70% of businesses, with a concentration on startups, find it difficult to scale business operations upwards when needed. The reason for this is a lack of future planning and the right tools to expand the company, especially when the growth is sudden.
Agile leadership skills are firmly cemented in adjusting and adapting on the fly with the malleability to do what is required as the need arises. In line with this, SAFe, or the Scaled Agile Framework, was developed for the sole purpose of scaling Agile in a big way in enterprises worldwide. Previously Agile was being implemented only for particular teams and not for the entire organization. Hence, the name Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe).
What is the SAFe Framework?
The Agile methods of leadership and management have proven to be successful within smaller organizations; changing the organizational structure within MSMEs is a process, but a quicker change to incorporate across the organization, be it small or large takes proper planning.
Most organizations hold teams they collaborate with spread over large geographical distances to form intricate systems. To bring everything and everybody under one roof to implement Agile practices throughout, the Scaled Agile Framework was created.
The framework focuses on synchronizing the various parts of the organization. It highlights building each team individually to create a fleet of lean/agile-friendly departments and paves the way toward further enterprise success.
With the development of SAFe version 5, the intention is to not only streamline the communication between teams but to introduce and identify strategies to advance business development, develop better execution channels and introduce better leadership competencies.
The Rising Demand for SAFe Certification
More than 70% of US Fortune 100 companies are currently implementing SAFe, there is not only interest in demand but in the application of better business ideologies to make processes more efficient and effective.
SAFe certification allows for jobs in the fields of Agile Coach, Scrum Master, Senior Software Engineer, Service Delivery Manager, Certified Scrum Master, Senior Project Manager as well as Project Manager.
Implementation of the framework has also been seen;
- A 35%-75% increase in the time products take to hit the market.
- A 10%-50% increase in employee engagement.
- A 25% – 75% increase in quality of both services internally and externally.
- A 25% – 75% increase in productivity.
What is SAFe for Teams?
SAFe for Teams is a certification training that is provided for individuals and enterprise teams worldwide to gain a fundamental understanding of the SAFe framework. The quality of communication tends to drop as teams get larger; therefore SAFe offers solutions to incorporate both technical and business teams into a unified system. Both teams work towards quick learning through work performance in small groups.
The process and results are assessed and edited based on the desired results. Almost all organizational groups are broken down into Business and Technical teams. They work to collaborate on multiple activities within the chain of command, including;
- Infrastructure
- Contracts and Suppliers
- End-User Training Modules
- Legal Guidance
- Marketing
- Security and Standard Compliance Expertise
- Fitness for Use
- Solution Knowledge
SAFe for teams involves creating an Agile Release Train or the ART. This train or planned movement of business activities is what builds the enterprise. Arts mean all the departments or teams on the train are to collaborate with each other actively.
They are encouraged to help piece together, not just the vision but the map of travel. This is how we develop delivery pipelines and understand areas of improvement within operations.
SAFe for Teams: Training
Creating High-Performance Teams
Encouraging every employee within a team to work together and understand the significance of their role in how one develops a high-performing team. SAFe training covers principles that should be incorporated, such as;
- Creating a safe environment for risk-taking without fear of embarrassment of punishment
- Alignment on a shared vision with clear goals and purpose
- Understanding the diverse knowledge needed and the skills to make quick, effective decisions
- Tackling the conflict that arises with trust
Introducing Cross Functionality
Organizing teams around the value contributed to the enterprise allows for categorizing employees into their development of speed and innovation. This principle is focused on identifying individuals who can
- Define (Understand the Parameters of the Process)
- Build (Craft or Utilise Necessary Skills to Create the End-User Product/Service)
- Test (Verify Quality and Performance)
- Deliver (Validate Results)
Blending Agile Methods
Understanding that the methods needed for large-scale organizations need to be as diverse as the departments within the organization. As SAFe is a flow-based method, incorporating Scrum, Kanban, and Extreme Programming will definitely make an entry and turn into success.
Responsibilities, Collaboration, and Culture
Varying but widely broken into Technical and Business teams, all grouped cogs within the organization must understand their role and encourage each other’s success.
While different departments tend to have their own paces and internal understandings, it is critical to share visions and commitment toward the business’s overall success and then their individual departments.
SAFe for Teams: Course Description
Participants who take up this SAFe for Team Certification Training will learn about:
- Preparing for SAFe 5 Practitioner Exams and becoming a certified SAFe 5 Practitioner.
- Explaining SAFe Agile principles
- Planning Iterations
- Planning Program Increments
- Execution Iterations and Demonstrating Value
- Improving Agile Release Train Processes
- Integrating and Working with Other teams on the ART
- Individual performance as a member of an Agile Team within the ART.
The SAFe for Teams course is delivered by an expert SAFe Programming Consultant (SPC) for two days and is offered with a year’s membership to the SAFe community platform that offers exclusive resources and materials SAFe.
Final Thoughts
SAFe Agile Certification is by far one of the most potent methods to streamline business processes within multi-layered and dimensional organizations. Understanding what a team is in the context of Agile frameworks and introducing efficiency and effectiveness on a granular level, within the team and the team’s role within the organization is the crux of SAFe certification for teams.
Some of the popular SAFe certification courses that individuals and enterprise teams can take up are:
SAFe for Teams Certification Training
Leading SAFe Certification Training
