SAFe-Agilist Leading the Change Practice Question
A software company is adopting SAFe. The newly formed Agile Release Train (ART) has completed its first Program Increment (PI) Planning event. During the PI, the teams identified several dependencies but did not resolve them. The Release Train Engineer (RTE) notices that teams are not communicating across functional boundaries and are instead waiting for the RTE to coordinate all dependencies. What should the RTE do to foster self-organization and improve dependency management?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is thinking that the RTE should personally manage dependencies, when SAFe actually expects the RTE to facilitate team self-organization through established events.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Encourage teams to use the ART Sync and Scrum of Scrums to communicate and resolve dependencies directly.
The RTE should coach the ART to use SAFe events like the ART Sync and Scrum of Scrums to communicate and resolve dependencies directly. This promotes self-organization and empowers teams to take ownership, rather than relying on the RTE to coordinate everything. Centralizing dependency management or escalating to Business Owners undermines the ART's ability to self-organize.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Encourage teams to use the ART Sync and Scrum of Scrums to communicate and resolve dependencies directly.
Why this is correct
SAFe provides events like the ART Sync and Scrum of Scrums precisely for teams to coordinate and resolve dependencies. The RTE should coach teams to use these forums to communicate directly. This fosters self-organization and empowers teams to take ownership of their dependencies, reducing the RTE's coordination burden and improving flow.
- ✗
Escalate the issue to the Business Owners and ask them to assign a dedicated dependency manager.
Why it's wrong here
Escalating to Business Owners and creating a dependency manager role is not aligned with SAFe. It introduces a command-and-control approach and does not build the ART's capability to self-organize. The RTE should instead facilitate the use of existing SAFe events to resolve dependencies, rather than adding bureaucratic roles.
- ✗
Instruct teams to document all dependencies in a shared tool and wait for the RTE to prioritize them.
Why it's wrong here
Documenting dependencies is useful, but waiting for the RTE to prioritize them centralizes decision-making and slows down resolution. SAFe emphasizes decentralized decision-making and team ownership. The RTE should coach teams to prioritize and resolve dependencies themselves, using the appropriate events, rather than creating a dependency on the RTE.
- ✗
Take ownership of all dependencies and create a central tracking board that the RTE manages.
Why it's wrong here
While tracking dependencies is important, centralizing all coordination with the RTE undermines self-organization. SAFe encourages teams to manage their own dependencies through cross-team collaboration. The RTE should facilitate the process, not become the bottleneck. Taking ownership prevents the ART from learning to self-organize and may lead to delays.
Visual reference
About these practice questions
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Scaled Agile exam blueprint
This SAFe-Agilist practice question is part of Courseiva's free Scaled Agile certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the SAFe-Agilist exam.