How does SAFe handle stakeholder communication and collaboration?
SAFe or Scaled Agile Framework is built on the foundation of agile value and principles. A product development approach that is designed to integrate customers and product stakeholders into the cocreation of products and features.
So, SAFe has built-in communication and collaboration structures to ensure that the Agile Release Train are focused on building products and features that truly delight customers, in alignment with organizational goals and objectives.
Within the team environment, we have iteration events and formal structures, whilst the PO Sync, Scrum Master sync, and system demos ensure that communication, cocreation, and collaboration are included at the Agile Release Train (teams of agile teams) level.
System Demo
A system demo is an event where the agile release train demonstrate what has been built over the program increment (PI). A working piece of software or product is presented to customers and product stakeholders, and they are invited to test, provide feedback, and help determine what the best way forward would be.
In other words, they cocreate the product with the agile release train by guiding the team with their review, feedback, and emerging requirements.
In a project management environment, this would take place at the end of the production or development phase, whilst in SAFe, this happens on a regular cadence throughout the production or development cycle.
If the customer requires 20 working elements of a product or feature, they will be involved in the review and inspection of each of those elements, from concept to delivery, as each of those elements enter production and move through the various phases of development.
This is to ensure that we are always building the most valuable solution for the client, and that the agile release train are focused on the most valuable work, in the most valuable way, at the most valuable time for both the customer and the organization.
All relevant customers, product stakeholders, and people integral to the success of the product or project are invited to the system demo to make sure that everyone is clear on what has been built, what is being built, and what will be built next.
It enables stakeholders and customers to witness how their product development investment is coming along, and where it is leading to in the future. It allows them to play an active role in product development and help shape the most valuable product for their environment.
Additional communication structures.
The PO sync, ScrumMaster sync, and System Demo are not the only communication structures that we have in SAFe.
SAFe have a role known as ