Epic

What if we found ourselves building something that nobody wanted? In that case, what did it matter if we did it on time and on budget?

- Eric Ries, The Lean Startup [1]

Definition: An Epic is a significant solution development initiative.

Summary

Epics are significant initiatives designed to drive change and foster innovation. They are not the same as projects; their oversight, execution, and success measures differ greatly. Given their importance, epics require stakeholders to define clearly the expected outcomes and business benefits. They are managed using a portfolio Kanban system to improve their visibility and tracking. Due to their broad scope and potential impact, epics require defining a minimum viable product (MVP) and must be approved by Portfolio Leadership.

What is an epic?

An epic is a substantial business venture with significant scope and impact. Due to the potential size of the investment, stakeholders must align on the intent and definition of the epic. There are two primary types of epics: Business epics deliver value directly to the customer. Enabler epics enhance the architectural runway to support future business or technical needs. Epics also differ from traditional projects in that they are not merely financial allocations. Instead, they’re managed through a portfolio's Kanban system. This enables visibility and tracking of their development until they are approved or rejected.

Epics operate quite differently to projects, as Figure 1 highlights.

In this article

What is an epic?
How are epics defined?
How is the Lean Startup cycle used to manage epic implementation?
How is the cost and duration of an epic forecast?
ART and Solution Train epics

Key Takeaways

  • An epic is a significant initiative that requires portfolio-level oversight due to its scale and impact.
  • Each epic requires an MVP, a Lean business case, and an estimate of costs.
  • Business epics deliver value directly to the customer. Enabler epics enhance the architectural runway.
  • Epics are implemented with the SAFe Lean startup cycle.

Last Update: 11 March 2025