Planning Interval is where the rubber meets the road in SAFe. Teams get together, set the direction for the next few months, align on outcomes, and commit to delivering real business value. Sounds simple, but the truth is, many teams run into the same roadblocks again and again. Here’s what really goes wrong, and how you can steer clear.

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1. Vague Business Objectives

The Mistake

PI Planning kicks off, and business objectives look more like a wishlist than a set of clear, measurable goals. Stakeholders toss in high-level ideas, but there’s no precision—no way to measure what “done” actually means.

Why It Happens

People confuse aspiration with commitment. Sometimes business leaders don’t have the details or aren’t close enough to the teams to get specific.

How to Avoid It

• Pin down objectives before PI planning. Use the SMART framework (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) so teams know exactly what success looks like.

• Involve Product Owners and Product Managers early. They bridge the gap between business intent and actionable backlog items. If you want to deepen these skills, the SAFe Product Owner/Product Manager (POPM) Certification is a great place to start.

• Have the team restate objectives in their own words, then check for understanding before moving forward.

External Resource:
Check out this article on setting clear Agile objectives for more practical tips.

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2. Insufficient Preparation

The Mistake

Teams walk into PI Planning unprepared. Backlogs are a mess, dependencies are unclear, and there’s confusion about priorities. The session devolves into firefighting.

Why It Happens

People treat PI Planning as a meeting, not a process. Prep gets skipped because everyone’s “busy with delivery.”

How to Avoid It

• Set a “Readiness Check” milestone at least two weeks before PI Planning. Product Owners and Scrum Masters should confirm the backlog is prioritized, stories are refined, and key dependencies are mapped.

• Use checklists or even short pre-PI sync calls to ensure alignment.

• Advanced Scrum Masters can drive this prep. See the SAFe Advanced Scrum Master Certification for deep dives on these techniques.

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3. Ignoring Dependencies

The Mistake

Teams don’t talk to each other about cross-team dependencies until the last minute. Then, mid-PI, work gets blocked or rushed fixes are needed.

Why It Happens

It’s easier to plan in a silo. Plus, dependency mapping can feel tedious if you haven’t seen its value firsthand.

How to Avoid It

• Make dependency mapping part of your PI Planning prep, not an afterthought.

• Visualize dependencies using tools like the Program Board. Have teams call out risks or unclear connections right away.

• This skill is central to the SAFe Release Train Engineer (RTE) role.

External Resource:
Learn more about dependency management in Agile.

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4. Poor Facilitation

The Mistake

PI Planning turns into a free-for-all, or, worse, a one-way presentation from leadership. Teams disengage, conversations wander, and actionable decisions get lost.

Why It Happens

Facilitation gets underestimated. Not everyone is comfortable running large, complex meetings, especially with distributed teams.

How to Avoid It

• Assign a skilled facilitator, ideally someone with Release Train Engineer experience.

• Use timeboxes and keep a strict agenda.

• Encourage active participation—don’t let a few voices dominate.

• The Leading SAFe Agilist Certification covers effective PI Planning facilitation.

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5. Underestimating Capacity

The Mistake

Teams overcommit. Everyone wants to look ambitious, so capacity is ignored, velocity history is overlooked, and stretch goals creep in.

Why It Happens

There’s pressure to promise more, or sometimes, people just don’t have a handle on their real throughput.

How to Avoid It

• Use data. Check past velocities and actual capacity (including PTO, holidays, and carryover work).

• Challenge assumptions. Scrum Masters play a crucial role here. SAFe Scrum Master Certification goes deep on this.

• Make adjustments in real time during planning. Don’t be afraid to push back on unrealistic asks.

External Resource:
The Scaled Agile Framework’s official PI Planning guide explains how to use capacity allocation during planning.

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6. Missing Stakeholder Engagement

The Mistake

Stakeholders show up late, leave early, or don’t engage at all. Teams make assumptions instead of having direct conversations about expectations and risks.

Why It Happens

Stakeholders are often spread thin, or PI Planning isn’t positioned as a “must-attend” event.

How to Avoid It

• Block stakeholder calendars well in advance and make it clear why their presence matters.

• Invite them to key sessions, especially for objective setting and final plan review.

• Capture questions or action items for offline follow-up.

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7. Failure to Address Risks Early

The Mistake

Risks get ignored or hidden until they become real problems during execution. Teams skip ROAMing (Resolve, Own, Accept, Mitigate) or treat it as a checkbox exercise.

Why It Happens

No one wants to slow things down, or people feel uncomfortable raising potential blockers.

How to Avoid It

• Schedule dedicated risk sessions as part of PI Planning. Make risk management a visible and shared responsibility.

• Keep a public risk board and update it regularly.

• SAFe Scrum Master Certification teaches how to handle risk conversations in real time.

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8. Weak Commitment to Objectives

The Mistake

At the end of PI Planning, commitment is soft. Teams say “yes” to everything, but there’s no real alignment or ownership.

Why It Happens

Fear of saying no, or lack of clarity about what “committed” really means.

How to Avoid It

• Make commitments public and review them as a group.

• Encourage honest conversations about what’s feasible.

• Create space for dissent, then drive toward consensus.

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9. Forgetting to Plan for Inspect and Adapt

The Mistake

Teams plan the work but forget to schedule time for learning, adjustment, and improvement. The Inspect & Adapt (I&A) event gets squeezed or skipped.

Why It Happens

Focus is on delivery, not learning. I&A is seen as an “extra,” not an essential.

How to Avoid It

• Put I&A events on the PI calendar from the start.

• Treat continuous improvement as part of your team’s deliverables.

• The SAFe Advanced Scrum Master Certification provides tools to make these sessions matter.

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10. Poor Communication and Documentation

The Mistake

Decisions made during PI Planning don’t get recorded. Later, teams argue about what was actually agreed to.

Why It Happens

No one’s assigned to take notes, or documentation is left till later (and then forgotten).

How to Avoid It

• Assign a scribe or use digital tools for live note-taking.

• Store planning artifacts somewhere visible and accessible to all.

• Share outcomes immediately after the event.

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Wrapping Up: Get PI Planning Right, Reap the Benefits

Getting Planning Intervals right takes discipline, preparation, and a willingness to learn from mistakes. Each of these problems is common because teams are busy and habits are hard to break—but the payoff for getting it right is huge: alignment, commitment, fewer surprises, and real business results.

If you want to sharpen your skills, certifications like the SAFe Product Owner/Product Manager (POPM), SAFe Scrum Master, Advanced Scrum Master, Release Train Engineer, and Leading SAFe Agilist will take you deep into real-world SAFe practice.

PI Planning is not about checking boxes. It’s about connecting people, aligning priorities, and turning strategy into results. Keep it practical, stay honest, and use every PI as a chance to get better.

 

Also read - Benefits of Regular Planning Intervals for Agile Teams

Also see - How to Prepare Your Team for the Next Planning Interval