Who owns the story planning and high level estimates in the ART release planning?

• A. Development team
• B. Product Owner
• C. Architects
• D. Scrum Master

Answer: (A)

In SAFe, the Development Team owns the planning and the high-level estimates for their work during ART release planning. They translate the features and backlog items into a concrete plan for the upcoming Program Increment, determining how many stories they can realistically complete in each iteration and the overall scope. This planning reflects the team’s velocity and capacity, so the estimates come from the people who will actually implement the work. The Product Owner provides the backlog content, clarifies acceptance criteria, and helps with prioritization, but the team is responsible for the plan and its estimates. Architects contribute guidance on architecture, and the Scrum Master facilitates the event, but the ownership of the plan and the estimates rests with the Development Team.