Scaled Agile SAFe-RTE SAFe Release Train Engineer (6.0) SAFe RTE Exam Practice Test

Answer : D

To stay informed about employee satisfaction, a Release Train Engineer (RTE) can conduct an employee Net Promoter Score (NPS) survey. This method is a standard practice for gauging overall employee engagement and satisfaction within an organization. The NPS survey provides insights into how likely employees are to recommend their workplace to others, which is a strong indicator of their satisfaction and loyalty1. By regularly conducting these surveys, an RTE can track trends over time, identify areas of improvement, and take action to enhance the work environment, thereby supporting the teams in delivering value more effectively. This practice aligns with the SAFe principle of respecting individuals and culture, which emphasizes the importance of understanding and empathizing with others, and encourages the personal development of each individual and the development of teams2.

Answer : C

Value Stream mapping is a tool used in the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) to visualize and understand the flow of value through the process of solution delivery. The results from Value Stream mapping are utilized to identify and eliminate waste, improve process efficiency, and ensure that value flows smoothly without interruptions1.

One effective way to use the results from Value Stream mapping is to move from bottleneck to bottleneck, eliminating as many as possible (Option C). This approach is aligned with Lean thinking principles, which emphasize the importance of making value flow without interruptions1. By focusing on the bottlenecks, which are the points in the process where the flow of value is impeded, teams can systematically address and remove these impediments, thereby improving the overall flow and efficiency of the value stream.

The other options, while they may be part of the broader set of activities within SAFe, do not directly describe the use of Value Stream mapping results. Focusing on one component to optimize (Option A) or identifying methods for developers to code faster (Option D) does not necessarily result from Value Stream mapping. Calculating the metrics and sharing them with the ART (Option B) is important for transparency and alignment but is not the primary way to use the results from Value Stream mapping. The key is to identify and address the bottlenecks to enhance the flow of value through the value stream.

Answer : B

Understanding Tuckman's group dynamic stages is important for a Release Train Engineer (RTE) because an Agile Release Train (ART) is essentially a team of teams, and like any team, it is likely to progress through Tuckman's stages of group development: forming, storming, norming, and performing1.

Here's a detailed explanation of how each stage applies to an ART:

* Forming: In this initial stage, teams come together and start to understand their objectives and boundaries. The RTE plays a vital role in guiding the ART through this stage by helping establish the vision, mission, and objectives of the train.

* Storming: As teams begin working together, they may encounter conflicts and challenges. The RTE can help navigate these by facilitating communication and conflict resolution, ensuring that all teams are aligned and focused on the ART's goals.

* Norming: During this stage, teams start to resolve their differences, establish processes, and begin to work more effectively together. The RTE supports this by fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement.

* Performing: In the final stage, teams operate efficiently and effectively toward achieving the ART's goals. The RTE's role here is to ensure that this high performance is sustained and that the teams continue to innovate and improve.

By understanding these stages, the RTE can better facilitate the ART's journey through them, helping to ensure that the teams within the ART collaborate effectively, resolve conflicts, and ultimately deliver value more predictably. This understanding also helps the RTE to anticipate the challenges that may arise at each stage and to be better prepared to support the ART in navigating them. The knowledge of Tuckman's model equips the RTE with the insights needed to lead the ART through its developmental journey, contributing to the overall success of the train.

Answer : D

The ART predictability measure is a critical metric within the SAFe framework. It is important because it enables businesses and other stakeholders to plan effectively. This measure provides insights into how reliably teams and ARTs can deliver business value against their planned objectives. By understanding the predictability of the ART, stakeholders can make informed decisions about future investments, resource allocation, and market commitments. It is not primarily about identifying under-performing teams (A), fixing the scope at the beginning of the PI (B), or indicating when the Solution is ready to be released . Instead, predictability measures provide a fact-based understanding of the ART's ability to deliver on its commitments, which is essential for effective planning and adjustment of strategies1.

Answer : D

Release Train Engineers (RTEs) have the opportunity to regularly practice and improve the skill of servant leadership. This skill is central to the RTE role in the SAFe framework, as RTEs are expected to be servant leaders and coaches to their Agile Release Trains (ARTs).

Servant leadership involves focusing on the needs of others, especially team members, before considering one's own. It requires the leader to ensure that other people's highest priority needs are being served to encourage teamwork and personal involvement. An RTE practicing servant leadership will:

1. Facilitate and Support: Help teams navigate through the SAFe processes, removing impediments and fostering an environment where teams can be effective1.

2. Coach and Mentor: Provide guidance to teams, Scrum Masters, and other stakeholders in Lean-Agile practices and mindsets1.

3. Lead by Example: Demonstrate the principles of Lean-Agile leadership, embodying the values and principles of SAFe in their daily work1.

4. Drive Continuous Improvement: Encourage and lead the efforts for relentless improvement within the ART, promoting a culture of innovation and continuous learning1.

5. Communicate and Align: Ensure that everyone on the ART understands the mission, vision, and goals, and is aligned in their efforts to achieve them1.

By regularly practicing and improving their servant leadership skills, RTEs can effectively lead their ARTs to deliver value more efficiently and foster a healthy, collaborative, and high-performing team environment.

Answer : A

In the context of SAFe 6 Release Train Engineer, when writing PI (Program Increment) Objectives, the acronym SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-bound1.The ''R'' in SMART specifically stands for Realistic, which means the objectives should be set in a way that can be realistically achieved given the available resources and constraints1.It is important that the objectives are ambitious enough to drive progress but also attainable to ensure teams are motivated and not set up for failure1.

Answer : B

An ART planning board supports Feature delivery. It is used during PI Planning and throughout the PI to visualize and manage the delivery of Features, including tracking dependencies and integration points between teams, thereby facilitating coordinated effort across the ART.