What SAFe core competency centers on applying lean and systems thinking to strategy and investment funding decisions?

The concept of Lean portfolio management is central to applying lean and systems thinking to strategic and investment funding decisions within the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe). This competency emphasizes the need for aligning strategy and execution, ensuring that investments are directed toward initiatives that maximize value delivery while minimizing waste. Lean portfolio management supports organizations in identifying and prioritizing epics based on both their value and the organization's strategic objectives.

Through the application of lean principles, organizations can ensure that their funding decisions are more adaptive and responsive to changes in the market or organizational priorities. This competency also provides the framework for managing and governing the flow of value through the portfolio, which is critical for achieving agile transformation on a larger scale.

The other options reflect important aspects of agility and continuous improvement, but they do not specifically focus on the application of lean and systems thinking to funding and investment decision-making. Organizational agility refers to the overall ability of an organization to respond swiftly to market dynamics, while agile product delivery pertains directly to practices around delivering value to customers rapidly. Continuous learning culture emphasizes fostering an environment that promotes learning and growth, but it does not specifically address funding decisions or the strategic alignment of investments.