SAFe® Scrum Master (SSM) Curriculum 2026

Learning Objectives:

Understand the SAFe Scrum Master role and responsibilities

Differentiate SAFe Scrum Master from traditional Scrum Master

Establish servant leadership and coaching stance

Key Topics:

Evolution of the Scrum Master role in scaled Agile environments

Team‑level responsibilities – coaching Scrum, Kanban, XP; facilitating events; removing impediments

Program‑level responsibilities – ART collaboration, working with RTE, supporting system events

SAFe Scrum Master as servant leader and coach – leading through influence

Learning Objectives:

Apply SAFe Core Values in Scrum Master role

Understand key SAFe Lean‑Agile principles

Identify mindset anti‑patterns

Key Topics:

SAFe Core Values – Alignment, Built‑in Quality, Transparency, Program Execution

Applying Lean‑Agile principles from the Scrum Master perspective

Lean‑Agile mindset in practice – growth mindset, Kaizen, respect for people, systems thinking

Learning Objectives:

Facilitate Scrum events effectively

Apply facilitation techniques and handle dysfunctions

Key Topics:

Iteration Planning – goals, capacity, estimation, dependencies, commitment

Daily Standup – board‑driven, goal‑focused conversations

Iteration Review – demonstrating working software and gathering feedback

Iteration Retrospective – formats, root cause analysis, action follow‑up

Learning Objectives:

Understand team development stages

Build psychological safety

Enable self‑organization

Key Topics:

Tuckman’s model – Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing, Adjourning

Scrum Master interventions at each stage

Psychological safety – characteristics of safe teams and healthy conflict

Enabling self‑organization – guardrails vs control, coaching questions, empowerment

Learning Objectives:

Understand built‑in quality practices

Support DevOps culture and CI/CD

Key Topics:

Built‑in quality – TDD, CI, pair programming, code reviews, Definition of Done, refactoring

DevOps and CALMR; Scrum Master’s role in Continuous Delivery Pipeline

Learning Objectives:

Understand PI Planning purpose and flow

Prepare teams for PI Planning

Facilitate team breakouts during PI Planning

Key Topics:

PI Planning overview – alignment, dependency management, PI Objectives

Scrum Master role before, during and after PI Planning – backlog prep, capacity, ROAM, confidence vote

Learning Objectives:

Support System Demo execution

Facilitate Inspect & Adapt workshops

Coordinate across Scrum Masters via Coach Sync

Key Topics:

System Demo – integrated ART demos and stakeholder feedback

Inspect & Adapt – metrics, problem solving, improvement backlog

Coach/Scrum Master Sync – cross‑team coordination and impediment escalation

Learning Objectives:

Identify and manage impediments

Apply structured problem‑solving

Create a culture of relentless improvement

Key Topics:

Impediment types – team, program, organizational; visibility and escalation

Problem‑solving tools – 5 Whys, Fishbone, A3

Measuring and celebrating improvement over time

Learning Objectives:

Understand key flow metrics

Use metrics for coaching and improvement

Avoid metric misuse

Key Topics:

Flow metrics – velocity, cycle time, WIP, throughput, lead time, flow efficiency

Using metrics for data‑driven coaching and trend analysis

Metric anti‑patterns – comparing teams, performance pressure, individual tracking

Learning Objectives:

Build strong Product Owner partnerships

Support stakeholder collaboration

Facilitate effective backlog refinement

Key Topics:

PO–Scrum Master partnership – role clarity, collaboration practices, anti‑patterns

Managing stakeholder interactions – education and protecting the team

Backlog refinement – readiness, estimation, dependencies

Learning Objectives:

Coach distributed and hybrid teams

Apply AI‑augmented Scrum Master practices

Support organizational change as a change agent

Key Topics:

Remote collaboration challenges and facilitation techniques

AI‑assisted insights and facilitation support (with responsible AI use)

Leading organizational change and handling resistance

Learning Objectives:

Understand SSM certification expectations

Reinforce key SAFe Scrum Master concepts

Apply exam strategies and build confidence

Key Topics:

Certification knowledge areas – role, events, principles, DevOps, metrics, impediments

Practice questions and concept review

Study plan and exam day tips

Learning Objectives:

Create a personal Scrum Master action plan

Apply learning immediately in your teams

Plan continued growth in SAFe and Agile roles

Key Topics:

Action planning – key takeaways and first experiments

Continuing SAFe journey – advanced SAFe roles and continuous learning paths