SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework)

SAFe, or the Scaled Agile Framework, is a structured methodology designed to scale Agile practices across large organizations. It aims to enable enterprises to deliver value more quickly and efficiently while maintaining the flexibility needed to respond to market changes and customer needs. SAFe achieves this by providing a set of principles, practices, and roles that align and synchronize multiple Agile teams towards common business objectives.

At its core, SAFe emphasizes collaboration, alignment, and transparency across teams and departments, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovation. It helps organizations manage the complexity and risks inherent in large-scale projects, ensuring that they can deliver high-quality products and services predictably.

SAFe is widely adopted across various industries globally, offering a structured approach to Agile transformation that balances agility with the governance and oversight necessary for large enterprises. By implementing SAFe, organizations can achieve greater efficiency, faster time-to-market, and improved customer satisfaction through continuous delivery of value.

In summary, SAFe provides a framework that allows organizations to scale Agile practices effectively, enabling them to navigate complexities and drive business success in dynamic and competitive markets.

SAFe Configurations:

1. Essential SAFe: Core framework, Agile teams, ART (Agile Release Train).
2. Large Solution SAFe: Multiple ARTs, large-scale solutions, additional roles.
3. Portfolio SAFe: Strategy alignment, portfolio management, lean governance.
4. Full SAFe: Comprehensive, all levels (team, program, large solution, portfolio).

Agile Release Train (ART):

• Definition: Team of teams, 5-12 Agile teams.
• Purpose: Deliver incremental value, synchronized work.
• Cadence: Fixed time intervals, typically 8-12 weeks (PI - Program Increment).
• Roles:
• Release Train Engineer (RTE): Facilitator, coordinator.
• Product Management: Backlog prioritization.
• System Architect/Engineering: Technical guidance.
• Events:
• PI Planning: Collaborative planning for next increment.
• System Demo: Integrated functionality demo.
• Inspect and Adapt: Program-level retrospective.

Business Agility:

• Definition: Organizational ability to adapt quickly, satisfy customer needs, seize market opportunities.
• Key Competencies:
• Lean-Agile Leadership: Leaders who embrace and apply Lean-Agile principles.
• Team and Technical Agility: High-performing Agile teams, quality and technical practices.
• Agile Product Delivery: Customer-centric approach, continuous delivery of valuable products.
• Enterprise Solution Delivery: Managing and delivering large, complex solutions.
• Lean Portfolio Management: Aligning strategy with execution, optimizing investments.
• Organizational Agility: Lean-thinking people and Agile processes, responding quickly to opportunities.
• Continuous Learning Culture: Learning organization, relentless improvement, innovation.
• Outcomes:
• Customer Satisfaction: Meeting and exceeding customer expectations.
• Market Responsiveness: Quickly adapting to market changes.
• Operational Efficiency: Streamlined processes, waste reduction.
• Innovation: Creating new and valuable products or services.

SAFe Values:

1. Alignment: Ensuring all levels of the organization share a common vision and strategic objectives.
2. Transparency: Open and honest communication, providing visibility into work and progress.
3. Built-in Quality: Integrating quality into every stage of development to reduce errors and rework.
4. Continuous Delivery of Value: Focusing on frequent and rapid delivery of high-quality products to meet customer needs and adapt to changes.

SAFe Principles (12) :

1. Economic View: Manage economic flow.
2. Systems Thinking: Optimize the whole system.
3. Preserve Options: Adapt to variability.
4. Incremental Development: Rapid learning cycles.
5. Objective Milestones: Evaluate working systems.
6. Limit WIP: Reduce batch sizes, manage queues.
7. Cadence and Synchronization: Cross-domain planning.
8. Intrinsic Motivation: Empower knowledge workers.
9. Decentralized Decision-Making: Distribute authority.
10. Value Organization: Align around customer value.
11. Organizational Design: Evolve agile and lean patterns.
12. Measure and Grow: Use metrics for continuous improvement.

Concepts in implementation

Agile Teams in SAFe:

• Small and Multifunctional: Typically 5-9 members.
• Self-Managed: Responsible for planning, executing, and controlling their work.
• Goal-Oriented: Aligned with product and organizational objectives.
• Iterative and Incremental: Deliver value in short, regular cycles.
• Collaborative: Close collaboration within the team and with stakeholders.
• Adaptive: Quickly respond to changing requirements and market conditions.
• Quality-Focused: Maintain high standards with continuous testing and integration.
• Transparent: Open communication and visibility of progress and issues.
• Supported by Lean-Agile Leaders: Guided by leaders promoting Lean-Agile principles.

