Which term is used to describe high-level business initiatives in SAFe?

High-level business initiatives in SAFe are referred to as epics. Epics represent significant efforts that align with the strategic goals of the organization and typically require substantial investment and time to complete. They encapsulate large bodies of work that can be broken down into smaller, more manageable components, known as features and stories, which flow through the Agile Release Train (ART) for implementation.

Epics help to articulate the vision and direction of the organization while ensuring that initiatives are aligned with business objectives. This alignment facilitates better prioritization and resource allocation, which are essential for achieving desired outcomes.

Features and stories are also important elements within SAFe but are more tactical in nature. Features represent specific functions or capabilities that deliver value to the customer, and stories are the smallest units of work that get a feature implemented. Capabilities, while similar, are broader than features and are often used to describe higher-level functionalities within the solution context.

By understanding that epics are the key drivers of high-level initiatives, organizations can better navigate and implement their strategic goals within the SAFe framework.