It was solely a comparatively few years in the past that conventional waterfall challenge administration was fairly a lot the one strategy to go. And whereas it labored nicely for a lot of tasks – particularly ones thought-about ‘predictive’ – it didn’t work so nicely for ones we’ll name adaptive. And so, over the previous 20 years and particularly the final 10 or so, agile has been more and more utilized in tasks, primarily software-based ones.
To outline our phrases, according to the Challenge Administration Physique of Data Sixth Version, “in a predictive or waterfall life cycle, the challenge scope, time, and price are decided within the early phases of the life cycle. In an adaptive or agile life cycle, the “deliverables are developed over a number of iterations the place an in depth scope is outlined and accepted for every iteration because it begins.”
On this submit, we’ll have a look at Agile vs scaled Agile, particularly the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe®) developed by Dean Leffingwell.
Distinction between Agile and SAFe® Agile
The Scrum Information states that, the “essence of Scrum is a small crew of individuals.” Which might be advantageous if all our tasks have been small and didn’t must scale past that small crew. We are able to deal with scaling between features or groups by utilizing native Scrum of Scrums. However as soon as we scale a lot past that then it’s mandatory to start contemplating a scalable framework.
So, the primary distinction between Agile and Scaled Agile is that Agile was designed for small groups with particular roles, whereas Scaled Agile is designed to scale all the way in which as much as the enterprise.
Comparability of Scrum and Scaled Agile Framework
| Agile |
SAFe® |
| Has outlined roles – (Kanban doesn’t) |
Has a number of outlined roles |
| Small core crew measurement |
Small core crew measurement |
| Planning is finished previous to the primary dash and at the start of every dash |
Planning is finished at a timebox referred to as a Program Increment. |
| Scales between groups |
Scales to the enterprise |
| Framework has no outlined ranges |
Framework has 4 outlined ranges |
| Has core values – Agile Manifesto and twelve ideas |
Has core values – Constructed-in high quality, transparency, program execution and alignment |
| Is concentrated on buyer and enterprise worth |
Is concentrated on buyer and enterprise worth |
| Doesn’t describe worth stream |
Worth stream is a key aspect |
| Strives to attain steady supply |
Strives to attain steady supply |
What precisely is Agile?
In line with the Agile Alliance, Agile is “the flexibility to create and reply to vary. It’s a means of coping with, and finally succeeding in, an unsure and turbulent setting.”
It’s a set of values and ideas as expressed within the Agile Manifesto. Whereas it may be used for quite a lot of tasks it sometimes refers to a gaggle of approaches to software program improvement utilizing iterative (repeated processes) and incremental (successively added performance) improvement.
The Agile Manifesto states that:
We’re uncovering higher methods of creating software program by doing it and serving to others do it. By means of this work we have now come to worth:
- People and interactions over processes and instruments
- Working software program over complete documentation
- Buyer collaboration over contract negotiation
- Responding to vary over following a plan
That’s, whereas there may be worth within the objects on the fitting, we worth the objects on the left extra.
There’s additionally an underlying set of 12 ideas. The primary two ideas state that “our highest precedence is to fulfill the client via early and steady supply of worthwhile software program” and that we “welcome altering necessities, even late in improvement. Agile processes harness change for the client’s aggressive benefit.”
Among the extra frequent Agile strategies embrace Scrum, Excessive Programming (XP), Kanban, and Characteristic-Pushed Improvement (FDD.) Of those, Scrum is by all accounts probably the most in style, so we’ll focus there.
For probably the most half, all Agile methodologies have sure issues in frequent – they use timeboxes, which Agile Alliance describes as “a beforehand agreed time period throughout which an individual or a crew works steadily in direction of completion of some aim.”
They make use of iterations to “develop the product via a collection of repeated cycles and increments to successively add to the performance of the product.” The graphic beneath shows the Agile Scrum course of. 
On the finish of a timebox – or dash – all the Scrum Group is accountable for making a worthwhile, helpful increment. Common interactions with stakeholders, small batches of labor, common evaluations and retrospectives enhance course of and subsequently, product.
The Scrum variant of Agile defines three vital roles:
- A Product Proprietor orders the work for a posh drawback right into a Product Backlog. He or she’s additionally liable for developing and explicitly speaking the Product Aim, ordering Product Backlog objects, and ensuring that the Product Backlog is clear, seen, and understood.
