It often seems that when we go through a PI Planning event, that there is confusion as a result of developing PI Objectives and, in particular, how resultant PI Objectives relate to incoming Features. There are a number of standard patterns that you will see:

Characteristics:

• A PI Objective is directly the result of a Feature
• Feature complete means associated PI Objective is complete
• PI Objective wording is strongly related to the Feature Business Hypothesis and Acceptance Criteria
• It’s OK to achieve the PI Objective without completing the related Feature, especially if it means a better way of addressing the business need
• Recommend: PI Objective lists the Feature ID in the text e.g. (ID 2)
• Recommend: Feature description lists the PI Objective in the text e.g. (PI Objective 1)

Characteristics:

• A PI Objective is the result of a multiple Features
• All Features are expected to be complete for the PI Objective to be complete
• PI Objective wording is a summary of the related to the Feature's Business Hypothesis and Acceptance Criteria
• It’s OK to achieve the PI Objective without completing the related Features, especially if it means a better way of addressing the business need
• Recommend: PI Objective lists the Feature ID in the text e.g. (ID 1, 3, N-1)
• Recommend: Feature description lists the PI Objective in the text e.g. (PI Objective 2)

Characteristics:

• Some Features won’t be part of the PI Objectives for the Team
• Features are still expected to be completed, but the Feature is not differentiating in terms of the overall work of the Team
• Situation is normal because Features often represent KTLO, support, and other activities

Characteristics:

• Some PI Objectives won’t be the result of a Feature for the Team
• PI Objective wording helps people not only understand what is to be done (the “what”) but also why it is important (the “so what”)
• PI Objective is still expected to be completed
• Situation is normal because some PI Objectives are internal to the Team such as Team improvement items

Characteristics:

• A single Feature results in multiple PI Objectives
• Feature complete means associated PI Objectives are complete
• PI Objective wording is typically related to parts of the Feature Acceptance Criteria
• Situation is rare because usual practice is to split the Feature and do 1 to 1 relationship between Feature and PI Objective
• Recommend: PI Objective lists the Feature ID in the text e.g. (ID 1)
• Recommend: Feature description lists the PI Objective in the text e.g. (PI Objective 2, PI Objective 3, PI Objective 4)