Many large organizations know they have to deliver value in a timely fashion and want to learn more about scaled agile framework and benefits to see if it will help them obtain this goal. In the past few years, software development and project management have revolutionized scaled agile framework. These revolutionary changes are changing the face of doing business today in large organizations and enterprises.
What is scaled agile framework? Development teams use Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) as an agile framework that uses three pillar methodology processes. The three processes are really a broad knowledge base that uses the three pillars of Team, Program and Portfolio, or the four pillars of Portfolio, Value Stream, Program, and Team. SAFe’s purpose is to keep teams flexible while managing challenges many large organizations and enterprises have when practicing agile.
The broad knowledge base is the most proven and best methodology to use when teams provide successful software products. Read on to learn about the many scaled agile framework benefits and how they can be applied in your organization.
The Definition of What is Scaled Agile Framework
When you’re dealing with a scaled agile framework, its important to understand the core and basic meaning of what it is. Agile software frameworks are used in everything from research and general operations in manufacturing to criminal investigations at the FBI. The agile methodology uses cross-functional IT teams that collaborate openly and responsively.
Many large organizations and companies have successful project management because they utilized Agile values and principles. By using Agile value and principles, how does a scaled agile framework fit into the value and principle picture, and how is it defined. SAFe is defined as an enterprise-scale development process and methodology that combines Lean and Agile principles within a templated framework.
The templated framework breaks down SAFe by using the core principles of Lean and Agile which it modifies to form what is called the nine SAFe Lean-Agile Principles. It’s the framework of the modified nine principles that provide an increase in employee engagement, higher quality products, quicker time in bringing something to market through increased productivity.
The Nine SAFe Principles
Scaled Agile Framework attempts to use Lean and Agile methodologies as its foundational principles.
#1 – Best Quality and Value
Give people the best quality and value in the shortest amount of time by using the broad economic view to understand the system builder’s mission better.
#2 – Apply Systems Thinking
SAFe develops, builds, and operates the system by applying systems thinking as it is in the end-user environment.
#3 – Framework Maintains and Preserves Options
The SAFe framework maintains and preserves options for multiple designs and requirement options for a long period of a development cycle. The longer than average cycle is used to obtain empirical data which helps narrow the focus and results in a better economic outcome for the design.
#4 – Integrated Learning Cycles
Use integrated learning cycles when building increments that give fast customer feedback and risk mitigation. It also provides viable solutions for marketing testing and validation.
#5 – Objective Evaluation and Milestones
Uses an objective evaluation at each integration point in Lean-Agile development while providing solutions and objective milestones.
#6 – Three Primary Keys
The framework manages the queue lengths through three primary keys that help implement flow through visualizing and limiting work-in-processes and by reducing batch sizes of work items to help facilitate flow through the system.
#7 – Cross-Domain Planning and Cadence
The framework transforms any unpredictable events into predictable ones while providing the rhythm and cadence for further development.
#8 – Motivation of Knowledge Workers
Higher levels of employee engagement due to minimizing constraints and providing purpose and autonomy give better outcomes for customers and the enterprise.
#9 – Optional Centralized or Decentralized Decision-Making
There’s no doubt decentralized decision-making helps speed things up and improves product development flow. But when a decision is strategic or global, you can always adjust the framework scale to warrant centralized decision-making.
Other Benefits of Scaled Agile Framework
When you’re applying your SAFe knowledge base practices at the enterprise level, you are helping to provide lightweight framework benefits that are divided into six core foundations:
- Lean-Agile Principles
- Core Values
- Lean-Agile Leadership
- Lean-Agile Mindset
- Communities of Practice (Group of people who continually work on integrating SAFe practices)
- Implementing number 1, 2, and 3
The six core foundations of SAFe allow teams to use the three segments of Team, Program and Portfolio or the four-segment of Portfolio, Value Stream, Program, and Team in:
- Implementing Lean-Agile software at enterprise levels and systems
- Gives detailed guidance in the Portfolio, Value Stream, Program and Team for enterprise-wide dissemination
SAFe benefits are implemented through all organizational or enterprise-level stakeholders with its end-user results.
The Different SAFe Levels
You already know there are two SAFe implementations that use the three or four principle foundation. These two SAFe different types of implementation are SAFe 4.0 implementation and SAFe 3.0 implementation. When enterprises use the 3.0 implementation is when they have 100 people or less.
The 4.0 implementation level is used for enterprises that have hundreds of practitioners when they develop, deploy, and maintain their software. There are team levels and roles during SAFe implementation. The three-team levels are known as Agile Team, Product Owner, and Scrum Master.
Scaled SAFe Release Teams
If you are implementing the SAFe methodology and processes, you’ll have SAFe teams that are part of Agile Release Train (ART). Remember, every SAFe team is empowered and cross-functional and their management includes defining, building, and testing stories from Team Backlog in fixed-length iterations. Every team has a two-week timebox iteration that lines up with the Enterprises Iteration Goals.
Training is often needed for SAFe ScrumXP members that help deliver high-quality system demos every two weeks. The scrum master training manual is needed and used in this deliverable by a Scrum MasterXP team that’s been trained to know how to build quality through incremental value in each product iteration. ScrumXP roles include Team (Development plus quality assurance), Scrum Master or Product Owner, and more.
Scaled Agile Framework Return on Investment
When you’re ready to find out more about what is scaled agile framework and how it can give you enterprise processes that smoothly work in the right place at the right time there are consultancy courses and training services you can take in Agile Strategy, Agile Program and Portfolio Management and Lean-Agile Transformation. Find out more in these course about how to deliver high-quality products to customers so you provide faster return on investment dollars you received.
