relying in your setup, you must put together both a bodily area for that or a digital session. Both method, the next agenda for a five-hour session will assist each approaches:

Exercise	Time (minutes)	Description
Purpose setting	10	The top of merchandise (or accountable) units the session’s aim and why the crew is collectively.
Icebreaker	15	The session needs to be as interactive as doable. Assist folks arrive at it and be totally current. An icebreaker can get this job performed.
Set the stage	10	The top of merchandise (or accountable) critiques the product imaginative and prescient and technique and shares the eventual change of course. It’s important to make it clear why the technique helps the groups progress.
Connecting the dots	10	As everyone seems to be on the identical web page, it’s time to assessment the established order and level to the long run.
Ideation	90	Let the groups divide into teams of 4 or 5 folks and ideate on which objectives they may decide to for the following quarter. The aim needs to be associated to the imaginative and prescient and technique shared beforehand.
Sharing	30	Every group presents their outcomes and makes them seen on a board. They might reply questions to make sure understanding, however there needs to be no dialogue on whether or not the aim is significant.
Clustering	30	As everybody had the possibility to current, some concepts could also be extremely associated. Clustering them is a wonderful solution to simplify prioritization, and naming the cluster will facilitate the following step.
Deciding	30	Now it’s time to resolve what to commit subsequent. These selections needs to be high-level, after which the crew sharpens the aim.
Sharpening objectives	60	Because the course turns into clear, the groups formulate them higher. You should use product objectives, roadmaps, or no matter format you’re conversant in. The magic occurs while you outline the end result you wish to obtain as a substitute of the output.
Assessment	15	Such periods may be exhausting. Go away some minutes to assessment how the members skilled the collaboration and consequence. This can make it easier to enhance for upcoming periods.

Profitable PI planning will end in readability for the long run and dedication to outcomes.

Dangerous PI planning will finish with too many open questions and confusion. It will also be that groups have dedicated to outputs as a substitute of outcomes, which is able to lure them right into a waterfall mindset.

Conclusion

PI planning isn’t obligatory for everybody. When you’ve gotten as much as three groups, you may stay effectively with out it, however because the crew grows, you must add construction to make sure alignment. PI planning can change into useful for larger organizations.

I significantly dislike the identify PI planning due to its frequent misunderstanding, however I do like the thought of alignment and dedication to objectives.

You’ll profit from having quarterly periods with management and a part of product groups to align on what to decide to subsequent. However pay very shut consideration to what you’re committing to. Don’t decide to options, however decide to outcomes as a result of this can go away sufficient room for creativity.

Planning itself is a way to an finish.

The aim isn’t to have a inflexible plan on what to ship and when however to have an alignment on what to pursue and learn how to take care of dependencies. Flexibility is crucial to create worth quicker.