What is one input to the Vision?

The Vision describes the future state of the Solution and what it will do to meet customer needs. According to the Scaled Agile Framework, a primary input for developing this Vision is direct customer and stakeholder feedback. This aligns with the core SAFe principle of Customer Centricity, which emphasizes understanding and solving customer problems. By gathering feedback through methods like interviews, surveys, and direct observation, Product Management can ensure the Vision is grounded in real-world user needs, thereby guiding the Agile Release Train (ART) to build a valuable and desirable solution.

B. Team topologies: This defines how teams are organized to deliver value; it is an execution consideration, not an input to the solution's strategic direction.
C. Feature context: The Vision provides the context for Features, not the other way around. Features are derived from the Vision to break it down into deliverable increments.
D. Portfolio Backlog: While the Portfolio Backlog's Epics influence the ART's work, customer feedback is a more direct and foundational input that informs both the Portfolio Backlog and the ART Vision.

1. Scaled Agile, Inc. (2023). Vision. Scaled Agile Framework. Retrieved from https://www.scaledagileframework.com/vision/. In the "Inputs to the Vision" section, "Customer and stakeholder feedback" is listed as the first input.

2. Scaled Agile, Inc. (2023). Customer Centricity. Scaled Agile Framework. Retrieved from https://www.scaledagileframework.com/customer-centricity/. The article states, "Customer-centric enterprises use market and user research to ensure they understand the problems and the customer’s needs," which directly supports using feedback to shape the solution.

3. Leffingwell, D., et al. (2023). SAFe 6.0 Product Owner/Product Manager Course Workbook. Scaled Agile, Inc. (This is representative of official courseware). Lesson 2, "Preparing for PI Planning," details how the Vision is created, emphasizing the role of customer feedback in defining the problems to be solved and the proposed solution.