Getting Started with SAFe Implementation Workshop

The SAFe Implementation Roadmap paves the path to success

The why of implementing Lean-Agile development at scale is well established— it provides faster time-to-market, higher productivity, better quality, and happier, more motivated employees. And the Scaled Agile Framework® (SAFe®) is the leading framework for achieving these results, with 70% of Fortune 100 enterprises employing SAFe-trained professionals.

But the how of implementing SAFe can be challenging. This executive workshop provides a high-level overview of a proven series of steps for successfully implementing SAFe. It’s called the SAFe Implementation Roadmap.

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Twelve steps in four broad stages

There are 12 defined steps on the SAFe Implementation Roadmap. They support the critical moves you’ll need to make along your implementation journey. It might be useful to group the 12 steps into four broad stages:

1. Building a guiding coalition

Implementing SAFe may be one of the most difficult, yet rewarding, change initiatives that you will ever do in your career. But changing people’s way of working—the habits and culture of a large organization—is hard. It requires training, alignment, and, most of all, a compelling reason to change.

2. Designing the implementation

The overarching intent of the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) is to deliver value quickly, cost-effectively, and on target. And we have a well-defined process to help you identify the most important values and proven ways to help you set priorities for designing the implementation.

3. Implementing ARTs, Solution Trains, and a Lean Portfolio

An Agile Release Train (ART) is a virtual organization (50 –125 people) that plans, commits, and executes together. ARTs are organized around the enterprise’s significant Value Streams and exist solely to realize the promise of that value by building Solutions that deliver benefit to the end user.

4. Accelerate

Even after the enterprise starts producing positive results, this initial state of Lean-Agile adoption is not the end of the journey. It is the beginning of another journey, one of relentless improvement. Sustaining and improving on the benefits gained requires dedication to basic and advanced practices, self-reflection, and retrospection.

Supporting the Momentum: Pitfalls to Avoid

The SAFe Implementation Roadmap is a proven process but you still have to watch out for some common challenges to full organizational transformation

1. Failing to establish a sense of urgency

A leading person is needed for “tooting the horn” and driving the change

2. Not creating a guiding coalition

SAFe Program Consultants (SPCs) and executive SAFe Agilists (SAs) need to buy in to the transformation

3. Underestimating the power of vision and strategy

Organizational change is not something that can be done without a solid plan in place

4. Under-communicating the vision

Alignment is crucial

5. Permitting obstacles to block the vision

Don’t let roadblocks defeat the effort or stop the forward momentum that’s already been created

6. Failure to create short term wins

Keep moving forward, follow the Implementation Roadmap, and launch Agile Release Trains (ARTs)!

7. Declaring victory too soon

Don’t get too excited after the first ART is launched. Changing habits takes a lot of time and practice

8. Neglecting to anchor changes firmly in the culture

Don’t lose track of the most important aspect of a SAFe transformation: changing the culture within the enterprise

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