Scaled Agile SSM Exam - Topic 1 Question 50 Discussion

According to both SAFe principles and Patrick Lencioni's model (which SAFe references), the absence of trust is the foundational cause of team dysfunction. Without trust, team members are unwilling to be vulnerable, admit mistakes, or ask for help---leading to fear of conflict, lack of commitment, and poor results.

Building trust allows team members to engage in open, honest communication and constructive conflict, both of which are essential for continuous improvement and high performance. Servant leaders play a key role in fostering this psychological safety by modeling openness, empathy, and transparency.

From SAFe guidance:

''The foundation of high-performing teams is trust. Without trust, teams cannot engage in healthy conflict, commit to decisions, or hold one another accountable.''

Therefore, the correct answer is D. Absence of trust, as it is the root cause of most forms of team dysfunction.