What is one of the primary communication methods in SAFe for planning work?

The Program Backlog serves as one of the primary communication methods in SAFe for planning work because it contains all the features, enablers, and user stories that a program needs to consider for future releases. This backlog is a central artifact within the SAFe framework, ensuring that all teams aligned under a particular program have a shared understanding of the work that needs to be done.

The Program Backlog not only communicates what needs to be prioritized and worked on across the various Agile Release Train (ART) teams, but it also helps in visualizing and managing dependencies between teams' work. It is the high-level view of the upcoming work, providing essential context for planning, coordination, and collaboration during PI (Program Increment) planning sessions.

In contrast, the Sprint Backlog is specific to a single team and focuses only on the development work planned for an individual sprint. The Release Plan outlines how and when features will be delivered but does not serve as a primary communication method for ongoing work planning. The Team Board is more tactical and helps teams track their immediate work and progress within a sprint, but it lacks the broader strategic overview needed for program-level planning.