SAFe-Agilist Leading the Change Practice Question
According to John Kotter's 8-step change model, which is frequently utilized within SAFe implementations, what is the very first step an enterprise change agent must take?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often choose 'Form a powerful guiding coalition' as the first step. While essential, the first step is always creating the urgency required to justify the change to the organization.
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
✓
Establish a sense of urgency regarding the market imperative for adopting Lean-Agile practices.
Establishing a sense of urgency breaks through organizational complacency, which is the primary barrier to successful enterprise transformations. Without widespread realization that the current status quo is unsustainable, stakeholders will not commit the necessary energy and resources required for deep cultural change.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Form a powerful guiding coalition with enough authority and expertise to lead the change initiative.
Why it's wrong here
Forming a guiding coalition is a critical step, but it typically occurs immediately after establishing urgency, as motivated individuals are needed to build the coalition. Without initial urgency, potential coalition members will not prioritize transformation efforts over daily operational demands.
- ✓
Establish a sense of urgency regarding the market imperative for adopting Lean-Agile practices.
Why this is correct
Creating urgency highlights burning platform issues and market disruptions, convincing key stakeholders that immediate behavioral and structural adaptation is non-negotiable. This foundational step mobilizes the organization to overcome inertia and actively engage in the subsequent phases of the transformation.
- ✗
Communicate the new vision across all organizational levels using multiple channels and town halls.
Why it's wrong here
Communicating the vision happens much later in the change sequence, after the strategy and guiding coalition are firmly established. Premature communication without a clear sense of urgency results in widespread apathy and dismissive attitudes toward the proposed transformation.
- ✗
Generate short-term wins to prove the viability of the new operational model and silence skeptics.
Why it's wrong here
Generating short-term wins is a later tactical milestone designed to solidify momentum after major changes have already been introduced. Focusing on wins too early without addressing complacency leads to superficial changes that quickly fade away.
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.