How to Run an Effective Inspect and Adapt Workshop in SAFe

Blog Author

Siddharth

Published

14 Jul, 2025

How to Run an Effective Inspect and Adapt Workshop in SAFe

Inspect and Adapt isn’t just another meeting. It’s the heartbeat of continuous improvement in SAFe. The real goal is simple: surface problems, get them on the table, and turn those insights into actions that drive better business results.

Every Agile Release Train (ART) needs I&A to sharpen performance, expose bottlenecks, and boost team ownership. If you skip it or treat it like a checkbox, the whole framework loses its bite.

Step 1: Set the Stage Before the Workshop

Running a strong I&A starts long before people enter the room (or join the call). Here’s what to sort out ahead of time:

Schedule I&A at the End of Each PI: This isn’t negotiable. Everyone—from Scrum Masters to Product Owners and Release Train Engineers—should know when it’s happening.
Communicate the Purpose: Make it clear: we’re here to learn, not blame. Frame the event as an opportunity for brutal honesty and constructive problem-solving.
Gather the Right Data: Collect PI metrics, feature completion rates, predictability measures, and defect trends. The quality of your data will directly impact the quality of your insights.
Prep the Logistics: For remote teams, check tools (video, boards, breakout rooms). For in-person, make sure you have enough space for breakouts and plenty of sticky notes.

For a deeper understanding of the ART and how it fits with I&A, check the SAFe Release Train Engineer certification.

Step 2: Structure of an Inspect and Adapt Workshop

A typical I&A workshop in SAFe follows this rhythm:

PI System Demo
Quantitative and Qualitative Measurement
Problem-Solving Workshop

Let’s break each one down with practical tips.

1. PI System Demo: Show, Don’t Tell

What Happens: Teams demo the current state of integrated features.
Who’s Involved: Business Owners, Product Managers, Scrum Masters, teams—everyone with skin in the game.
Why It Matters: It’s not about pretty slides. The demo exposes gaps, integration issues, and uncovers what’s really done.
Tips:
- Focus on real business outcomes, not just technical achievement.
- Encourage tough questions from Business Owners.
- Time-box demos, but don’t rush genuine discussion.

For anyone who wants to really master facilitation at this level, the Leading SAFe certification digs deeper into this mindset.

2. Quantitative and Qualitative Measurement: Get the Real Numbers

Metrics to Review:
- Business Value Achievement (actual vs. planned)
- Predictability Measure (how close did we get to what we promised?)
- Defect Trends and Lead Time
What You’re Looking For: Patterns, anomalies, and evidence—not just numbers for the sake of reporting.
Discussion Points:
- Where did estimates go wrong?
- Are there systemic blockers (not just team-level issues)?
- How did we perform against PI objectives?

Use the metrics to open up conversations, not to assign blame. This is about learning.

For those wanting more on what to measure and why, Scaled Agile’s official I&A guidance is a solid external read.

3. Problem-Solving Workshop: The Real Engine of Change

Here’s the thing: If you do this part poorly, your whole I&A will become just another retrospective. If you do it well, you get meaningful improvement across the entire train.

Set Up:
- Present the major issues surfaced from the metrics or demo.
- Use voting (dot voting works well) to prioritize what matters most.
Root Cause Analysis:
- Use the 5 Whys technique. Don’t stop at surface-level explanations.
- Get cross-team input—often, the “real” cause isn’t where you expect.
Brainstorming Countermeasures:
- For each root cause, ask teams to propose specific, actionable fixes.
- Choose owners and set deadlines. If everything is “for the ART to solve,” nothing changes.
Document Actions:
- Capture decisions, actions, and owners in a visible place.
- Review progress on these items at every PI Planning event.

If you want a deep dive into facilitating workshops and driving real improvements, the SAFe Scrum Master certification is worth checking out.

Step 3: Keep the Energy High

It’s easy for I&A workshops to lose steam—especially if it feels like nothing changes. Here’s how to keep momentum:

Rotate Facilitators: Don’t let it be one person’s show. Rotate between Scrum Masters, RTEs, and even Product Owners.
Celebrate Wins: Don’t just focus on problems. Spotlight what went well and who made it happen.
Real-Time Voting: Use digital tools for quick consensus if remote, or dot stickers in person.
Keep It Interactive: Mix breakouts with full-group discussions. Stale formats kill engagement.

Step 4: Follow Through After the Workshop

This is where most organizations drop the ball.

Action Review: Make reviewing past I&A action items a ritual at every PI Planning.
Transparency: Make action items and progress visible to the whole ART. This builds trust and accountability.
Feedback Loops: Ask participants what worked in the I&A workshop and what didn’t. Adjust each time.

If you want to get better at advanced facilitation and accountability, look into the SAFe Advanced Scrum Master certification.

Practical Tips for a Smooth Inspect and Adapt Workshop

Keep Time: Assign a timekeeper so you don’t lose the group to endless debates.
Use Visual Boards: Physical or digital, doesn’t matter. Make sure everyone can see problems, actions, and owners.
Set Ground Rules: No blaming, focus on systems, speak up if you’re stuck.
Invite Business Owners: Their perspective can clarify priorities and unlock blocked actions.
Don’t Overcomplicate: Avoid too many metrics or long lectures. Keep it focused on improvement.

For those managing backlogs and feature delivery, the SAFe Product Owner/Product Manager certification is packed with practical guidance.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Treating I&A as a Ritual: If the output doesn’t lead to real change, teams will disengage fast.
No Clear Owners: Every action must have a single accountable owner. No group responsibility.
Skipping Root Cause: Solving symptoms wastes everyone’s time.
Overloading on Actions: Fewer, high-impact changes are better than a long wish list.

Wrapping Up: Why It All Matters

An effective Inspect and Adapt workshop doesn’t just tick a box—it moves the entire organization forward. You surface real obstacles, connect the dots between data and action, and empower teams to own improvement.

If you want to go beyond process and get into the mindset of continuous learning, the Leading SAFe certification will give you the tools and the thinking to drive meaningful change.

For more on continuous improvement culture, check out Atlassian’s take on Agile retrospectives, which can give you additional ideas for energizing your I&A.

Key Takeaway:
Make your Inspect and Adapt workshop the place where real improvement happens. Structure it, energize it, and—most importantly—make sure action follows words. When you nail this, SAFe isn’t just a framework. It’s a habit of getting better, every single PI.

Also read - How to Scale Agile Across Multiple Teams Using SAFe

Also see - Common Challenges in SAFe Inspect and Adapt and How to Overcome