- The Scrum (or Improvement) Group turns a number of the work into an increment of worth throughout a Dash. The Scrum Group and its stakeholders examine the outcomes and regulate for the following Dash. They’re cross useful, self-organizing and resolve the right way to do the work.
- The Scrum Grasp is accountable for the Scrum Group’s effectiveness. They do that by enabling the Scrum Group to enhance its practices, throughout the Scrum framework and by eradicating impediments.
Scrum makes use of a number of occasions or “ceremonies” to examine progress towards the dash aim and adapt the dash backlog (objects to be labored on) as wanted:
- Every day Scrum – The aim of the 15-minute Every day Scrum is to examine progress towards the Dash Aim and adapt the Dash Backlog as mandatory, adjusting the upcoming deliberate work.
- Dash Evaluation – The aim of the Dash Evaluation is to examine the result of the Dash and decide future variations. The Scrum Group presents the outcomes of their work to key stakeholders and progress towards the Product Aim is mentioned.
- Retrospective – The aim of the Dash Retrospective is to plan methods to extend high quality and effectiveness. The Scrum Group inspects how the final Dash went almost about people, interactions, processes, instruments, and their Definition of Achieved.
As an alternative of command and management as practiced in conventional waterfall, agile employs servant management which is a philosophy and follow of management primarily based on listening, empathy, therapeutic, consciousness, persuasion, conceptualization, foresight, stewardship, dedication, and neighborhood constructing.
What precisely is SAFe® Agile?
As talked about above, Agile was designed for small groups and SAFe® was designed to scale to varied ranges, from important to full SAFE®. It rests on the Agile basis and expands on it.
Cprime just lately revealed a report referred to as Agile at Scale 2020. The report was primarily based on a survey of corporations who’re scaling Agile past small groups and sometimes to the enterprise. The dimensions of improvement groups ranged from <50 (32%) to an astonishing 1001+ (18.four%).
In line with the identical research, the main framework at 34% is SAFe® whereas “Scrum solely” is at 24%. The research doesn’t dig deeper into these numbers nevertheless it’s reasonable to assume that as corporations scale to the enterprise, they require one thing greater than Scrum solely.
SAFe® for Lean Enterprises is a data base of confirmed, built-in ideas, practices, and competencies for reaching enterprise agility utilizing Lean, Agile, and DevOps. It has a number of ranges to which one can scale:
Important SAFE® – accommodates the minimal set of roles, occasions, and artifacts required to constantly ship enterprise options by way of an Agile Launch Prepare (ART) as a Group of Agile Groups.
Massive Answer SAFe® describes extra roles, practices, and steering to construct and evolve the world’s largest purposes, networks, and cyber-physical techniques. It incorporates a further competency referred to as Enterprise Answer Supply.
Portfolio SAFe® aligns technique with execution and organizes answer improvement across the move of worth via a number of worth streams. It’s the smallest configuration that can be utilized to attain Enterprise Agility and provides the core competencies of Lean Portfolio Administration, Steady Studying Tradition, and Organizational Agility.
Full SAFe® represents probably the most complete configuration. It helps constructing massive, built-in options that sometimes require tons of of individuals to develop and preserve.
Like Agile, the SAFe® framework has a number of outlined roles, a few of that are depending on the extent to which one aspires.
Key SAFe® roles at Important degree
The important thing SAFe® roles and principal duties at Essential degree are:
- Enterprise Proprietors – key stakeholders who’re finally liable for the enterprise end result.
- System Architect/Engineer – liable for designing and sharing the architectural imaginative and prescient throughout the agile launch practice, which suggests the work delivered can be match for goal.
- Product Supervisor – liable for prioritizing options and making certain they’re nicely described and understood
- Launch Prepare Engineer – liable for making certain the agile launch practice (the crew of agile groups) work nicely collectively and observe the processes
- Agile Groups – liable for supply and high quality of the work undertaken.
- Scrum Grasp – liable for making certain the crew works nicely and follows the processes.
- Product Proprietor – liable for prioritizing tales and making certain they’re nicely described and understood.
