What is SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework)? A Guide for You!

It sounds like a recipe for chaos, doesn't it? That's where SAFe comes in. This framework provides a clear and concise set of principles and practices for coordinating the work of multiple teams and ensuring that everyone is moving in the same direction.

More Than Just a Methodology

SAFe is a way of life for organizations that want to deliver high-quality software products in a fast-paced and ever-changing world. With SAFe, teams can work together seamlessly, breaking down silos and fostering a culture of collaboration. Whether you're a software developer, product manager, or project leader, SAFe provides the tools and techniques you need to succeed in today's competitive software landscape.

Ten Principles of SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework)

1. Take an economic view: This principle emphasizes that the business should drive the decision-making process and that technology and development should support it.
2. Apply systems thinking: SAFe encourages a holistic view of the entire organization and its interactions with the external environment.
3. Assume variability; preserve options: SAFe promotes the idea of embracing change and keeping options open as much as possible to ensure agility.
4. Build incrementally with fast integrated learning cycles: SAFe believes in delivering working software quickly, iteratively, and in small increments to enable continuous improvement.
5. Base milestones on an objective evaluation of working systems: This principle requires a frequent, objective evaluation of working software to determine if the team is on track to meeting the goal.
6. Visualize and limit work in process, reduce batch sizes, and manage queue lengths: SAFe aims to reduce waste and increase efficiency by limiting the amount of work in progress, reducing batch sizes, and managing queue lengths.
7. Apply cadence, synchronize with cross-domain planning: SAFe emphasizes the importance of having a regular, synchronized cadence across all domains to ensure alignment and avoid duplication of effort.
8. Unlock the intrinsic motivation of knowledge workers: SAFe believes in empowering people and creating an environment that supports their creativity and innovation.
9. Decentralize decision-making: SAFe encourages local decision-making to reduce delays and improve quality.
10. Organize around value: SAFe focuses on organizing teams around the value they deliver, rather than around functional silos, to increase collaboration and alignment.

Four Levels of SAFe

SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework), is a way to bring Agile practices to large organizations. It's based on the principles of Lean and Agile, and it provides a structure for scaling these practices beyond small, self-contained teams.

The framework has four levels of hierarchy: Team, Program, Large Solution, and Portfolio. Each level has its own responsibilities and events, and they work together to deliver a product.

1. At the Team level, everyday work is managed using Agile practices like Scrum or Kanban. Teams are responsible for delivering working software that provides value to the customer.
2. The Program level involves multiple teams working together to deliver a larger solution. They use Program Increment (PI) Planning to set their goals and plan for the next iteration.
3. The Large Solution level is where several programs come together to create an even bigger solution. The Solution Train Architecture is used to coordinate the design and architecture across multiple programs.
4. Finally, the Portfolio level aligns the organization's strategy with the development of solutions. This is done through Portfolio Kanban, which visualizes and manages the flow of value from strategy to delivery.

Is SAFe Right for Me?

SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework) is a popular framework for scaling Agile practices in large organizations. It provides a structured approach that improves collaboration and alignment across all levels, encourages local decision-making, and supports the creativity and innovation of knowledge workers. However, SAFe can be complex, inflexible, and may add overhead to the development process. The choice of using SAFe will depend on the specific needs and requirements of your organization.

If you're looking for a structured approach to scaling Agile and want to improve collaboration, SAFe may be a good choice. However, if you prefer a more flexible approach or if the complexity of SAFe is not suitable, alternative frameworks or approaches may be more appropriate. It is important to carefully evaluate the pros and cons of SAFe before making a decision.