If you’re working with the SAFe® Measure and Grow assessment, you already know the data itself isn’t the finish line. What matters is turning those survey results into clear, actionable insights—so your teams and trains actually improve, not just tick boxes. Here’s how you can break down the numbers, spot patterns, and turn the output into progress that sticks.

1. Understand What You’re Measuring—And Why

Before you even look at the results, revisit the core purpose behind the SAFe Measure and Grow assessment. This tool is designed to help teams, trains, and portfolios understand where they stand on critical dimensions like team and technical agility, program execution, and lean portfolio management. The point is not to chase perfect scores, but to uncover where improvement matters most.

Quick tip: If you want a solid foundation on how these assessments fit into your bigger Agile transformation, the Leading SAFe Agilist Certification Training provides context that helps you interpret results with a strategic lens.

2. Look Past the Average—Focus on the Spread

A classic mistake is just averaging the scores and moving on. Instead, dig into the range of responses. If one team gives a 9 and another gives a 2 for the same competency, you have a story hiding in the data. This variation often signals misalignment, different levels of maturity, or pockets of resistance. Find out why.

Pro move: During your next inspect and adapt, use the spread in responses as a talking point for open, honest conversation.

3. Treat Low Scores as Opportunities, Not Failures

When you spot consistently low marks in specific areas, don’t panic—or worse, hide them. These are goldmines for improvement. Ask, what’s blocking us here? Is it a skills gap? Tooling? Leadership support? Clarifying the ‘why’ behind low scores is where real growth begins.

• For teams stuck on product backlog health, for example, investing in SAFe Product Owner/Product Manager (POPM) Certification can build missing capability right where it’s needed.

4. Combine Qualitative and Quantitative Data

The numbers tell you “what,” but the free-form comments tell you “why.” Never skip over open-ended feedback. If someone rates agile release train execution as weak but writes, “We have no clear PI objectives,” that’s your signal. Dig into both types of data together, not in silos.

5. Compare Results Over Time, Not Just a Snapshot

One round of results is just a starting point. The real value of Measure and Grow comes from trending data—are you moving forward, plateauing, or sliding backward? Line up your results from each quarter or PI and look for clear progress or stubborn sticking points.

• If you’re seeing consistent improvement in team agility but flat scores in program execution, it might be time to explore advanced skills with SAFe Advanced Scrum Master Certification Training.

6. Drill Down to the Root Causes

Behind every low score there’s usually a root cause that isn’t obvious on the surface. Maybe teams score “shared responsibility” low because there’s confusion about roles, or perhaps “built-in quality” is suffering due to a lack of automation. Use Five Whys or fishbone diagrams to get specific. Don’t just assume—you’ll miss the real issues.

Relevant resource: This Scaled Agile article on effective retrospectives walks through some practical ways to dig deeper in team discussions.

7. Prioritize, Don’t Overwhelm

It’s tempting to attack every low score at once, but that leads to half-baked changes and initiative fatigue. Choose two or three high-impact improvement areas, align them with business goals, and make sure teams feel the improvement efforts are manageable. Stack your wins, then reassess.

• Want to strengthen your prioritization muscle? The SAFe Scrum Master Certification dives into facilitation and focus that actually sticks.

8. Visualize and Share the Results

Don’t let the data live in a spreadsheet or a PDF no one reads. Bring results into team rooms, PI planning events, and leadership meetings. Use simple charts, heatmaps, or spider diagrams. When results are visible, they become part of the everyday conversation—not a secret management report.

Useful read: Atlassian’s guide to Agile metrics gives practical ways to visualize and socialize data with non-technical audiences.

9. Involve Everyone in Interpreting Results

Ownership drives engagement. Instead of just handing down the results, invite teams and ARTs to interpret what the data means for them. Facilitate workshops or focused discussions. You’ll get better buy-in and often surface context that central roles might miss.

• Release Train Engineers who want to elevate their facilitation game will find the SAFe Release Train Engineer Certification Training sharpens these skills.

10. Don’t Let Results Gather Dust—Close the Loop

Real improvement only happens if you close the feedback loop. That means:

• Publicly commit to 2–3 key improvement actions.

• Assign clear owners.

• Set review dates and track progress.

• Make the next Measure and Grow round about learning, not blame.

Teams respect honesty and action more than perfection. Build this transparency into your culture.

11. Link Improvements to Outcomes

Track how targeted improvements based on Measure and Grow feedback are actually impacting business results. Maybe you’re aiming for faster delivery, higher customer satisfaction, or fewer production issues. Measure real outcomes, not just activity.

Further reading: Harvard Business Review’s piece on agile performance metrics offers a sharp look at connecting metrics to outcomes.

12. Use the Results to Guide Your Training Investments

Recurring themes in Measure and Grow feedback usually point to a skills gap. If teams consistently struggle with technical practices, lean into technical training. If leadership support is missing, bring leaders into the journey.

• Consider rotating teams through Leading SAFe Agilist Certification Training or SAFe Scrum Master Certification to lift the entire organization’s baseline.

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Wrapping Up: Make Results the Start of the Conversation

Interpreting SAFe Measure and Grow results isn’t a one-off event. It’s an ongoing feedback loop that should spark real discussion, challenge the status quo, and focus the entire organization on getting better—one cycle at a time.

When you apply these tips, you turn assessment results into a powerful engine for continuous improvement. Whether you’re a team lead, Scrum Master, Product Owner, or RTE, these practical steps help ensure the assessment isn’t just a ritual, but a genuine driver of business agility.

And if you’re looking for the right upskilling path to tackle your next improvement area, take a look at:

• Leading SAFe Agilist Certification Training

• SAFe Product Owner/Product Manager (POPM) Certification

• SAFe Scrum Master Certification

• SAFe Advanced Scrum Master Certification Training

• SAFe Release Train Engineer Certification Training

Keep challenging, keep growing, and let the results guide—not limit—your journey.

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Also read - Building a Culture of Feedback with SAFe Measure and Grow

Also see - Common Mistakes to Avoid in SAFe Measure and Grow Initiatives