Why You Should Use SAFe (and How to Find SAFe Training to Help)

Large organizations use SAFe Agile to improve their operations. When you use this framework, you scale Agile to create a Lean enterprise.

This approach helps meet the challenge of delivering constant value. It also helps to support continuous improvement.

Another benefit of using SAFe® is that you get to plan and apply a predictable workflow schedule. When leaders link strategy with implementation, they increase their performance and productivity.

SAFe stands for scaled agile framework enterprise. You can use this framework to apply agile methodologies, such as Scrum or Kanban, to larger teams. SAFe training and certification courses help leaders plan and implement the philosophy.

In this article, you’ll learn about the benefits SAFe can offer your enterprise and how effective organizers lead and implement SAFe. You’ll also hear about training courses that can help.

Major benefits of implementing SAFe

SAFe values alignment, transparency, quality, and execution. It inspires enterprises to adopt lean-agile thinking across multiple departments or teams. Lean methodology means higher productivity, reduced costs, and improved work quality. By identifying value streams and streamlining work processes as you implement SAFe, you can start to create a Lean enterprise.

By implementing SAFe, you gain the tools to support lean thinking. You create Scrum teams who understand what the user wants, how to deliver those changes with minimal time waste, and create efficient processes. SAFe will also clarify roles and processes so teams can quickly react to problems.

Many large companies have applied SAFe and report major benefits. One of these benefits is increasing employee satisfaction and productivity by as much as 50%. Then, there’s up to a 75% increase in product quality and time to market.

SAFe methodology teaches you to apply a systems approach to pain points, workflow management, and value streams. A healthy amount of cross-team collaboration can begin. The end goal is enhanced value flow.

The transition to using SAFe can take time and trial and error. Being brave enough to engage on a meaningful level and produce better quality outcomes is part of this new norm.

Beginning to use SAFe: The big picture

Using SAFe in your organization can be a major transition. You’ll need to consider how effective leadership and implementation will help make this transition.

1. Leading SAFe

Leading SAFe means building cross-functional teams and developing workflows that help your team get the most value out of planning. That way, software development teams can quickly respond to customer’s needs.

A solid SAFe leader improves productivity, product quality, and time-to-market.

Other identifiers of quality SAFe leadership include better team member engagement, which helps work better and feel part of a supported and supportive team. The value that individuals bring to the organization then increases.

Leading SAFe course

The Leading SAFe® training course is foundational. You’ll mainly learn about SAFe principles and their practices.With SAFe certification, you learn how to apply and scale the scaled agile framework for Lean and agile development. You’ll also learn how to plan and implement Program Increments (PI).

Once you have this information, you can guide transformation across your organization.

2. Implementing SAFe

To properly implement SAFe, you need to know how to coach agile teams through the SAFe framework and Lean-Agile mindset.

Before you can do this, you need to know how to identify and maximize value streams in work processes. In doing so, you’ll increase team collaboration. By increasing collaboration, you’re better positioned to produce value for product owners.

As you implement SAFe, you’ll constantly develop solutions to organizational problems and understand each person’s role in this framework.

Essentially, you start and sustain long-term change that increases value and profits. You then coach others on how to capture the value and apply SAFe principles in practice to achieve long-lasting change.

Implementing SAFe course

Implementing SAFe® is another foundational course. This training course offers an in-depth look at the SAFe Agile framework. It also teaches you how to apply your learning.

In this course, you’ll learn how to design a SAFe implementation plan, plan for enterprise transformation, introduce and launch Agile Release Trains (ARTs), and encourage the organization to be a lean enterprise. You’ll become a large-scale agile coach who teaches others to see and apply large solutions.

Implementing SAFe is ideal for anyone who wants to know how to lead transformation. It focuses on leading SAFe with remote teams. You get to find out how to create Agile Release Trains (ARTs) and show others how to design ARTs.

More SAFe roles and processes

As you learn how to incorporate SAFe, you’ll need to focus on empowering key team members and focusing on some crucial areas. SAFe training is available for some of these roles and processes.

• The SAFe Advanced Scrum Master coaches Scrum teams as they adopt the agile mindset.
• Lean Portfolio Management helps with cross-team collaboration as you adapt to customer needs.
• The SAFe Release Train Engineer is key for Agile Release Trains. This person works on PI Planning, among other events. This, along with the product manager, is a core position for leading SAFe to get the most out of value streams
• A Certified SAFe Program Consultant (SPC) leads change across the enterprise at all levels by coaching and training team members as they adopt the lean-agile mindset. The SPC also organizes and mentors employees to encourage ongoing engagement.
• You’ll need to empower teams to learn how to be a skilled member of an Agile Release Train.

More Agilist certification courses include training as a release train engineer and a SAFe Scrum Master. You can also take these two-day to four-day certified SAFe training courses to improve your competencies.

For advice on which certified SAFe courses are best for you, go through these FAQs to boost ongoing improvements in your organization.

SAFe training for better enterprise agility

Adopt SAFe to create a Lean enterprise with large-scale change. It encourages cross-team collaboration, systems thinking, and a lean mindset.

While SAFe can take time to implement, there are resources to help, including SAFe training courses. Choose to focus on team members and processes that can most benefit from extra guidance.

You can also follow the Easy Agile blog, podcast, and learning hub for extensive guidance on agile principles, roles, and tools.