Agile Release Trains Explained: A Comprehensive Guide for Product Managers

The Agile release train (ART) has emerged as a powerful solution for organizations seeking ways to scale Agile methodologies and coordinate multiple teams towards a common goal.

Imagine a symphony orchestra where musicians play in perfect harmony to create a magnificent performance—this is precisely how an Agile release train operates, bringing together 50-150 professionals across multiple teams to deliver complex solutions with unprecedented alignment and efficiency.

In this guide, you’ll learn about the ART core principles, roles, events, and ceremonies. We’ll also highlight its benefits, challenges, and best practices, and show you how monday dev can help power your Agile release train.

What is an Agile release train (ART)?

An Agile release train (ART) is a cross-functional group of multiple Agile teams that collaboratively develop and deliver synchronized value. It’s a key component of the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) designed to align different Agile teams towards a common goal.

ARTs typically consist of 50 to 150 dedicated full-time members, organized into 5 to 12 Agile teams, with the required expertise to define, deliver, and operate the solution, thus eliminating any functional silos.

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By bringing together cross-functional teams and aligning them with business objectives, ARTs enable organizations to deliver value efficiently and effectively in large-scale Agile implementations.

10 key principles of Agile release trains

Here are ten key Agile release train (ART) principles that help deliver value efficiently and effectively within large-scale Agile implementations.

1. Fixed schedule: ARTs operate on a predetermined schedule, typically organized into 8 to 12-week Program Increments (PIs).
2. Bi-weekly cadence: Teams work in two-week cycles called system increments.
3. Known velocity: The ART’s capacity to deliver work is based on historical performance data.
4. Develop on cadence, release on demand: Development follows a fixed schedule, while releases occur as needed.
5. Cross-functional collaboration: ARTs bring together multiple teams and departments to work towards a common goal.
6. Alignment to value streams: ARTs are structured to deliver value based on the organization’s value streams.
7. Autonomy and self-organization: Teams within the ART work in a self-organized manner, promoting innovation and problem-solving.
8. Continuous improvement: Regular retrospectives, metrics tracking, and feedback loops drive ongoing learning and growth.
9. Customer-centric approach: ARTs actively involve customers and focus on delivering value to meet their needs.
10. Synchronization and coordination: PI planning events and regular ART ceremonies ensure alignment and commitment to strategic objectives across teams.

ART structure and roles

Given ARTs typically comprise up to 150 dedicated full-time members and 12 teams, there’s a mixture of key roles to direct the overall ART and several supporting roles for the individual teams. Here’s an overview of the roles and responsibilities that deliver value through the program.

Product manager

The product manager owns the product vision and strategy. They also:

• Determine what gets built by the ART
• Manage the Program Backlog
• Communicate with internal and external stakeholders

Release train engineer (RTE)

The RTE operates as a servant leader and coach for the ART events and processes. They help:

• Manage risks and remove impediments
• Coordinate multiple Agile teams
• Drive continuous improvement

System architect

The system architects are responsible for the overall architecture of systems and products. They also:

• Provide technical guidance across the ART
• Design and share the architectural vision

Business owner

The business owner is the key internal stakeholder responsible for delivering the ART’s intended business outcomes, such as ROI, governance, and compliance. They also ensure the ART aligns with organizational goals.

Supporting roles

Additionally, ARTs include other key stakeholders.

Scrum master:

• Guides individual teams through Agile processes and best practices
• Facilitates team meetings and ceremonies

Product owner:

• Ensures that each Agile team produces value
• Manages team-level backlogs

Team members:

• Cross-functional, collaborative workers
• Focus on incremental delivery of value

Epic owners:

• Responsible for defining epics, articulating benefits, and facilitating implementation

System team:

• Supports the integration of assets from Agile teams
• Assists with end-to-end solution development and demonstration

Customers:

• Consume the output from the ART
• Provide final validation on the value of the output

Shared services:

• Not dedicated full-time to a single ART
• Provide specialized expertise — e.g. security, compliance, architecture

ART events, ceremonies, and workflow

ARTs operate on a standard cadence, using key events and ceremonies to maintain alignment, facilitate collaboration, and ensure continuous improvement. The ART workflow typically follows these steps:

1. PI planning

PI planning is a two-day face-to-face or remote event held at the beginning of each program increment (PI) involving all ART members and key stakeholders. Teams align on objectives, plan work, and identify dependencies before committing to a final PI plan.

2. Development iterations

A typical PI includes four or five development iterations followed by one innovation and planning iteration (see below). During the PI, teams work in two-week cycles called system increments, following Scrum or Kanban methods.

3. ART sync

The ART sync is a regular bi-weekly meeting facilitated by the RTE that focuses on progress, impediments, and cross-team dependencies. In effect, it’s a parent event combining the product owner (PO) sync and Scrum of Scrums (SoS).

• PO sync – The product manager, product owner, and other selected stakeholders discuss progress towards meeting PI objectives, review scope adjustments, and assess program risks.
• Scrum of Scrums (SoS) – The RTE, Scrum masters, and other selected team members coordinate efforts, avoid conflicts, and integrate their work effectively across the multiple teams within the ART.

