It is a known fact that organizations have engaged in software development solutions with an Agile framework, and many Agile frameworks are already in place. However, all these solutions’ ultimate goal is to deliver value at the end of the day. This is due to the changing behavior and attitudes of both customers and resources and their skills. Nevertheless, the culture of the enterprise is also a vital factor behind this.
The Scaled Agile Framework, or SAFe, is an agile framework for software development built on three pillars – program, portfolio, and team. It was formed around three primary knowledge bodies: agile software development, lean product development, and systems thinking. The framework promotes knowledge that includes structured guidance on roles and responsibilities, planning and managing the work, and upholding values. Also, the framework promotes alignment, collaboration, and delivery across large numbers of agile teams.
Furthermore, SAFe provides a structured approach for scaling agile when businesses grow in size. SAFe comes with four configurations to accommodate various levels of scale-like Essential SAFe, Large Solution SAFe, Portfolio SAFe, and Full SAFe.
Related post – Top 10 challenges of implementing Agile methodology
What is the Scaled Agile Framework?
SAFe was released by Dean Leffingwell and Drew Jemilo in 2011. The goal of releasing SAFe was to help organizations design better and develop software that meets the customer’s changing needs. Today, SAFe is one of the most popular scaled agile delivery frameworks, and SAFe’s worldwide community of practitioners continues to evolve it.
Core principles and values of SAFe
SAFe stands on 5 values and 10 principles. These are described below-
SAFe Principles
The Scaled Agile Framework’s principles aim to improve an organization as a whole by inspiring lean-agile decisions while making functional and organizational boundaries. The principles are intended to influence leaders and managers, and everyone in the organization. Alongside, the principles condition their mindset to shift from traditional waterfall thinking to lean-agile thinking, where practices like Lean Portfolio Management are applied.
Principle #1 Take an economic view
Principle #2 Apply systems thinking
Principle #3 Assume variability; preserve options
Principle #4 Build incrementally with fast, integrated learning cycles
Principle #5 Base milestones on an objective evaluation of working systems
Principle #6 Visualize and limit Work in Process (WIP), reduce batch sizes, and manage queue lengths
Principle #7 Apply cadence, synchronize with cross-domain planning
Principle #8 Unlock the intrinsic motivation of knowledge workers
Principle #9 Decentralize decision making
Principle #10 Organize around value
SaFe Core Values
Through SAFe’s core values, an organization aims to describe the leadership culture that needs to foster. Also, it defines how people should behave within that culture to effectively using the framework. Here are the core values –
1. Alignment
With SAFe, the companies are expected to put planning and reflection pace in place at all organizational levels. As it keeps in place, it becomes easier for everyone to understand the business’s current state and how everyone should move together to achieve the goals. Thus, by synchronizing people and activities regularly, the organization can align with all portfolio levels. In this mode, information flows both upward and downward quickly and avoids the traditional top-down approach, command, and control structures.
2. Built-in quality
In the SAFe framework, agility is never compromised with quality. SAFe emphasizes quality development practices. Hence, it requires teams at all levels to define what has been done. SAFe focuses on the five key dimensions of built-in quality: flow, architecture and design quality, system quality, code quality, and release quality.
3. Transparency
SAFe focuses on trust-building that includes planning work in smaller batch sizes. This helps to surface the problems easily and fast. Hence, you can get real-time visibility into backlog progress across all levels and inspect and adapt rituals.
4. Program execution
Program execution is the primary focus of SAFe and is a cascading effect that powers everything else in the framework. Along with that, teams and programs must regularly deliver working and quality software with business value.
5. Leadership
SAFe requires lean-agile leadership behavior because only leaders can change the system and create the environment necessary to embrace all core values.
3 levels of the scaled agile framework
The Scaled Agile Framework has three levels: Team Level (Program Level), and Portfolio Level.
These three levels no longer suffice with SAFe version 5.0. A fourth level was added.
- Scaled Agile Foundation Level 1: Team Level
This SAFe level focuses on one or more teams working together to accomplish something. - Scaled Agile Foundation Level 2: Program Level
Many teams work together to create solutions using an Agile Release Train (ART). A typical Agile Release Train (ART), consists of between 50 and 130 people divided into subteams. - Scaled Agile Foundation Level 3: Large Solution level
Two or more Agile Release Trains will be required at this level of SAFe. The Solution Train is a collection of all Agile Release Trains. - Scaled Agile Framework Level 4: Portfolio Level
The entire business or company has implemented agile methods at the highest SAFe level. Management methods should also follow agile principles. Strategic governance and lean budgeting are key.
How does Scaled Agile Framework Work?
Organizations that are ready to implement SAFe usually surface three things –
- executive-level sponsorship,
- a strong purpose for change
- a foundation in Scrum.
For this, Scaled Agile, Inc. provides a SAFe implementation roadmap that provides detailed steps on getting started and setting up the organization for widespread adoption across portfolios. There are 12 steps to implement SAFe that include:
- Reaching the tipping point
- Train executives, managers, and leaders
- Train lean-agile change agents
- Identify value streams and ARTs (Agile Release Trains)
- Create a lean-agile center of excellence
- Prepare for ART launch
- Create the implementation plan
- Train teams and launch the ART
- Launch more ARTs and value streams
- Coach the ART execution
- Extend to the portfolio
- Sustain and improve
What are the Strengths and Weaknesses of SAFe?
SAFe’s strengths include:
- Helps in collaboration among cross-functional teams more effectively
- It helps to achieve greater transparency for the organizations
- Aligns all aspects of a project to the broader business goals
SAFe’s weaknesses include:
- SAFe requires too much upfront planning and process definition.
- Some believe the framework is not pure agile.
- It is more of a top-down approach rather than a team-based approach.
- There is a misunderstanding about epics. To explain further, the meaning of epic for other Agile approaches and SAFe is not the same. When all other agile approaches mean epic as a long-term and ongoing project, SAFe indicates it as a substantial enterprise initiative. This difference in concept can easily create confusion among teams.
Should You Use the Scaled Agile Framework?
SAFe offers team flexibility and can manage some of the major challenges those large organizations face while practicing agile. SAFe is not a single methodology; furthermore, it is a broad knowledge base of proven best practices already used by the real teams for delivering successful software products.
Interestingly, SAFe enterprises encounter results that include
- 30% happier and more motivated employees
- 50% faster time-to-market
- 35% increase in productivity
- 50% defect reduction
Conclusion
Frameworks like SAFe provide a viable option that helps businesses effectively scale agile within organizations and achieve business goals. Though challenges may arise with SAFe, they can be avoided with proper knowledge and hands-on.