Agile Transformation: How SAFe helps organizations adapt to change

The number of organizations applying SAFe for their agile transformation is on the rise. Take, for example, the case of BSH, which we supported at TecnoFor, where the organization learned to adapt to change—not just occasional change, but the continuous, incremental change required for ongoing improvement.

To achieve this, the organization required a significant initial change. A sufficiently consolidated starting point to make the transformation a reality… and that starting point was SAFe.

Adapting to Change

SAFe helps organizations adapt to change by providing a structured yet flexible approach to developing and delivering products and services. It promotes collaboration and communication between teams and scales agile processes to larger levels within the organization. It relies on mechanisms such as:

Engaged Leadership

Managers, executives, and other leaders are responsible for the adoption, success, and continuous improvement of a transformation. Only they have the authority to continuously change and improve the systems that govern how work is done. SAFe provides principles and tools for leading change by example, creating an environment that fosters high-performing agile teams to thrive and produce value.

Iterative and Incremental Approach

SAFe promotes the iterative and incremental delivery of products and services. This allows organizations to continuously adjust and improve their processes and products based on feedback and changes in market demands. By working in short development cycles (sprints), companies can be more agile in responding to changes.

Quarterly Planning

Through regular quarterly planning events (PI Planning), SAFe enables teams to create a feasible quarterly plan, synchronize their efforts, and review current priorities and strategies. These planning sessions, along with execution in short-term sprint planning, are crucial for adapting work plans to changing market conditions and aligning efforts across different teams and departments.

Decentralized Decision-Making

SAFe encourages decision-making at the operational levels of the organization. This allows teams to be closer to problems and opportunities, enabling them to act quickly and with authority. This decentralization helps the organization be more flexible and responsive to changes.

Value Stream and Visibility

SAFe helps organizations identify and visualize value streams. This leads to a better understanding of how value is created and delivered to the customer. With a clear view of these flows, organizations can optimize processes around value delivery and eliminate inefficiencies. This way, they can adapt more quickly to changing needs.

Culture of Learning and Continuous Improvement

The SAFe framework promotes a culture of reflection and continuous improvement through regular retrospectives and reviews. This culture focuses not only on products and processes but also on the development of team skills and capabilities. By fostering an environment where continuous learning is the norm, organizations can more effectively adapt to new technologies, methods, and changes in the business environment.

Scalability

SAFe is particularly useful for large organizations that need to coordinate multiple teams and projects. By providing a model of principles and practices that can scale from small teams to entire programs and portfolios, SAFe enables greater consistency and alignment across the organization, which is vital for adapting on a large scale.

SAFe is a highly comprehensive framework that, in addition to the mentioned mechanisms, includes a multitude of other tools that aid in change. These are the main ones and the best starting point.

Training

If you want to train in SAFe to enhance your skills and professional career, TecnoFor is your place. Here are our upcoming SAFe courses:

Alexander Menzisky - August 8, 2024 / Share it: