The Scaled Agile Framework, known as SAFe for Lean Enterprises, is a large knowledge base of proven, principles, practices and competencies, that integrates cultural change practices for Lean, Agile and DevOps. The diagram below, shows the latest full version (v4.6) of the framework:
By proven, I mean that all the work contained within the framework, has been demonstrated to bring success to all types of businesses. The success is clearly measured by the number and breadth of case studies that are available on their website. These case studies, have been written by SAFe clients, in their own words, showing the true power of the successes they have achieved.
Let’s step through 3 specific examples below:
Australia Post
https://www.scaledagileframework.com/case-study-australia-post/
The following information is taken from the SAFe case study and outlines the case for action, or as we say in SAFe, the burning platform….
“Australia Post has invested in its technology, people, and culture to change the way it works to focus on customer experiences and continuous innovation. To help achieve this change, Australia Post selected and adopted the Scaled Agile Framework® (SAFe®) not only as an operating model but as a tool for change. With SAFe, the organization aims to describe, communicate, and build an understanding of how to leverage Lean and Agile principles across the organization.”
Key Benefits:
- Throughput of the agile realease train’s business outcomes rose by 400%, with only a 20% increase in team size.
- First-time delivery jumped 7% within 12 months.
- 98% reduction in infrastructure costs.
- The agile release train consistenly delivered on 80% or more of it’s objectives.
- The Net Promoter Score (NPS) rose by 8 points over the course of one year.
- Employee satisfaction and engagement increased.
- The agile release train was voted the Best Customer Centric Project in Australia at the CX Management Conference.
Westpac
Upon launching a new online banking platform back in 2015, there was a real need to deliver additional features at breakneck speed. Even though the launch was highly successful, winning at least one aware, the organisation needed to embrace some form of cultural change to accelerate feature delivery. After looking at a number of cultural change methods, they decided that SAFe would be the best method. Particularly as the methods and practices are proven and scalable, across small and large organisations.
Key Benefits:
- 32 leaders across and business and IT trained over two days.
- Took 100 people from waterfall to agile in one week.
- Team and business engagement went up whil cycle time and defects went down.
Fitbit
Key Benefits:
- Started with 12 scrum teams on the agile release train in San Francisco.
- Created a highly interactive experience with physical boards.
- Created a fast and flexible flow across the entire Fitbit ecosystem delivery 100% on the objectives.
- Improved visibility, aiming for a two-month look ahead.
- Team velocity increased by 33% over 12 months.
- Fitbit launched a record number of products through a disciplined approach to cadence and velocity, allowing them to respond faster to market needs.
If you’re interested in learning more, check our Leading SAFe courses:
Also check out Paul Colmer’s blog post on Leading SAFe, as he our Leading SAFe trainer. He outlines the short story from NASA:
https://www.paulcolmer.com/blog/real-business-benefits-from-using-the-scaled-agile-framework
