Q&A

What is SAFe?

The Scaled Agile Framework – SAFe – is a scalable and configurable framework that enables working agile with multiple teams or across the entire organization.

SAFe is the "encyclopedia" of Lean & Agile methods

The Scaled Agile Framework is a collection of many agile patterns and methods, the "encyclopedia" of Lean & Agile methods, so to speak. The great added value of SAFe is that it shows ways in which the various agile methods, frameworks and techniques can be combined to create a lean & agile organization. Thus, SAFe includes, among others: Scrum, Kanban, Agile Program Management, Lean & Agile Portfolio, Design Thinking and Lean Startup. SAFe addresses all levels of an agile organization, from teams to multi-teams (Agile Release Train or ART), multi-ARTs, to portfolios. In addition to the agile frameworks, SAFe also provides implementation guidance and techniques (such as for estimating) in many articles.

SAFe is not a blueprint. SAFe cannot simply be rolled out

SAFe is helpful with its collection of roles, artifacts, processes and techniques for designing a Lean & Agile organization. However, SAFe cannot be rolled out as an encyclopedia of agility. In order to use SAFe meaningfully, one must first pick out what is useful for one's own organization from the abundance of patterns. From these building blocks, you then have to create a design for your own organization. And then you can build an agile transformation on that. The advantage of this approach is that it is based on proven patterns.

Don't: "We are doing SAFe now"

A common mistake is that SAFe is not understood as a collection of patterns or an encyclopedia, but as a "ready-to-wear" framework for agile transformation. If you understand that SAFe is an encyclopedia, it quickly becomes clear that a rollout of it is not a good idea. For one thing, there is way too much in SAFe (even if every article in the encyclopedia of agile is useful), and for another, the single encyclopedia entry (or SAFe article) is also not enough to understand a topic in depth. For example, there is an article on Kanban in SAFe, but it does not replace the literature and knowledge about Kanban.

Do: "We are not reinventing the wheel"

The big advantage of SAFe is that we are not inventing the wheel. Over many years, many people have gathered knowledge and experience with Lean & Agile - and put together in patterns what works well together. These patterns are valuable knowledge that saves you from having to start from Adam and Eve. However, the patterns do not replace, nor do they shorten the time of an Agile transformation and the learning and practicing that goes into it.

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