PI Planning, also known as Program Increment Planning, occurs every quarter in an Agile environment. In it, all the teams across the organization come together to plan and coordinate their work for the upcoming Program Increment (PI). All teams collectively review features, estimate efforts, address dependencies, and commit to upcoming objectives during the event.

After two years of virtual interactions due to the pandemic, the Scaled Agile team was eagerly anticipating their first in-person 23.1 (2023 Q1) PI Planning event. The prospect of face-to-face meetings, as the world slowly emerged from the pandemic, was surreal and gratifying.

The creative concept of this PI Planning was inspired by music, a universal language that brings people together, similar to Agile. The key visual “Now That’s What I Call a Plan!” strategically emphasized the value of collaboration, rhythm, adaptability, and celebration, aligning perfectly with Agile principles. This unique concept highlighted the need for well-coordinated Agile teams to deliver exceptional solutions, just like a music performer needs orchestration to produce great music.

The planning meeting sessions were produced as a live music festival experience that left a lasting impression. The event was enriched with perks like gifts, catered meals, comfortable space, and engaging activities. These included Q&As with business leaders, jam sessions for brainstorming and idea sharing, and hands-on labs and demos. The event concluded with a team-building activity of organizing and hosting team booths with merch and prizes, adding a fun and competitive element to the proceedings.

More than 250 team members and guests from different locations arrived eager to reconnect, exchange stories of their experiences during the challenging times, collaborate, plan, and strategize for the upcoming Program Increment. During the event, participants contributed their expertise and perspective, much like musicians in a band, ensuring that all aspects of the planning process seamlessly came together. By the end of the PI Planning session, the Scaled Agile teams had developed a comprehensive plan, leaving the whole organization with a deep sense of achievement and a strong feeling of preparedness for the upcoming Program Increment, instilling a sense of pride and confidence in everyone involved.