Introduction
To start with, what’s the difference between a framework and a methodology? A methodology is a lot of principles, tools, and practices which can be used to guide processes to achieve a particular goal. A framework is a loose but incomplete structure which leaves space for different practices and tools to be included but provides much of the process required. Scrum could consider a framework, as it leaves space for teams to choose their own technical processes, development roles, etc. XP might be considered a methodology, as it provides guidelines for all same things that Scrum does, along with relevant technical practices.
With this in mind, what we emphasize in the workshop is the options and choices you have when you Implement SAFe. Yes, some people look at SAFe and see a methodology that tells to you how to estimate, prioritize, plan, how your Kanban boards should look like and what questions to ask in every Scrum of Scrums. We prefer to see those as a good set of options, to begin within many contexts, but not necessarily best practices that always work.
- For example, we don’t believe story points estimation is necessarily the best way to estimate in all cases. We believe that sometimes it’s enough to just count stories.
- The schedule/agenda for PI Planning is great, however, we definitely inspect and adjust it on every implementation depending on the context and encourage SPCs and RTEs we teach to do it as well.
- We always inspect and adapt the definition of Workflow of the Program and Portfolio Kanban boards on our implementations and we talk about it in class as well.
- We always mention that SAFe’s approach to Weighted-Shortest-Job-First Cost-of-Delay-based prioritization is just a single alternative and that some other interesting and useful and maybe even better ones for your context are available
- What is the right Agile Release Train and Value Stream design? SAFe provides ways to help you to design your implementation including some principles and considerations, however, it doesn’t give you a hard answer… This is one of my favourite sessions in Implementing SAFe class actually.
- Which elements of the SAFe Big Picture do you need? Which Spanning Palette or Large Solution elements does it make sense to use even if you’re utilizing simply Essential SAFe? What’s more, does it make sense to use Large Solution or Portfolio or Full? When?
- In general, what is the right way to roll out at scale? Again, SAFe gives you some options and considerations to be aware yet doesn’t give you a concrete playbook.
- Bottom line, both when it comes to how to practice SAFe as well as how to implement it, we prefer to consider it as a very useful however flexible/incomplete structure that requires well-trained and experienced practitioners to successfully apply, and that is a key plan principle for our Implementing SAFe workshops where we train future SPCs.
Best Practices of Scaled Agile Framework – Agile Management
The enterprises have many different frameworks and methodologies to choose from once they decide to receive the ‘Agile’ approach for project/product development. Designed by Scaled Agile Inc, the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) is an Agile software development framework. Earlier, the Agile development methodologies were used on a trial basis for various projects at an enterprise level. The development team experimented in making an effective Agile method suitable to work in their environment. This resulted from evaluation of methods that worked and that didn’t, which ultimately led to the development of various frameworks and strategies for the adoption of the Scaled Agile Framework. Inside the most recent few of years, the Scaled Agile of the Scaled Agile Framework. Within the last few years, the Scaled Agile adoption has become popular amongst many enterprises. The two most important responsibilities of management are measuring improvement and ROI. The management needs to choose a solution that best equips with its business model and speed up the delivery and release phases. With these advantages coming handy, more and more professionals are practicing lean and Agile methods and implementing it in the projects.
- The Scaled Agile Framework is highly structured and is mainly used in larger enterprises and is primarily used for agile development. It is an increasingly popular framework that has been successfully actualizing in enterprises. The nine principles of SAFe include as follows:
- Taking an economic view
- Applying systems thinking
- Assuming variability by preserving options
- Incremental built with fast and integrated learning cycles
- Building the foundation of milestones on an objective evaluation of working systems
- Visualizing and limiting WIP, managing queue lengths and reducing team sizes
SAFe and Agile Are Similar
SAFe uses elements from agile management in its methodology, but enhances the process and improves it to make it easier for different teams to adopt.
“The Scaled Agile Framework indeed subscribes to the ethos of the Agile manifesto,” Anshuman Singh writes at Digité. “The individuals who have experienced any commencement to SAFe would affirm that at Team level, SAFe works particularly like standard Scrum.”
Different teams may cooperate with SAFe to develop iterations, but they all follow the same timeline, cadence and delivery dates. This is essential for keeping everybody on track and keeping the project moving forward.
Conclusion
SAFe provides enterprises with an opportunity to rapidly deploy Agile to large parts of the IT value stream and provides a common language to teams. SAFe’s partnership with Rally means that the system is locally bolstered by tooling. This assists with fast adoption and helps to ensure synchronization across teams.
Best Practices of Scaled Agile Framework – Agile Management
For more blogs: https://blog.aleph-technologies.com/
Aleph Technologies is a premier IT training and staffing group with state of the art facilities based in Dallas, Texas. Aleph Technologies specializes in providing hands-on classroom based and onsite IT certification training courses taught by expert instructors with practical industry experience.
https://aleph-technologies.com/events
