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Be SAFe: What is a Scaled Agile Framework?
Erika Southey

Be SAFe: What is a Scaled Agile Framework?

Tuesday, 07 July 2020 12:06

PMBoK certified back in 2006, I was fortunate to see various adoptions of project management (PM) methodologies, like the Scaled Agile Framework, in different companies as I progressed through my career.

The Evolution of Project Management: Embracing an Agile Mindset

Fellow colleagues and I in the PM space were involved as ‘project managers aka technical co-ordinators/engineers/technical assistants’ before Project Management became an officially recognised discipline and a buzz word in the business world. I’m talking early 1990s. Back then, the concept of Agile methodologies, let alone the Scaled Agile Framework, was still on the horizon of software development.

I bet some of you probably felt the hair standing up on your neck with my reference to the word ‘methodology’ in the same breath as the article title. Today, however, we recognize the power of Agile principles in transforming not just software development but multiple aspects of enterprise project management.

Fast forward to the present; I can say that Agile, particularly when scaled across multiple teams using the Scaled Agile Framework, is the best way of working to deliver successful projects and keep teams focused.

Overcoming Traditional PM Challenges with Agile Processes

Throughout my PM journey, a common frustration shared among my clients, team, stakeholders, myself, and other project managers was the challenge of projects failing to meet deadlines despite careful planning, cost, and time estimations. This often stemmed from a rigid adherence to traditional methodologies rather than embracing a more flexible Agile approach.

The second biggest frustration was the amount of time spent on getting documentation in place, long reports and going through the motion of just ticking boxes. Let’s just say; the project had to fit the methodology and not the other way around. This rigid framework often left projects and teams feeling frazzled and fragile.

To address these challenges, I initially adopted a blend of Agile and Waterfall methods to meet the project management office requirements. However, I soon realized the benefits of fully implementing the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe). By embracing SAFe's Agile practices and principles, we could deliver projects on time and within budget, using the tools at our disposal more effectively. This shift not only improved our project delivery but also fostered an Agile mindset among the team, making our work more adaptable and responsive to change.

Scaled Agile Framework: Transforming Project Delivery

Fast forward to the point of my article - once you go Agile – you will never go back. Embracing the Agile mindset has fundamentally changed how I view project management. With the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe), it's like discovering a new world of efficiency and adaptability.

Landing my current contract with a well-known and established partner company; I felt like I finally made it to my project management mothership This company not only aligned with my interests in Cloud Hosting, Machine Learning, App Building, and Data Analytics but also operated with a robust Agile process. Their commitment to scaling Agile development across various domains was inspiring. As a Product Owner within this Agile team, I've seen firsthand how Agile principles and the implementation of SAFe can dramatically improve program execution and Agile project management. We're not just using Agile methods; we're embodying the Agile values and principles in every aspect of our work, making Agile software development not just a methodology but a culture.

Think Agile, Act Agile: Realizing Project Success with SAFe

This company, whose framework is so effectively anchored in the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe), demonstrated the power of a well-implemented SAFe environment. Their approach to Agile project management, focusing on the Agile Release Train and the Agile process, showed me how an enterprise agile strategy could ensure timely delivery, with concrete results after each sprint, and, most importantly, alignment with customer expectations. As a Product Manager in this setting, I learned how to think Agile, embracing the Agile mindset not just as a methodology but as a core business strategy. This experience underscored that change is inevitable, and adapting to it rapidly is essential. The use of the SAFe Agile Framework often meant that we were managing change effectively, hard, fast, and in a cost-effective manner.

The Future of Project Management: Agile Beats the Odds

I got properly acquainted with the Agile tools that track project progress such as JIRA and Tempo (time logging) that cut down endless hours of reporting; checking planned vs actual and getting resources allocated to my projects.

JIRA automatically provides key charts, that align with the SAFe framework, to give stakeholders an immediate view of where the project stands and if estimates align. Project reporting on steroids. Confluence makes data management easy.

Team feedback on progress can take 15 minutes and not run overtime. I was sceptical at first until I saw it in action by means of the scrum master applying the tools and using the apps to their full capacity.

A team working together and having collective responsibility with a Scrum Master (my new title) pulling it all together.

The cherry on the top is; using Google that allows communication with Google Services and their integration to other services that makes my day-to-day experience seamless and efficient.

The Future of Project Management: Agile Beats the Odds

I have the advantage of having experienced most of the PM angles. One thing is for sure – Agile beats even COVID-19 to the punch.

Change is inevitable, and Agile best aligns with humanity’s drive to move into the future better and faster.

Dump feeling fragile - become Agile.

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Editor's Note: This post was originally published on 7 July 2020, and was updated on 5 December 2023

Published in Agile