If you want your Agile Release Train (ART) to actually improve, you can’t just tick boxes. You need a workshop that uncovers real issues, engages people, and triggers actionable change. That’s where the Inspect and Adapt (I&A) workshop comes in.

What Is an Inspect and Adapt Workshop?

The Inspect and Adapt workshop is SAFe’s structured way for teams and leadership to pause, look back at the last Program Increment (PI), and ask:
- What’s working?
- What isn’t?
- Where can we raise the bar?

This isn’t a one-hour retro. It’s a focused, multi-stage event designed to uncover systemic problems, measure real performance, and drive change.

Typical Inspect and Adapt Workshop Agenda

The I&A agenda has three main parts:

1. PI System Demo (60-90 mins)
2. Quantitative and Qualitative Measurement (30-45 mins)
3. Problem-Solving Workshop (90-120 mins)

1. PI System Demo

Goal: Show what the ART actually delivered across the PI, focusing on integrated business value.

• Representatives from each team walk through their contributions.
• Demos should focus on business value, not just technical achievements.
• Stakeholders and business owners see features in action and ask questions.

Best Practice: Prepare well, timebox each demo, and encourage stakeholders to challenge, not just applaud.

2. Quantitative and Qualitative Measurement

Goal: Shift from “we feel we did okay” to “here’s what the numbers and people say.”

• Review PI Objectives: Achievements and gaps
• Key metrics: Predictability, velocity, quality, flow, and customer satisfaction
• Collect feedback from stakeholders and teams

Use visual charts, share honest feedback, and spotlight missed objectives to find root causes. For more on metrics, see the SAFe Metrics page.

3. Problem-Solving Workshop

Goal: Surface root causes for issues and create targeted improvement actions.

• Teams split into breakout groups, ideally cross-functional.
• Each group picks a problem and uses tools like 5 Whys or Fishbone Diagrams.
• Actions are prioritized and owners are assigned.

Best Practice: Use real facilitation by a SAFe Scrum Master or Advanced Scrum Master. Push teams to find root causes, not just surface fixes. Document actions publicly to drive accountability.

For facilitation techniques, check out this Retrospective Guide.

Best Practices for a High-Impact I&A Workshop

• Preparation matters. Send out metrics in advance. Encourage teams to bring real examples.
• Get the right people involved. Product Owners, Product Managers, Scrum Masters, System Architects, Business Owners, and the Release Train Engineer should be present.
• Psychological safety is non-negotiable. Set ground rules: No blame, just learning. Leaders should share failures and request feedback.
• Prioritize ruthlessly. You’ll find more issues than you can fix in one PI. Use voting or WSJF to focus on high-value improvements. Assign clear owners.
• Follow through. Track actions in your team’s Agile tool and review them in ART Syncs. Celebrate progress, however small.

Sample Inspect and Adapt Workshop Agenda

Time	Agenda Item	Lead/Facilitator
0:00 – 0:15	Welcome & Workshop Purpose	RTE/Scrum Master
0:15 – 1:15	PI System Demo	Teams
1:15 – 1:45	Quantitative & Qualitative Review	RTE/PO/PM
1:45 – 2:00	Break
2:00 – 2:15	Identify Systemic Problems	All
2:15 – 3:15	Breakout Problem-Solving	Teams/Facilitators
3:15 – 3:45	Present Solutions & Prioritize	Teams
3:45 – 4:00	Assign Owners & Wrap Up	RTE

Extra Tips for Running a Smooth I&A Workshop

• Timebox each agenda item to keep energy up.
• Use collaboration boards (like Miro, Mural, or Google Docs) for transparency, especially with remote teams.
• Rotate facilitators between Scrum Masters and the RTE to build broader ownership.

Why It Matters for Continuous Improvement

Done well, the Inspect and Adapt workshop is the engine behind relentless improvement in SAFe. Organizations that take I&A seriously see better outcomes and retain talent. Skipping or faking these sessions leads to recurring problems and disengaged teams.

Recommended External Resources

• Agile Retrospectives: Making Good Teams Great
• Scaled Agile Framework – Inspect and Adapt
• Atlassian Guide to Running Agile Retrospectives

Final Thoughts

Inspect and Adapt isn’t just another SAFe ritual. Structure your agenda, create space for honest reflection, and—most important—make sure actions from these sessions actually become habits, not just notes in a slide deck. For deeper learning, check out SAFe Scrum Master Certification or SAFe Release Train Engineer Certification Training.

Done right, Inspect and Adapt is where real change happens. Everything else is just talk.

 

Also read - The Benefits of Regular Inspect and Adapt in Agile Organizations

Also see - How Leadership Can Support Inspect and Adapt in SAFe