SAFe-Agilist Practice Question: Building a Foundation with Mindset, Values and Principles
Exhibit
PI_PLANNING_CONFIG: { "sync_meetings": true, "decentralized_decision": "enabled", "wip_limits": 3, "sprint_duration": "2_weeks", "automation": "high" }Refer to the exhibit. Which SAFe principle is directly supported by the "decentralized_decision": "enabled" setting in the configuration?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates occasionally link this to 'Lean' or 'Flow' generally. They miss that the specific act of shifting authority from central to local levels is the definition of Principle 9.
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
✓
Principle 9: Decentralize decision-making.
This configuration directly supports Principle 9: Decentralize decision-making. By enabling this in the workflow, the organization explicitly moves away from centralized control. Decentralization is essential for organizational speed and engagement, as it ensures that decisions are made by those who have the most relevant information and the closest connection to the customer requirements, allowing for quicker responses to changes and more effective problem-solving at the team level.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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Principle 5: Base milestones on objective evaluation.
Why it's wrong here
This configuration setting has nothing to do with milestones or evaluation processes. While milestones are important for progress tracking, they are unrelated to the authority level of decision-making. Objective evaluation requires data and metrics, whereas decentralization is about the governance model of the organization and team empowerment.
- ✓
Principle 9: Decentralize decision-making.
Why this is correct
The setting explicitly enables decentralized decision-making. This aligns with the SAFe principle that decisions should be made at the lowest possible level by the people with the most knowledge. This reduces the friction of escalating decisions to leadership, which increases the overall speed and agility of the organization.
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Principle 6: Visualize and limit WIP.
Why it's wrong here
While the config mentions WIP limits, that is a separate configuration key. Decentralized decision-making is a distinct principle that focuses on governance and authority, whereas WIP limits are a flow control mechanism. They are both parts of the same configuration but represent fundamentally different Lean-Agile concepts and goals.
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Principle 7: Apply cadence and synchronization.
Why it's wrong here
Cadence and synchronization are related to the rhythm and scheduling of work. Decentralized decision-making is about the authority over that work. While they both contribute to the overall SAFe framework, they address different aspects of organizational performance and team management, ensuring that work is both planned and executed correctly.
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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.