How often should Iteration Planning occur in a SAFe environment?

Iteration Planning is a key activity in the SAFe framework that focuses on the preparation and alignment of work for an upcoming iteration. In a SAFe environment, it is essential that Iteration Planning occurs once per iteration. This ensures that the team has a clearly defined scope of work, aligns their understanding of the goals, and establishes a plan for the iteration.

By conducting Iteration Planning consistently with each iteration, teams can effectively adjust their plans based on feedback from the previous iteration, ensuring that they are continuously improving and adapting to evolving priorities. The iterative cadence allows for timely updates to the backlog and promotes engagement among team members, fostering an environment of collaboration and commitment.

Moreover, holding Iteration Planning once per iteration aligns with the rhythm of planning and execution in agile methodologies, where regular planning is crucial to maintaining focus and driving productivity. It encapsulates the essence of agile practices—delivering value incrementally and iteratively throughout the project lifecycle.