Are you still juggling spreadsheets, whiteboards, or third-party tools during your PI Planning events? In this article, we’ll not only explain the basics about PI planning, but also show you how PI planning in Jira can be streamlined entirely within one environment using Agile Hive.
What is PI Planning in Agile?
Program Increment (PI) Planning is a core element of the SAFe® (Scaled Agile Framework) methodology. It’s a cadence-based planning event that brings all Agile teams in an Agile Release Train (ART) together to align on a shared mission and set of objectives for the upcoming increment.
During PI Planning, teams:
- Break down features into user stories
- Identify cross-team dependencies
- Estimate workload and team capacity
- Commit to objectives for the upcoming PI
Despite its importance, many teams struggle to manage dependencies and maintain alignment—especially when relying on disconnected tools outside Jira.
The Challenge: Why PI Planning in Jira Alone Falls Short
Jira is a powerful task and backlog management tool, but it’s not built for large-scale, cross-team planning out of the box. It doesn’t inherently support:
- Cross-team dependency mapping
- Visual collaboration for Breakout Sessions
- Real-time capacity planning and load balancing
- Integrated program-level roadmaps and reporting
This is where Agile Hive bridges the gap.
» Curious how to streamline PI Planning without leaving Jira? Try Agile Hive and bring clarity, coordination, and control to every planning session—right where your teams already work.
How Can I Manage PI Planning Entirely Within Jira?
Agile Hive enhances Jira by enabling comprehensive PI Planning capabilities—fully embedded within your existing Jira environment. If you’re a Release Train Engineer (RTE) or Product Manager, you no longer need to toggle between Jira, Miro, spreadsheets, and post-it notes. Agile Hive enables:
- Team Breakout Boards synced with Jira issues
- Real-time updates on story points, business value, and capacity
- Planning across distributed or hybrid teams
- Visibility into ART-level progress and commitments
What Are Dependencies in Agile—and Why Do They Matter?
A dependency occurs when one piece of work (like a Story or Epic) can’t be completed until another is finished. Left unmanaged, dependencies can cause:
- Bottlenecks in delivery
- Missed deadlines
- Increased costs and frustration
- Identifying and resolving dependencies early is critical during PI Planning.
» Want to see how it works in action? Book a demo of Agile Hive and discover how it transforms PI Planning directly in Jira.
What problems can Agile Hive solve when it comes to PI planning?
1. Visualize and Resolve Dependencies Before They Derail Your Sprint
Common Issue: Jira doesn’t highlight dependencies automatically
Our Solution: Agile Hive visualizes interdependencies directly within the planning boards, making it easy to:
- Identify blockers between teams
- Assess the severity of each dependency
- Resolve them during the planning phase, not during execution
With color-coded indicators and clear mapping, Agile Hive helps RTEs and PMs prevent project slowdowns before they happen.
2. Break Free from Fragmented Tools
Common Issue: You rely on disconnected platforms like Miro or Excel
Our Solution: Agile Hive brings all planning functionality into one place—Jira.
You get:
- Full integration with Jira issues and metrics
- Program Boards for planning and visualization
- Automated reporting on business value, load vs. capacity, and story point burn-down
- Whether in-person or remote, Agile Hive enables cohesive and efficient PI Planning across teams.
Bottom Line: Why Choose Agile Hive for PI Planning in Jira?
If you’re managing scaled Agile teams, Agile Hive transforms Jira into a complete platform for PI Planning. With built-in tools for visualizing and resolving dependencies, integrated planning boards for team coordination, and program-level insights for better decision-making, Agile Hive brings everything together in one place. You can finally say goodbye to fragmented workflows and disconnected tools, and welcome seamless, efficient PI Planning right within your existing Jira environment.