The 12 Key Steps for Successful SAFe® Implementation Roadmap
The Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe®) is a set of guidance and workflow patterns, a framework, that helps organizations implement the Agile and Lean principles at scale to ultimately achieve Business Agility.
The SAFe® framework is widely implemented by several organizations around the world to solve the challenges related to speed, quality, adaptability, team alignments, etc. In a scientific study conducted by a German University in 2020, out of more than 600 participants, 54% used SAFe® as the scaling framework.
The SAFe® implementation roadmap
The SAFe® implementation roadmap provides a great understanding of how organizations can successfully implement SAFe®. The entire roadmap consists of 12 steps that can help any organization begin with the preparation for SAFe® and implement the same effectively and successfully across various departments.
Step 1: Reaching the tipping point
- For organizations to reach the tipping point, they must accept and embrace the need for a change instead of overlooking and resisting it.
- The decision to switch to SAFe® and implement the Lean-Agile principles will come from some serious problems or crises within an organization.
- For the tipping point to be successful, there is a need for everyone in the organization to be motivated and aligned toward a common goal.
- The first step is the most difficult one and requires some serious commitment from everyone in the organization to succeed.
- Understanding the need for change and establishing the vision for change are the key aspects of reaching the tipping point.
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Step 2: Train Lean-Agile Change Agents
- In order to effectively implement the change in an organization, it would require training its people (managers, leaders, executives) in the Lean and Agile principles.
- The SAFe® Program Consultants (SPCs) are knowledgeable change agents that may come from within an organization or from outside.
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Step 3: Train leaders, managers, and executives
- The active participation of the stakeholder and management is essential to drive the change.
- This step involves training all stakeholders to lead the SAFe® implementation, eliminate any impediments, and provide any necessary support if required.
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Step 4: Creating a Lean-Agile Centre of Excellence (LACE)
- A LACE consists of a small number of people within the organization responsible for driving the change.
- The purpose of this team is to drive the change of the organization towards a Lean-Agile environment.
Step 5: Identify Value Streams and Agile Release Trains (ARTs)
- It involves identifying operational and development value streams in the organization, each of which is used to deliver value to the customer.
- Once the value streams are identified, the next step involves creating ARTs that will work together on each stream.
- This step helps in faster delivery, better quality, and higher customer satisfaction.
Step 6: Create the implementation plan
This consists of three steps.
- Choosing the first value stream.
- Selecting the first ART.
- Planning for additional value streams and ARTs.
Step 7: Prepare for the ART launch
- Defining the ART
- Setting the launch date and end date for the program calendar
- Training employees (Scrum Masters, Product Managers, Product Owners, System Architects/Engineers)
- Preparing the program backlog
- Launch readiness
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Step 8: Train teams and Launch ART
- Training Agile teams for the ART to be launched.
- Launch of the ART.
- One week time span for completion of training followed by first Program Implementation (PI) planning, and workshop.
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Step 9: Coach ART execution
Certified SAFe® SPCs train the Agile team and new Scrum Masters and Product Owners on:
- Iteration planning
- Iteration retrospections
- Iteration reviews
- Daily standups
- Backlog refinement
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Step 10: Launch more ARTs and value streams
It involves launching more ARTs and certain value streams for a greater return on investment.
Step 11: Extend to the portfolio
Extension of SAFe® across multiple portfolios within an organization.
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Step 12: Accelerating
The final step includes:
- Relentless improvements
- Innovation
- Measuring success
- Improving team agility
- Reduce time to market
- Value stream mapping
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There is a SAFe® Agile course online available for almost most steps of the SAFe® implementation roadmap. To know more about the SAFe® Agile certification training online, contact AgilityPAD today.