8 Elements to Accelerate Value Flow in SAFe:

1. Refined and Prepared Backlog:

• Responsibles: Product Owner, Product Team.
• Description: Well-managed, prioritized backlog ready for Agile teams.

1. PI Planning (Program Increment Planning):

• Responsibles: RTE (Release Train Engineer), Product Management, Team Leaders.
• Description: Key event for ART (Agile Release Train) teams to plan and coordinate activities.

1. Capacity Management:

• Responsibles: RTE, Scrum Masters, ART Teams.
• Description: Ensuring adequate capacity to meet commitments during and beyond PIs.

1. Hypothesis-Driven Development:

• Responsibles: Development Teams, Product Owner.
• Description: Agile experimentation and validation through iterative learning cycles.

1. Continuous Improvement:

• Responsibles: All team members, Lean-Agile Leaders.
• Description: Cultivating a culture of ongoing improvement and incremental solutions.

1. Lean Financing:

• Responsibles: Finance, Product Management, Lean-Agile Leaders.
• Description: Implementing financing models supporting agility and continuous value delivery.

1. On-Demand Release:

• Responsibles: Development Team, DevOps, Product Owner.
• Description: Frequent, quality releases enabled by CI/CD and agile practices.

1. Improving Coordination and Collaboration:

• Responsibles: RTE, Scrum Masters, Team Leaders.
• Description: Strengthening communication and collaboration across teams and stakeholders.

Principal events, roles and responsibilities

SAFe Events and Processes with Key Responsibilities:

1. PI Planning (Program Increment Planning):

• Responsibles: RTE, Product Management, Team Leaders.
• Frequency: Every 8-12 weeks.
• Description: Collaborative event where Agile Release Train (ART) teams plan and coordinate activities for the next increment.

1. System Demo:

• Responsibles: Development Team, Product Owner.
• Frequency: End of each iteration (2 weeks).
• Description: Demonstration of integrated functionalities completed by ART teams.

1. Inspect and Adapt:

• Responsibles: RTE, Scrum Masters, Team Leaders.
• Frequency: End of each Program Increment (PI).
• Description: Retrospective session where ART teams review performance and plan continuous improvements.

1. Iteration Planning:

• Responsibles: Scrum Masters, Team Leaders.
• Frequency: Start of each iteration (2 weeks).
• Description: Meeting where agile teams plan detailed work for the upcoming iteration.

1. Daily Stand-ups:

• Responsibles: Scrum Masters, Development Team.
• Frequency: Daily.
• Description: Brief meetings where the team discusses progress, obstacles, and next steps.

1. Backlog Refinement:

• Responsibles: Product Owner, Development Team.
• Frequency: Regularly, typically weekly or as needed.
• Description: Process to review and prioritize backlog items to ensure readiness for agile teams.

1. PI Review:

• Responsibles: RTE, Product Management, Team Leaders.
• Frequency: End of each Program Increment (PI).
• Description: Review of PI outcomes and validation of achievement of set objectives.

1. Release Planning:

• Responsibles: Product Management, Team Leaders.
• Frequency: As needed, typically before the start of a new PI.
• Description: Planning deliveries and product releases based on strategic business objectives.

 

 

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Fuentes consultadas:

Libros y Guías Oficiales de SAFe:

• Knaster, R., & Leffingwell, D. (2020). SAFe 5.0 Distilled: Achieving Business Agility with the Scaled Agile Framework. Addison-Wesley Professional.
• Leffingwell, D. (2011). Agile Software Requirements: Lean Requirements Practices for Teams, Programs, and the Enterprise. Addison-Wesley Professional.
• Larman, C., & Vodde, B. (2008). Scaling Lean & Agile Development: Thinking and Organizational Tools for Large-Scale Scrum. Addison-Wesley Professional.

Artículos y Documentación Online:

• Scaled Agile, Inc. (n.d.). Scaled Agile Framework® (SAFe®) documentation. Retrieved from https://www.scaledagileframework.com/