Many companies involved in software and software-driven product development have probably considered implementing SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework). It is not surprising. Various global companies like Lego, Phillips, Sony, Air France, and organizations like NHS have successfully implemented SAFe to achieve top performance in their sectors. Why is SAFe important? This framework can help companies scale agile practices and thus improve product quality and speed of delivery.
What are the pros and cons of adopting SAFe? Read on to learn more.
What Are the Pros?
The growing popularity of SAFe suggests that the pros outnumber the cons. What are the benefits of adopting this framework?
Excellent Coordination Across the Company
One of the main pros of SAFe is alignment. The framework supports excellent coordination between team members and departments. When everyone is in sync it is easier to keep track of goals, accomplishments, and failures. Agile teams include dozens of employees from different divisions, so coordination is essential, especially since some companies work with an offshore development team.
Increased Productivity
Increased productivity is another pro to consider. SAFe provides everyone in the company with a clear picture of the goals and objectives they must focus on. This level of transparency can improve motivation and engagement, leading to increased productivity.
Faster Delivery Times
SAFe can create functional teams across departments and divisions, improving decision-making and communication. Thus, it can help companies speed up product delivery and exceed customers’ expectations. A faster time to market can significantly increase revenue.
What Are the Cons?
Like any other framework, SAFe has some drawbacks. Each company may interpret these drawbacks differently, however.
Top-Down Approach
Many would say that SAFe has a top-down approach, which means that decision-making happens at the top management levels. Some employees or project managers believe that the decision-making power should be split across the board. They think that giving developers and testers more power of decision could improve collaboration.
Limited Flexibility
SAFe adds additional levels of oversight and administration to project management, which can be a benefit for large enterprises. However, smaller organizations and companies may consider the limited flexibility associated with extra oversight a drawback. The SAFe approach can cause developers to lose some of their freedom.
Another thing to consider is that SAFe includes an intricate system of practices and rules with little room for customization, which may also limit flexibility.
Should You Implement SAFe?
After this quick overview of the pros and cons of SAFe, you may wonder if SAFe implementation can bring significant value to your company. Although SAFe promotes centralized decision-making, it also prioritizes people rather than technology. Moreover, it improves collaboration, transparency, and team cohesion. Large enterprises will experience more benefits, but every company or business can extract value from this framework.
By providing a simple, lightweight experience, the Scaled Agile Framework can help the development team deliver higher quality products faster. Adopting SAFe can be thus a sure way to gain an edge over the competition.
Optimizing your processes and operations with SAFe can help you take your company to the next level. Proper implementation can bring results quickly.
