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SAFe Events

ART Sync Events

ART Sync events are weekly coordination meetings that keep the train aligned between PI Planning events. They include Coach Sync (SM/TC alignment), PO Sync (scope and priority alignment), and ART Sync (combined or cross-functional coordination).

Weekly coordination · Timebox: 30–60 min each

Overview

ART Sync events are weekly coordination meetings that keep the train aligned between PI Planning events. They include Coach Sync (SM/TC alignment), PO Sync (scope and priority alignment), and ART Sync (combined or cross-functional coordination).

Event Ownership

Owned / Facilitated By
RTE (facilitates all ART Sync events)
Facilitate Coach Sync to align SM/TCs on cross-team impediments and dependency status
Facilitate PO Sync to align Product Owners on feature progress and scope adjustments
Run ART Sync to provide overall visibility into ART progress, risks, and flow metrics
Escalate systemic issues surfaced in syncs to appropriate leadership

Who Should Be Present

Coach Sync
All Scrum Masters/Team Coaches and the RTE. Surface cross-team impediments, coordinate dependency resolution, share coaching insights
PO Sync
All Product Owners and Product Management. Review feature progress, resolve scope questions, align on priorities across teams
ART Sync
SM/TCs, POs, RTE, and optionally Product Management and System Architect. Combined view of progress, risks, and flow

Preparation Checklist

01RTE: Review the ART Planning Board, ROAM board, and flow metrics before each sync
02SM/TCs: Update impediment status, prepare cross-team dependency updates
03POs: Update feature progress, prepare scope questions for Product Management
04All: Come prepared to discuss — not report — what needs attention

Facilitation Techniques

Click any technique to expand details and learn when to apply it.

Walk the Board

Start each sync by walking the ART Planning Board from right to left. Focus on items closest to completion, then surface blocked items. This keeps the conversation flow-focused.

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Exception-Based Reporting

Don’t review everything — only discuss items that are off-track, blocked, or have changed since last sync. Green items need no discussion. This keeps syncs within their timebox.

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ROAM Board Review

Briefly review the ROAM board at each sync. Have any risks been Resolved? Do any new risks need to be Added? Are Owned risks being actively managed?

Click to expand

Tips & Tricks

01
Coordination Not Status
These are coordination events, not status meetings. If people are just reporting, the format needs to change
02
Keep It Short
Keep to 30–60 minutes maximum. If issues need deeper discussion, take them offline with the relevant people
03
Shared Participation
The RTE should not be the only one talking. SM/TCs and POs should actively contribute
04
Consistent Cadence
Use a consistent time and cadence — predictability reduces coordination overhead

Anti-Patterns to Avoid

After-Sync Action Items: Capture action items from each sync with owners and due dates. Review completion at the next sync. Stale action items signal a coordination failure.
Flow Metrics Review: Periodically (every 2 weeks), include a brief flow metrics review in ART Sync: WIP trends, cycle time, throughput. This grounds coordination in objective data.

Success Takeaways by Role

What each participant should walk away with when this event is run well.

SM/TCs

Awareness of cross-team impediments affecting their teams; coordinated resolution strategies; coaching insights from peers

POs

Alignment on feature scope and priorities; resolution of cross-team dependency questions; awareness of ART-level progress

RTE

Pulse on ART health; early warning of risks and impediments; data for stakeholder communication

Cross-Framework Definition
See ART Sync in the glossary
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