4. System demo

The system demo takes place at the end of each iteration. Teams showcase their work to stakeholders to provide an integrated view of the developing solution.

5. Inspect and adapt (I&A)

The inspect and adapt (I&A) event occurs at the end of each PI. Teams review the solution in the System Demo, measure progress, and identify improvement areas to tackle in a structured problem-solving workshop.

6. Innovation and planning (IP) iteration

Innovation and planning (IP) is a unique iteration held at the end of each PI. It’s a dedicated time for planning,  innovation, infrastructure work, and continued education and provides a buffer between PIs for any unfinished tasks.

ART implementation benefits

Implementing an Agile release train (ART) brings several key benefits to organizations.

• Improved alignment: ARTs ensure all teams work towards a common goal, reducing waste and increasing efficiency.
• Faster time-to-market: Regular, time-boxed increments enable quicker delivery of products and features, providing a competitive advantage.
• Enhanced quality: Frequent demos, continuous integration, and built-in feedback loops improve the overall product quality.
• Increased predictability: Operating on a fixed PI schedule provides clear timelines for stakeholders.
• Better collaboration: ARTs promote efficient cross-team communication and coordination, especially for managing dependencies.
• Increased visibility: Stakeholders can easily track project progress, enabling informed decision-making.
• Reduced risk: The structured approach of ARTs helps mitigate project failure risks.
• Continuous improvement: Regular retrospectives and I&A events promote ongoing enhancements of processes and outcomes.

ART challenges and considerations

Agile release trains (ARTs) can present several challenges and considerations. Addressing them requires careful planning, effective communication, and a commitment to continuous improvement throughout the ART implementation process. Here’s what to look out for:

• Resistance to change: Transitioning to ARTs often requires a significant cultural shift, which can cause resistance from team members and stakeholders.
• Lack of visibility: Acquiring a complete picture of all the tasks across every team can be problematic, leading to ineffective resource allocation and missed deadlines.
• Unclear ART velocity: Without a clear understanding of the ART’s capacity, teams may overcommit, resulting in stress, burnout, and failed objectives.
• Coordination difficulties: Managing dependencies and ensuring alignment across multiple teams can be challenging, especially in large or virtual organizations.
• Maintaining engagement: Keeping large teams engaged and committed to the ART’s objectives can take time, impacting productivity and value output.
• Scaling issues: Smaller organizations may find it challenging to implement ARTs due to resource constraints or organizational structure limitations.
• Technology shifts: Adapting to new tools and processes required for effective ART implementation can be demanding for team members.
• Stakeholder management: Aligning stakeholders’ expectations with the ART’s cadence and delivery schedule can be complex.

Best practices for ART success

Here are the top ten best practices for Agile release train (ART) success:

1. Establish a shared vision: Ensure all team members are aligned around a common goal and understand how their work contributes to it.
2. Prioritize the program backlog: Arrange items in the backlog to reflect the highest value for customers at the top.
3. Implement incremental releases: Enable fast output and quick response to customer feedback by releasing incrementally.
4. Maintain regular ART events: Conduct consistent ART sync meetings and PI planning sessions to address blockers and dependencies and foster collaboration.
5. Allow for flexibility: While adhering to SAFe guidelines, maintain some flexibility to adjust plans when necessary.
6. Foster cross-functional collaboration: Promote efficient communication and coordination across teams, especially for managing dependencies.
7. Provide comprehensive training: Ensure all team members understand the Agile values and principles, the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe), and the ART events and ceremonies.
8. Gain leadership support: Secure buy-in and active involvement from organizational leaders to drive the ART’s success.
9. Focus on continuous improvement: Regularly conduct retrospectives and I&A events to identify areas for enhancement.
10. Maintain transparency: Keep all stakeholders informed about progress, challenges, and outcomes to enable informed decision-making.

Power your Agile release train with monday dev

Built on monday.com Work OS, monday dev allows you to implement and manage your ART from one flexible platform. You can scale your Agile delivery from the convenience of Scrum for small teams to the enterprise-wide structure of SAFe for larger organizations. Here are five features to help facilitate collaboration, planning, and execution across multiple teams and levels of the organization.

• Portfolio and program boards: Create boards for managing epics at the portfolio level and features at the program level, facilitating the hierarchical structure of an ART.

• PI planning boards: Create a dedicated board for PI planning, where each team adds their user stories and tasks.

• Work Canvas integration: Visualize your PI planning on the whiteboard and integrate tasks from other boards.

• Sprint management: Use a sprint management board to help manage sprints across all Scrum teams in the ART, ensuring consistency in sprint cadence.

• Automations: Create custom automation formulas to streamline ART processes, trigger reminders, and keep your tasks on track.

Keep your Agile release train on track

By breaking down traditional silos and creating a synchronized approach to product development, ARTs can transform how enterprises approach large-scale software and system delivery.

With monday dev, you can manage your ART and product development cycle in one flexible platform. From ideation and roadmaps to sprints and releases, keep your product managers and developers aligned and agile.