How do you plan the capacity of a sprint or PI?
For a sprint or Program Increment (PI), start from each member's available days (absences, public holidays, and events deducted), apply the observed velocity or a focus factor, then commit the team to that capacity. At the agile release train (ART) level, the RTE consolidates team capacity so PI Planning commitments stay sustainable.
Capacity planning for the Scrum Master and RTE
Plan sprints and Program Increments on the capacity actually available.
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Main challenges
- Overloaded sprints because absences and run work were not anticipated.
- PI commitments that ignore each team's real capacity.
- People shared across several squads.
- Dependencies between teams creating resource conflicts.
What Scrum Masters and RTEs expect from a tool
- Net capacity of each team per iteration, absences included.
- A view of people shared across squads and the resulting conflicts.
- A link with Jira so the backlog stays where it lives.
- Capacity tracking over the length of a PI.
Scrum Master and RTE indicators
| Indicator | Definition |
|---|---|
| Iteration capacity | Available days × focus factor, absences deducted. |
| Commitment predictability | Share of iteration or PI commitments actually delivered. |
| Shared people | Number of members split across several teams. |
| Workload per squad | Allocation rate of each squad over the PI. |
Typical workflow with Workload
- Model tribes, squads, and chapters, and their members.
- Enter the period's absences and events.
- Review capacity per team before PI Planning or sprint planning.
- Spot shared people and conflicts between squads.
- Track capacity throughout the PI and adjust.
FAQ
Does Workload replace Jira or Jira Align?
No. The backlog and delivery boards stay in Jira. Workload is the capacity and programs layer, as described for tribes and squads.
How do you compute sprint capacity in story points?
Start from average velocity and adjust it in proportion to the team's expected availability over the sprint.
What is PI Planning?
The SAFe event where the teams of an agile release train jointly plan objectives and capacity for the next Program Increment.
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