How are features managed in SAFe?

• A. They are identified, prioritized, estimated, and maintained on the program backlog
• B. They are frozen after initial identification
• C. They are created by architecture team only
• D. They are stored only in the portfolio backlog

Answer: (C)

In SAFe, features are the units of customer value that sit in the program backlog and guide what an Agile Release Train (ART) will deliver. They are owned and managed by Product Management, who identify what to build based on customer and business needs, and then prioritize those features so the train delivers the most value each Program Increment. The teams estimate and size features to understand scope, and the backlog is continuously refined as more is learned—there’s no hard freeze after initial identification. Architecture provides guidance and ensures the architectural runway supports the features, often via enablers, but it is Product Management that drives the content, prioritization, and ongoing maintenance in the program backlog. Features are not stored only in the portfolio backlog; they belong in the program backlog for the ART to plan and implement.