SAFe-Agilist Exploring Lean Portfolio Management Practice Question
Exhibit
{
"Epic_Priority": "High",
"Alignment": "Low",
"ROI": "High",
"Risk": "Low"
}Refer to the exhibit. As an LPM expert, how would you classify this epic based on the provided attributes?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates are often tempted to prioritize high ROI or low risk despite poor strategic alignment. They forget that in SAFe, strategic alignment is the mandatory gatekeeper for all investments.
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
✓
Reject or defer the epic because it lacks strategic alignment.
An epic with high ROI and low risk but poor alignment with strategic themes is problematic. In LPM, alignment is the primary filter for investment. If an epic does not support the portfolio's strategic goals, it shouldn't be funded, regardless of its ROI. Pursuing high-ROI projects that distract from the core strategy leads to organizational drift, where the portfolio loses focus and ultimately fails to achieve its intended long-term business outcomes.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Approve the epic immediately because the ROI is high.
Why it's wrong here
High ROI is not the only factor for success. If the epic does not align with the portfolio's strategic themes, it represents a deviation from the organization's goals. Funding it would mean using resources on work that does not advance the enterprise, representing a strategic failure in management.
- ✓
Reject or defer the epic because it lacks strategic alignment.
Why this is correct
Strategic alignment is the foundational criterion for any investment in SAFe. If an epic does not support the defined strategic themes, it should not be approved. Investing in misaligned work, even if it looks profitable, dilutes the organization's focus and hinders the ability to achieve the portfolio's vision.
- ✗
Approve the epic but require a higher risk management plan.
Why it's wrong here
The issue is not the risk level; the issue is the lack of strategic alignment. A risk management plan does nothing to fix the misalignment. The epic would still be a distraction, and adding risk mitigation processes would only increase the overhead of a project that shouldn't be happening.
- ✗
Request the team to rename the epic to make it appear more aligned.
Why it's wrong here
Renaming an epic is a cosmetic change that does not address the fundamental issue of strategic misalignment. It is a dishonest practice that creates a false sense of alignment and risks wasting resources on work that does not contribute to the organization's core business objectives and strategic goals.
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.