Key SAFe® roles at Massive Answer degree
The important thing SAFe® roles and principal duties at massive answer degree embrace all of the above and:
- Answer Architect/Engineer – liable for designing and sharing the architectural imaginative and prescient throughout a number of agile launch trains, which suggests the options delivered can be match for goal.
- Answer Administration is liable for defining and supporting the constructing of fascinating, possible, viable and sustainable large-scale enterprise options that meet buyer wants over time.
- The Answer Prepare Engineer (STE) is a servant chief and coach for the Answer Prepare, facilitating and guiding the work of all ARTs and Suppliers within the Worth Stream.
- Buyer – consumes the output from the agile launch practice. Could possibly be exterior clients or individuals throughout the group. The shoppers are the individuals who can have the ultimate view on whether or not the output was worthwhile.
Key SAFe® roles at Portfolio degree
The important thing SAFe® roles at portfolio degree are:
- Epic Homeowners – liable for defining an epic, articulating its advantages, and facilitating its implementation.
- Enterprise Architect – drives architectural initiatives for the portfolio.
Full SAFe® has no new outlined roles.
Planning
Whereas both Scrum and Agile plan their work at the start of every dash, SAFe® has a singular occasion, referred to as a Program Increment. Key to that is the Agile Launch Prepare (ART) which is a long-lived crew of Agile groups, which, together with different stakeholders, incrementally develops, delivers, and the place relevant operates, a number of options in a price stream.
A Program Increment (PI) is a timebox throughout which an Agile Launch Prepare delivers incremental worth within the type of working, examined software program and techniques. PIs are sometimes eight – 12 weeks lengthy.
Usually, there are 4 improvement Iterations, adopted by one Innovation and Planning (IP) Iteration. A PI is to an Agile Launch Prepare (ART) (or Answer Prepare), as an Iteration is to the Agile Group. It’s a set timebox for planning, constructing, and validating a full system increment, demonstrating worth, and getting quick suggestions.
Every PI
- Plans the ART’s subsequent increment of labor
- Restricts work in course of (WIP). Limiting work in course of is from Kanban, and contributes to raised focus, clearer communication, and extra reasonable evaluation and projection.
- Summarizes newsworthy worth for suggestions
- Guarantees constant, ART–broad retrospectives
The Program Board is used when groups come collectively for two-day planning classes:
Image Source
It must be famous that SAFe® makes use of an idea referred to as Worth Streams. Worth Streams symbolize the collection of steps that a corporation makes use of to implement Options that present a steady move of worth to a buyer.
A SAFe® portfolio accommodates a number of worth streams, every of which is devoted to construct and assist a set of options, that are the merchandise, companies, or techniques delivered to the Buyer, whether or not inner or exterior to the Enterprise.
How are Agile, Scrum and SAFe® comparable?
Scrum, like XP and Kanban is a kind of Agile. So, all Agile varieties are comparable in that they work briefly bursts of labor and keep in shut contact with clients. So, the actual comparability is between Scrum and SAFe®.
Scrum/Agile and SAFe® are comparable in that they use roles outlined within the Scrum Information equivalent to Product Proprietor, Scrum Grasp and Groups. The identical guidelines apply about utilizing sprints, dash evaluations and retrospectives.
Advantages
Among the advantages of Agile embrace:
- Buyer satisfaction- their common involvement assures that they are going to get what they need
- The power to rapidly pivot away from suboptimal options
- Decreased dangers as a consequence of shorter timeboxes and high quality built-in into the crew
- Permits for steady enchancment as a consequence of common retrospectives
SAFe® has all these advantages but in addition provides the flexibility to not solely have a look at work by way of worth streams but in addition to take into accounts the portfolio that’s related to the technique of the enterprise.
Conclusion
Agile has developed over time right into a framework that gives enterprise agility, permitting organizations to stay versatile of their strategy to getting work achieved. Outlined roles, small batches of labor and common cadence all contribute to a deal with product supply whereas minimizing threat.
Nonetheless, Agile focuses on small groups and as soon as work expands to the enterprise, a scaling methodology is required to allow groups to work whereas nonetheless specializing in the bigger strategic image. Scaled Agile Framework is one such methodology. It maintains the core concepts of Agile however provides roles and ceremonies that permit it serve at no matter degree of the group is required.
