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What is the Mapping Between Features and PI Objectives?
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:
One Features to One PI Objective (Normal)
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)
Many Features to One PI Objective (Normal)
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)
Feature Doesn't Map to PI Objective (Normal)
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
PI Objective is not the Result of a Feature (Normal)
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
Feature Results in Multiple PI Objectives (Rare)
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)