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Description

Leading SAFe: Setting Up an Agile Release Train and Preparing for the SAFe Agilist Certification

Move from isolated agile teams to an organisation that synchronises delivery at scale

  • 2 days — 14 h
  • In-person or virtual
  • Intermediate
  • Up to 6 participants

Teams have been running Scrum for several cycles, yet value still takes months to reach the market. Cross-team dependencies surface mid-sprint, trade-offs escalate to the executive committee, and budgets remain annual while priorities shift every quarter. Coordination roles exist on paper but without a clear mandate.

Over two days, this programme provides the SAFe framework and its working vocabulary. Participants position the levels of the framework, understand how an agile release train operates, prepare a programme increment planning event and get ready for the SAFe Agilist examination through practice questions reviewed in session.

Learning objectives

  • Position the levels of the SAFe framework and the role of the SAFe Agilist
  • Describe how an agile release train operates and the roles involved
  • Prepare and facilitate a programme increment planning event
  • Structure a programme backlog and manage cross-team dependencies
  • Build flow metrics that executives can act upon
  • Prepare for the questions of the SAFe Agilist certification examination

What makes this programme different

A full increment planning simulation with dependency mapping on a shared board
Examination practice questions corrected and discussed in session
A tailored launch plan for the participant's first agile release train

Programme

1Lean-Agile thinking and framework structure

Laying the foundations before the practices

  • Lean-Agile principles and the notion of value flow
  • Levels of the framework and the scope of each
  • Role and mandate of the SAFe Agilist
  • Success conditions for scaling agile

2The agile release train

Getting multiple teams to work together

  • Composition of a train and the associated roles
  • Common cadence and team synchronisation
  • Architecture and technical enabler work
  • Managing dependencies and system teams

3Increment planning and execution

Turning a vision into a collective commitment

  • Preparing the inputs to the planning event
  • Running the session and building the team plan
  • Identifying risks and addressing them collectively
  • System demos and adjustments during the increment
  • Inspect and adapt at the end of the cycle

4Performance steering and certification preparation

Measuring flow and consolidating learning

  • Portfolio management and funding of value flows
  • Flow metrics and how executives should read them
  • Roadmap for launching a train
  • Review of key concepts and practice questions

Who is it for

Project managers and technical team managers as well as Scrum Masters, Product Owners and agile transformation leads.

Prerequisites

Initial experience of working in an agile team or in IT project management.

Dates & locations

36 scheduled dates between November 2026 and December 2027. Seats are confirmed in the order enquiries are received.

November 2026

December 2026

January 2027

February 2027

March 2027

April 2027

May 2027

June 2027

September 2027

October 2027

November 2027

December 2027

None of these dates suit you? We open additional sessions on request, and any programme can be run privately for your team.

Practical details

Before the programme
Online positioning questionnaire. Your development objectives are shared with the trainer, who tailors the practical case studies to your context.
Teaching methods
Theoretical input, workshops and practical case studies. Digital course materials and method sheets provided.
Assessment
Multiple-choice tests and role-play exercises. Assessment of learning at the start and end of the programme, with immediate and 60-day follow-up evaluations.
After the programme
One year of access to the e-learning platform. Self-assessment of the skills acquired and a 30-day follow-up session with your trainer.
How to register
Registration online or on the basis of a quotation.
Lead time
11 working days after confirmation of registration.
Accessibility
Accessible to people of determination. Contact our accessibility coordinator to design a suitable solution: contact@mpf-academy.ae
Start dates
Rolling intake: in addition to the scheduled sessions, this programme can start on request.