Basic concepts, principles and benefits of the Scaled Agile Framework for organisations
The Scaled Agile Framework® is a scalable framework that supports the agile transformation of organisations. By applying agile and lean principles, SAFe® emphasises effective collaboration, iterative workflows and customer centricity. It enables agile operations to be extended to multiple teams and departments. By following SAFe guidelines, organisations can respond more quickly to market changes and better align their portfolio with customer needs. In this article, we take a look at the principles and values of SAFe® and its benefits in the lives of organisations.
What is the Scaled Agile Framework?
The Scaled Agile Framework® - in brief SAFe® -is a scaled framework that supports even the agile transition of a robust organisation. It acts as a kind of operating system, providing a stable, agile-based operation in a changing market environment.
It provides structured guidance on roles and responsibilities, how to plan and manage work, and the values to be upheld.
SAFe® helps to build alignment, collaboration and supports implementation across large agile teams. It is built around three primary bodies of knowledge:
- agile software development
- lean product development
- systems thinking
Use well-established frameworks such as Lean, Scrum, Kanban and DevOps. SAFe® provides tools for the entire organization to respond effectively to change and increase productivity by focusing on seven competency areas.
As businesses grow in size, SAFe® provides a structured approach to agile operations.
How was the Scaled Agile Framework born?
SAFe was published by Dean Leffingwell and Drew Jemilo in 2011 to help organisations design better systems and software that are more responsive to the changing needs of their customers. At that time, teams were mostly using traditional project management processes to deliver software. But as the need to respond quickly to current market conditions grew, new frameworks emerged to help businesses improve the delivery of solutions. Thus SAFe® was born. Today, the Scaled Agile Framework is one of the most popular scaled agile frameworks.
What are the important concepts to know in the Scaled Agile Framework?
Harmonised operation
SAFe® requires companies at all levels of the organisation to understand the business situation, the objectives and what needs to be done to achieve them together. Information flows both upwards and downwards, unlike traditional top-down, command-and-control structures.
Built-in quality
In the SAFe® framework, agility must never be at the expense of quality. SAFe® requires teams at all levels to define what "done" means for each task or project and to incorporate quality improvement practices.
According to SAFe®, built quality has five main dimensions.
- the quality of the process
- the quality of architecture and design
- the quality of the code
- the quality of the system
- the quality of the release
Transparency
SAFe® encourages trust-building behaviour, including planning work in smaller batches, so that problems can surface sooner. It also provides real-time visibility of the implementation of backlog items at different levels, and transparent monitoring and adaptation.
Planning Interval
Planning Interval is the heart of SAFe®, providing the basic building block of the framework. The Planning Interval encompasses 5 coherent iterations in which teams create value individually and collectively. Teams should therefore be able to deliver quality, working software and business value on a regular basis.
Leadership
SAFe® requires lean-agile leadership because only leaders can change the system and create the environment necessary to adopt SAFe's core values.
What are the principles of SAFe®?
The principles of the Scaled Agile Framework are designed to improve the business as a whole by encouraging lean-agile decision making across functional and organisational boundaries. They also urge not just leaders and managers, but everyone in the organisation to be involved in the transformation.
Economic approach
SAFe considers it important to look at system design from the perspective of economic efficiency. This includes the strategy of building incremental value flows and the wider economic context of each value stream. Considering the economic aspects helps to achieve the highest value and quality in the shortest time.
Application of a systems approach
Systems are complex and contain many interlinked elements. Optimisation requires understanding the whole system, both the system under development and the organisation building it, rather than focusing on individual elements.
Assuming variability; preserving options
In contrast to traditional approaches, SAFe proposes to maintain several design and requirements options for a longer period of time during the development cycle. Based on empirical data, the right design direction is chosen at the right time, leading to optimal economic results.
Incremental construction with fast, integrated learning cycles
According to SAFe, the incremental approach allows for rapid customer feedback and minimisation of risks. Successive iterations help to develop and validate the solution.
Evaluate the systems in place and set milestones based on this
Objective benchmarks, i.e. regular monitoring of solutions under development, ensure transparency throughout the development lifecycle. These points help to ensure that investments can be adapted to environmental changes if necessary.
Continuous flow of value without interruptions
Removing obstacles and regularly reviewing the process will increase efficiency and productivity. In other words: create the conditions necessary for the value stream to operate continuously, with a continuous flow of the necessary materials, resources, parts and information.
Scheduled work and synchronised cross-functional planning
Scheduling and synchronisation helps you plan and implement development. Cross-functional planning helps to focus development activities uniformly across the organisation.
Strengthening the intrinsic motivation of knowledge workers
Individual motivation and incentive reward systems do not always help innovation and engagement. Autonomy, shared goals, the development of expertise and the pursuit of meaningful activities play a more important role in strengthening the intrinsic motivation of knowledge workers.
Decentralisation of decision-making
Rapid decision-making leads to more efficient development. The key to this is the right level of decision-making power.
Organising around value
Most organisations are organised around functional areas of knowledge. Instead, different areas need to co-operate, re- and re-organise along the lines of what changing market conditions and customers demand.
How can organisations benefit from the Scaled Agile Framework?
In roughly 20,000 companies worldwide, more than 1,000,000 people have recognised the benefits of agile scaling with SAFe® and experienced the following results:
Faster time to market
One of the benefits of agile scaling with SAFe® is improved time to market. By aligning cross-functional teams in a value-driven way, leading companies can meet customer needs faster. Leverage the power of the Scaled Agile Framework to make faster decisions, communicate more effectively, streamline operations and focus on the customer.
Quality improvement
As already mentioned, embedded quality is one of the core values of SAFe®: it highlights the importance of integrating quality at every stage of the development cycle. Scaling agile development with SAFe® benefits organisations by making quality everyone's responsibility.
Productivity growth
SAFe® measurably improves productivity by empowering high-performing teams, as well as teams within teams, to eliminate redundant work, identify and eliminate delays, continuously improve, and ensure they are building the right things.
Greater employee engagement
Better working practices lead to happier, more engaged employees. One of the benefits of scaling agile using the Scaled Agile Framework is that it helps employees to develop the autonomy, confidence in their knowledge and sense of purpose that are key to unlocking intrinsic motivation. Organisations can minimise employee burnout and increase employee satisfaction.
Are you interested in the Scaled Agile Framework? Build or deepen your practical knowledge of the SAFe® Framework and get certified as a Certified SAFe® Program Consultant with our Certified SAFe® Program Consultant experts! Take a look at our training courses!
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