What does "Built-in Quality" mean in SAFe?

In the context of the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe), "Built-in Quality" signifies that quality is an intrinsic aspect of the work produced throughout the development process rather than being an afterthought or something that is assessed only once the work is complete. This concept emphasizes that quality should be integrated into every step of the workflow, from design to development, deployment, and even maintenance.

When quality is built into the processes and products, teams can identify and address issues early, resulting in a more robust and reliable outcome. This proactive approach encourages practices such as continuous integration, automated testing, and regular code reviews, ensuring that quality is part of the culture and the development lifecycle.

In contrast to the other options, the perspective that quality can only be assessed post-development, or added at later stages, undermines the fundamental principle of Built-in Quality. Relying on external teams to manage quality further distances quality from the core development activities, which contradicts the aim of making quality a shared responsibility within the team. Thus, the emphasis is on embedding quality directly into the development process itself.