POPM4 Study Guide
POPM4 Study Guide
POPM4 Study Guide
The exam section numbers may not specifically map to the course lesson numbers because the
course content may evolve to support an ongoing learner-centric instructional approach. Please
review the “Exam Section Numbering and Course Lesson Numbering” section for more information.
Jeff Nichols
Marshall Guillory
Shane Harrison
Steve Martinez
Vikas Kapila
Please review the Candidate Agreement on the Certification Program Policies page for information
related to terms of testing and certification. Each candidate will be required to agree to these terms
prior to launching the exam.
Exam Details
Information, such as the number of questions, time on exam, and exam format, can be found under
“Exam Details” on the Exam and Certification Summary web page.
Course Attendance
The first step toward becoming a Certified SAFe® professional is to attend the SAFe Product
Owner/Product Manager training class. Course attendance is required (all days), and completion
provides access to the exam, which is part of the SAFe Learning Plan. A complete list of courses,
including dates and locations, is on the Scaled Agile website.
Note: Attending the class does not guarantee passing the exam. Please take the time to review the
materials covered in this study guide.
Scaled Agile SMEs use these objectives to develop exam questions. It is recommended you review
these objectives and ask yourself: Do I know how to complete the tasks in the objective? Am I
familiar with the terms and concepts? Do I know the outcome of NOT performing the tasks correctly
(anti-patterns)?
The exam objectives and course materials do overlap either at a high level or in some cases with
more detail so be sure to review the materials in this study guide as well as additional resources
listed in each exam section’s “Reading and Reference List”.
Percent of Items
Exam Sections
on Exam
Please remember that the goal of this reading list is not only to provide answers to the exam
questions, but also to provide a broader context for learning.
Exam Objectives
1.2.5 Explain how an Agile Release Train (ART) applies a systems view
• SAFe Product Owner/Product Manager Student Workbook (available only from taking the
course): materials and exercises from lesson 1
• www.scaledagileframework.com/safe-lean-agile-principles/
•
2.2.1 Describe the Lean-Agile values that form the House of Lean
• SAFe Product Owner/Product Manager Student Workbook (available only from taking the
course): materials and exercises from lesson 2 and lesson 3
• www.scaledagileframework.com/assume-variability-preserve-options/
• www.scaledagileframework.com/base-milestones-on-objective-evaluation-of-working-
systems/
• www.scaledagileframework.com/decentralize-decision-making/
• www.scaledagileframework.com/safe-lean-agile-principles/
•
Describe the SAFe Portfolio Level including the principles, practices, and roles
3.1.1
needed to initiate and govern a set of development Value Streams
3.1.2 Explain the Lean portfolio management function and related roles
3.1.4 Contrast Agile program guidance collaboration and Lean governance collaboration
3.2.2 Explain ways to prepare the epic through the role of the Epic Owner
3.3.1 Identify ways to foster innovation with the Lean Startup Cycle
3.6.1 Describe how the portfolio Kanban system manages the flow of epics
• SAFe Product Owner/Product Manager Student Workbook (available only from taking the
course): materials and exercises from lesson 3
• www.scaledagileframework.com/epic/
• www.scaledagileframework.com/whats-new-in-safe-45/#2
•
Identify how responsibilities shift when epics move from the portfolio backlog to
4.1.2
implementation
4.3.1 Explain the elements of a Kanban system and how value flows
Describe the process and components of the Continuous Delivery Pipeline learning
4.3.2
cycles
4.3.3 Create a program Kanban that includes Work in Process (WIP) limits
4.4.1 Explain ways to manage and prioritize the flow of work into the program backlog
4.4.5 Describe how to minimize CoD using Weighted Shortest Job First (WSJF)
4.4.7 Collaborate with other roles to sequence work and build architectural runway
• SAFe Product Owner/Product Manager Student Workbook (available only from taking the
course): materials and exercises from lesson 4 and lesson 6
• www.scaledagileframework.com/continuous-exploration/
• www.scaledagileframework.com/customer/
• www.scaledagileframework.com/program-and-solution-backlogs/
• www.scaledagileframework.com/roadmap/
• www.scaledagileframework.com/story/
• www.scaledagileframework.com/vision/
• agilemanifesto.org/
• The Principles of Product Development Flow by Donald G. Reinertsen -- Page 194
•
5.1.2 Identify the successful PI planning outputs (PI Objectives, program board)
5.1.6 Describe how to support the team objectives and assign business value
5.2.1 Explain feature decomposition and how features drive user stories
Describe the Team Backlog and all elements, including user and enabler stories and
5.2.2
NFRs
Describe user stories and how they guide the 3Cs (Card, Conversation,
5.2.4
Confirmation)
5.2.7 Describe how user stories are accepted and the basis for acceptance criteria
5.3.5 Describe the role of the PM and PO during planning around the iteration
Explain how program events create a closed loop system to keep the train on the
5.4.2
tracks
5.4.4 Explain how the Scrum of Scrums and the PO sync work together for the ART sync
5.4.7 Describe how the Iteration Review provides measures of progress to the program
5.4.11 Discuss the importance of new system increments every two weeks
5.4.13 Describe how to create a DevOps culture using the CALMR approach
5.4.15 Describe the Innovation and Planning Iteration and explain why it is necessary
Identify DoDs for each: team increment, system increment, solution increment, and
5.5.2
release
Explain the importance of having the ability to release on demand and how it is
5.5.3
integral to the continuous delivery pipeline
• SAFe Product Owner/Product Manager Student Workbook (available only from taking the
course): materials and exercises from lesson 5
• www.scaledagileframework.com/enablers/
• www.scaledagileframework.com/pre-and-post-pi-planning/
• www.scaledagileframework.com/product-and-solution-management/
• www.scaledagileframework.com/whats-new-in-safe-45/ -- Search for “The Lean UX
process (Figure 14)”
• www.scaledagileframework.com/release-on-demand/ -- Search for “Feature Toggles”
•
Compare Product Owner and Product Manager governance from a content authority
6.2.3
perspective
• SAFe Product Owner/Product Manager Student Workbook (available only from taking the
course): materials and exercises from lesson 6 and lesson 5
• www.scaledagileframework.com/product-and-solution-management/#Details
•
Sample Test
The sample test provides examples of the format and type of questions to expect on the exam
(these are sample and not the actual exam questions). Performance on the sample test is NOT an
indicator of performance on the exam, and it should NOT be considered an assessment tool. The
sample test (.pdf) can be found under “Exam Study Materials” on the Exam and Certification
Summary web page.
The practice test is available at no additional charge, and you can take it as many times as you like
no matter the outcome of pass or fail. However, it provides the same bank of questions randomized
in a different order. Use the practice test score report to focus on areas where you may need
improvement.
NOTE: Be sure to take a screen shot of the score report, as the practice test will reset after
completion and previous score reports will not be available.
The practice test falls under the candidate agreement policy, and you are not authorized to copy,
share, or reproduce it in any way.