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In recent years, agile methodology has become increasingly popular as a an effective way to manage IT projects, allowing companies and development teams to deliver high quality products in a short time.
Among the various options available on the market, the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) has been highlighted as one of the most most popular and efficient. In this article, we will introduce SAFe and explain how to apply this methodology in your company’s day-to-day activities. Check out!
What is the Scaled Agile Framework?
SAFe is an agile methodology aimed at managing large-scale IT projects, that is, in companies with large and geographically distributed teams. the framework was created in 2011 by Dean Leffingwell and its main objective is to offer a structure that allows scaling agile practices consistently throughout the company.
Like other agile methodologies, SAFe is based on principles and values that guide development teams to deliver value to the customer quickly and continuously, through frequent deliveries and collaboration among team members.
Features of SAFe
SAFe has some characteristics that differentiate it from other agile methodologies, the main ones being:
- Scalability — because the framework offers a structure that allows teams to work in a coordinated and integrated way, ensuring the delivery of value consistently throughout the company.
- Coherence — SAFe offers a coherent approach to managing agile projects, allowing teams to follow a unified framework that encompasses all agile practices.
- Flexibility — SAFe is flexible enough to adapt to different project contexts, allowing teams to choose the agile practices that best suit their needs.
- Customer orientation – the framework’s main objective is to deliver value to the customer quickly and continuously, through frequent deliveries and collaboration between team members.
What are SAFe’s principles and values?
As we have seen, SAFe is based on principles and values that guide the teams development processes to deliver customer value quickly and continuously. Among the main principles and values of SAFe, we can highlight:
- valuing people and the culture of innovation — SAFe values people and the culture of innovation, encouraging collaboration and teamwork.
- Continuous delivery of customer value — as its main objective is to deliver value to the customer quickly and continuously, through frequent deliveries and collaboration between team members.
- Focus on results — SAFe emphasizes the importance of focusing on results and delivering value to the customer, rather than just getting things done.
- continuous improvement — because it encourages the continuous improvement of development processes and practices, through constant feedback and adaptation to changes.
What are the benefits of SAFe?
The use of SAFe brings several advantages to companies and development teams, the main ones being:
Greater alignment between teams
SAFe offers a unified structure that allows teams to work in an integrated and coordinated manner, ensuring that everyone is aligned with the project’s objectives.
Delivering customer value faster and more efficiently
One of the main focuses of the framework is to deliver value to the customer in a fast and continuous way, allowing the company to meet the demands the market more quickly.
Greater transparency in development processes
SAFe offers a broad view of processes development process, allowing teams to have a clear understanding of what is happening at all stages of the project.
cost reduction
Good use of SAFe allows companies to save money by delivering quality products in a short time, reducing development costs and improving process efficiency.
How to apply SAFe in everyday life?
Now that we understand what SAFe is and its main features and advantages, let’s explain how to apply this methodology in your day-to-day business.
Create a unified backlog
The first step in applying SAFe is to create a unified backlog that contains all project activities, regardless of which team is responsible for them. This allows all teams to be aligned with the project’s objectives and work in a coordinated and integrated manner.
Prioritize backlog activities
After creating the unified backlog, it is necessary to prioritize the activities according to their importance and urgency. This allows teams to work on the tasks that add the most value to the customer and the project as a whole.
plan the iterations
With the activities prioritized, it’s time to plan the iterations. SAFe uses the concept of Program Increment (PI), which is a unit of time of about 8 to 12 weeks. During each IP, the teams must deliver customer value through frequent deliveries and collaboration among team members.
Perform SAFe ceremonies
During the IP, it is necessary to perform the SAFe ceremonies, like the planning meeting, the IP review and retrospective. These ceremonies allow teams to review and adjust the work done, ensuring they are always delivering value to the customer.
Use agile management tools
To apply the Scaled Agile Framework efficiently, it is necessary to use agile management tools, such as Jira, Trello or Microsoft Planner. These tools allow teams to have a clear view of the unified backlog, prioritize activities, plan iterations, and carry out SAFe ceremonies in an integrated and coordinated manner.
In conclusion, the Scaled Agile Framework is an effective and consistent agile methodology for companies that want to manage large-scale IT projects. With its characteristics and principles, it is possible to create a culture of innovation and collaboration that contributes to project success and customer satisfaction.
To implement it successfully, it is important to have qualified and experienced professionals to guide the team and ensure correct application of agile practices. With the adoption of SAFe, your company will be prepared to face the challenges of the IT market in a competitive and efficient way.
Did you like our post about SAFe? So, continue on our blog and check out How agile management can optimize your results?
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