SAFe AGILE PRODUCT MANAGEMENT 184
CONCEPT REVIEW GUIDE 2026 PORTFOLIO
ALIGNMENT AND BUSINESS VALUE
PRIORITIZATION
◉ What are the typical stages shown in a Customer journey map?
Answer: Learn, Decide, Choose, Apply/Purchase, Complete.
◉ What is the primary purpose of Customer journey mapping in
SAFe?
Answer: To identify gaps and opportunities for new products and
capabilities.
◉ How does journey mapping relate to Design Thinking?
Answer: Journey mapping is essentially Design Thinking applied to
Operational Value Streams.
◉ What should a journey map document for each stage?
Answer: The customer's thinking and feelings, the touchpoints with
the company, and opportunities for improvement.
,◉ What is the recommended starting point for Customer journey
mapping?
Answer: Start with a simple description of the journey and build
from there.
◉ How does a Customer journey map relate to personas?
Answer: Journey maps are typically built around specific personas.
◉ What types of information are captured in a journey map?
Answer: User desires, activities, feelings, questions, pain points, and
technology opportunities.
◉ What is the role of APIs in SAFe product strategy?
Answer: APIs provide access to complementary Solutions and must
be treated with a product mindset.
◉ What does 'product mindset' mean when applied to APIs?
Answer: Design and deliver APIs for long-term value, evolving them
continuously.
◉ What are the two key design questions for an API strategy?
Answer: (1) What do developers need to use our API? (2) How do
we create a sustainable model for API development?
, ◉ What is a data strategy in the context of SAFe product
management?
Answer: A plan that defines how data will be collected, managed,
used, and potentially monetized.
◉ What is the 'Strategic Sweet Spot'?
Answer: A tool that identifies where a company's capabilities,
customer needs, and competitor offerings intersect.
◉ What happens when only 'Customers' needs' and 'Company's
capabilities' overlap?
Answer: You fight — you must differentiate to win.
◉ What happens when only 'Competitors' offerings' and 'Customers'
needs' overlap?
Answer: You lose — you lack the capability to compete.
◉ What happens when only 'Competitors' offerings' and 'Company's
capabilities' overlap?
Answer: Potential waste — customers don't need it.
◉ How should Design Thinking be applied to API strategy?
CONCEPT REVIEW GUIDE 2026 PORTFOLIO
ALIGNMENT AND BUSINESS VALUE
PRIORITIZATION
◉ What are the typical stages shown in a Customer journey map?
Answer: Learn, Decide, Choose, Apply/Purchase, Complete.
◉ What is the primary purpose of Customer journey mapping in
SAFe?
Answer: To identify gaps and opportunities for new products and
capabilities.
◉ How does journey mapping relate to Design Thinking?
Answer: Journey mapping is essentially Design Thinking applied to
Operational Value Streams.
◉ What should a journey map document for each stage?
Answer: The customer's thinking and feelings, the touchpoints with
the company, and opportunities for improvement.
,◉ What is the recommended starting point for Customer journey
mapping?
Answer: Start with a simple description of the journey and build
from there.
◉ How does a Customer journey map relate to personas?
Answer: Journey maps are typically built around specific personas.
◉ What types of information are captured in a journey map?
Answer: User desires, activities, feelings, questions, pain points, and
technology opportunities.
◉ What is the role of APIs in SAFe product strategy?
Answer: APIs provide access to complementary Solutions and must
be treated with a product mindset.
◉ What does 'product mindset' mean when applied to APIs?
Answer: Design and deliver APIs for long-term value, evolving them
continuously.
◉ What are the two key design questions for an API strategy?
Answer: (1) What do developers need to use our API? (2) How do
we create a sustainable model for API development?
, ◉ What is a data strategy in the context of SAFe product
management?
Answer: A plan that defines how data will be collected, managed,
used, and potentially monetized.
◉ What is the 'Strategic Sweet Spot'?
Answer: A tool that identifies where a company's capabilities,
customer needs, and competitor offerings intersect.
◉ What happens when only 'Customers' needs' and 'Company's
capabilities' overlap?
Answer: You fight — you must differentiate to win.
◉ What happens when only 'Competitors' offerings' and 'Customers'
needs' overlap?
Answer: You lose — you lack the capability to compete.
◉ What happens when only 'Competitors' offerings' and 'Company's
capabilities' overlap?
Answer: Potential waste — customers don't need it.
◉ How should Design Thinking be applied to API strategy?
