What is a "Feature" in SAFe?

In the context of the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe), a "Feature" is specifically defined as a service or functionality that addresses a stakeholder need and is articulated at the program level. Features are integral components of the product roadmap, serving as a bridge between the higher-level strategic themes and the more granular user stories that development teams use to deliver value.

Features are designed to deliver capabilities that can be directly linked to user needs or business outcomes, ensuring that they provide tangible benefits to customers or stakeholders. When a feature is defined, it typically includes acceptance criteria and is sized appropriately for implementation within an Agile Release Train (ART) iteration. This aligns with the principles of SAFe, which emphasize customer-centricity and building products that meet real-world needs.

The other choices represent concepts that do not capture the full definition of a feature within SAFe:

• A minor enhancement to an existing product inaccurately narrows the scope of what a feature can be, as features can also represent significant new capabilities.
• A brief task required to support a user story describes a different level of granularity, such as a task or a story, rather than the broader and more strategic feature.
• An initiative that spans multiple teams aligns more with a program or portfolio epic,