Agile vs. SAFe, Similarities & Differences Aasim Naseem, March 25, 2024April 2, 2024 In the dynamic world of project management, Agile and Scaled Agile (SAFe) have emerged as two prominent methodologies. While both aim to improve efficiency and flexibility in software development, they have distinct approaches. In this blog post, we’ll delve into what Agile and SAFe entail, examine their similarities and differences, and help you determine which approach might be best suited for your organization.Target AudienceThis blog post is intended for project managers, Agile coaches, team leads, and anyone interested in understanding the differences between Agile and Scaled Agile (SAFe) methodologies.What is Agile?Agile is a software development methodology focused on iterative development, where requirements and solutions evolve through collaboration between self-organizing cross-functional teams. It prioritizes customer satisfaction through early and continuous delivery of valuable software.What is Scaled Agile (SAFe)?Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) is an Agile framework designed to help organizations scale Agile and Lean practices beyond individual teams. It provides guidance on coordinating multiple Agile teams, aligning them with business objectives, and delivering complex solutions efficiently.Similarities between Agile and SAFeIterative Approach: Both Agile and SAFe embrace an iterative approach to development, allowing for continuous improvement and adaptation to changing requirements.Cross-Functional Teams: Both methodologies emphasize the importance of cross-functional teams composed of members with diverse skills to deliver value efficiently.Customer Focus: Agile and SAFe prioritize delivering value to the customer through frequent releases and incorporating customer feedback into the development process.Flexibility: Both methodologies promote flexibility and responsiveness to change, enabling teams to adapt quickly to shifting priorities and market demands.Differences between Agile and SAFe:Scope of Implementation: Agile is typically implemented at the team level, focusing on individual teams’ practices and processes. In contrast, SAFe is designed for large-scale implementation, coordinating multiple Agile teams to work together seamlessly.Levels of Planning: Agile relies on short-term planning with a focus on individual iterations (sprints), whereas SAFe incorporates multiple levels of planning, including portfolio, program, and team levels, to align work across the organization.Role of Leadership: While Agile encourages self-organizing teams and servant leadership, SAFe emphasizes a more structured approach to leadership, with clearly defined roles such as Release Train Engineer (RTE) and Product Manager.Organizational Change: Implementing SAFe often requires significant organizational change to adopt new roles, processes, and mindsets at various levels. Agile, on the other hand, can be implemented incrementally, allowing for more gradual change.Here are some of the differences between Agile & SAFe Agile: AgileSAFe AgileFrameworkAgile frameworks are built on Agile principlesSAFe is a scaled-up framework of Agile principlesRole of management Management plays only a supporting role in everyday functions. They are critical during the transition to Agile.There are management roles. For example, Portfolio managers are responsible for the enterprise’s financial, technical, and business aspects. The Product Manager at the program level is responsible for prioritizing product features and ensuring they are well-understood.Team OrganisationAgile teams have no sub-teams or hierarchies. They focus on completing small goals one at a time towards creating the end product. SAFe frameworks have ART – Agile Release Trains, which are virtual organizations of Agile teams that plan and work together on the same timeline to achieve the Value Stream goals.Decision makingIndependent decision-making is encouraged.Decisions can be made either at the team level or at the enterprise level, depending on the scope of the issue.PlanningPlanning is done not for the entire project but for shorter durations. The process is not complicated or longPlanning and the development cycle are long processes because of the focus on the ‘big picture.’Ability to changeAgile methods are planned around flexibility and change. Products can be improved after each iteration.Making changes in a SAFe process is possible but not as easy to execute because of the large scale.Role of team membersAgile relies on the commitment and expertise of individual team members to work with dedication. It is not always a practical expectation, and project deadlines may be missed due to some weak links in the team.Since there are established leadership roles, large-scale projects can be completed with the development teams’ involvement and top management.Alignment with business goalsSince this approach is more bottom-up, developers and testers focussed on their tasks can lose sight of business objectives.The top-down alignment and management involvement in making strategic decisions ensure that business objectives are met.Conclusion:In summary, Agile and Scaled Agile (SAFe) are both methodologies aimed at improving software development processes, but they differ in scope, planning, leadership, and organizational change. The choice between Agile and SAFe depends on factors such as the size and complexity of your organization, your willingness to undergo organizational change, and your desired level of planning and coordination. Aasim NaseemI’m an engineer by profession, a blogger and a photojournalist by hobby. Seasonal writer at LAFZ Media UK. I write on different topics and things around us. Contact me at +971.56.126.8842 or Aasim.Naseem@outlook.com Agile & Scrum Digital Diary AgileAgile differencesAgile frameworkAgile implementationAgile methodologyAgile planning.Agile similaritiesAgile vs. SAFeProject managementSAFeScaled AgileSoftware development
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