Essential SAFe: Most Common Challenges Moving To Scaled Agile Framework

Quick Summary:

Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) is a set of patterns, workflows, and practices that organizations follow to scale their lean Agile methodology. Along with Disciplined Agile (DA) and Large Scale Scrum (LeSS), SAFe makes up the scaled Agile models list. Top-level organizations have already started adopting the new frameworks, yet many still hesitate to peek in.

Finally, in the second half, we draw your attention to the benefits of the Scaled Agile Framework SAFe. Read on and share your valuable feedback in the comment section.

Mindset

Change is not like peaches and creme. Peter Senge says on an organizational level; it is not ‘change’ that the team is reluctant to; instead, they are hesitant to someone changing them! You will benefit from this post when your fellow mates read this article and understand a different perspective.

When you ask a child to replace his broken toy with a brand new one, they will immediately dislike you for the offer. He might still be okay to play with his broken but workable Hotwheels car track, even when you have to offer him an automatic car. It is only when he starts using the automatic car for some days, does he understand the ease and charm of this new PlayStation.

Scrolling from this fantastic toy station to our cultural and functional workstation, let us try to perceive what challenges come our way when we think of moving to the scaled agile framework SAFe.

Scaling Agile Implementation Challenges

SAFe is the world’s most popular framework for business agility. Digital transfiguration is not a matter of choice; instead just a reflex answer with when and how! Nearly every industry in the world measures its success by gauging the wheel of digital transformation. However, many are not yet able to transform successfully.

Here are the common scaling agile implementation challenges that organizations face when trying to adapt to the Scaled Agile Framework SAFe.

1. Xenophobia: Fear of the Unknown

It is a human tendency to feel phobia and fear out of strange things, situations, and notions. There is no measure to weigh the intensity of this fear of the unknown because it lets out all your inside feelings and thoughts.

When we talk about the organizational culture, the traditional office space and culture are engraved into the employee mindset, and hence thinking about a changed work pattern seems challenging altogether.

2. Cultural Shift

When working with the scaled Agile model, you need to destruct the age-old concept of top-down hierarchies and work within your small circle. Mostly, employees are used to working in the same laborious pattern that they are reluctant to think of.

In the Agile work-way, it combats the silos and functions with transparency. Agile propels working in collaboration with multiple teams in synchronization believing that project demands and requirements keep changing.

To bring fuel to the rage of cultural shift, Agile leaders have to play a significant role. The leaders must embrace the idea of failing fast and learning from the change. Instead of achieving milestone over the milestone, leaders should encourage and prioritize value and flow above all. They should adjust their management style.

Accepting change is not easy, but once you take a leap of faith, the future is golden. You might be comfortable working the traditional way, but if you go scaled agile, then you are sure to get benefit-ridden.

3. Work Management Shift

When comparing the traditional and Agile methodology of work management, nothing can be a match. The conventional management style aims at achieving the fixed scope of a project and hence consumes the needed resources, i.e., time and people, to attain the target.

Whereas the Agile methodology is totally opposite to the above-described work management. Agile aims to work with a fixed resource (time and workforce) and keep in mind that the project scope may vary and work to achieve the target.

To combat this extreme aversion, here are some ways that you can adapt to bridge the gap smoothly:

• Start with adopting a more open leadership pattern, unlike the old command-and-order method.
• Focus on delivering value-driven output against adjusting the budget constraints.
• Enable experimentation and active collaboration amongst teams.
• Practice horizontal communication patterns instead of the top-down approach.
• Sharing knowledge across the organization and appoint a PMO who gets the work done.

4. Technology Shift

Even if your organization can alleviate cultural and work management, you can not scale up to Agile without a technology aid. Depending on your organizational structure and level, there is a different gap between the technical assistance gap.

If your organization is already implementing Agile methodology, then scaling Agile might require you to connect various teams for extended transparency. Other complex Agile organizations may need a tool that hacks beyond teams and a team of teams visibility level.

You might want to read: Building Modern Digital Business Means Having a Digital Infrastructure.

Ideally, your organization should look for a tool that maps strategic planning, enables communication, information, and collaboration in a two-way flow.

These four are the most common challenges that organizations face when moving towards scaling their Agile methodology.

Benefits of Scaled Agile Framework SAFe

SAFe helps organizations traverse digital revolutionizing challenges and drive their business in acceleration. More than 70% of the Fortune 500 companies and a fast-growing number of the global 2000 practice SAFe today.

SAFe is a way of working with aligned strategy and execution. It improves quality, efficiency, and predictability for those building the world’s most influential software and systems. It is a way to originate and get accustomed to the quickly drifting market patterns without losing velocity.

Since the first release of SAFe in 2011, many large organizations worldwide have experienced its perks. Some of the typical results of going SAFe are a 35% increase in productivity, 50% improvement in quality, faster time-to-market, and increased employee engagement and job satisfaction.

WindUp

To reach the next frontier, you must step over your current land. With this vision in mind, as you shift towards Scaled Agile Framework, there’s a lot more that you will achieve and learn.

Go ahead and combat all your Scaling Agile Implementation Challenges. Bacancy Technology is one such Agile organization that always seeks ahead and takes all its family members when marching. There’s success waiting for you beforehand, so take the lead across your challenges, and you’re sure to fly.