SAFe PI Planning & Cynefin

Martin Burns
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Martin Burns
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Cynefin's 5 domain model.

Cynefin’s 5 domain model, based on a great illustration by Rob England

One of my big disappointments in organising the retreat was an early realisation that Karl Scotland couldn’t make it. Not only has he been working with Hoshin Kanri for a while, he’s also a veteran of the Kanban community’s retreats.

So my level of sadness increased still further when I read his piece on understanding PI Planning in a Cynefin light, and realised he wouldn’t be with us to explain it in May.

I’m logging it here to make sure it doesn’t get entirely lost, and to highlight one quite stunning quote:

The scheduling of a PI Planning event triggers a realisation that there is a lack of alignment, focus or vision.

This is the kind of experience that is so valuable to capture: I’m sure we’ve all experienced it, and setting that expectation would be incredibly powerful in Leading SAFe and the PM/PO training.