What is the purpose of the ART in SAFe?

The purpose of the Agile Release Train (ART) in the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) is to synchronize the activities of multiple agile teams working towards a common goal. An ART is essentially a long-lived team of agile teams, typically consisting of 5 to 12 teams, that plan, commit, and execute together. This synchronization is vital for ensuring that all teams work in harmony, allowing for the delivery of integrated value in the form of increments of the product.

By aligning around a shared mission and objectives, the ART creates a structured yet flexible approach to deliver features, and it promotes collaboration, transparency, and shared responsibility among teams. Through ceremonies like Program Increment (PI) Planning, teams within the ART can coordinate efforts, manage dependencies, and collectively prioritize tasks to meet the objectives of the program increment effectively.

This collaborative environment helps reduce confusion and misalignment that can arise when working with multiple teams in a scaled agile context, ensuring that all teams are moving in the same direction toward shared goals.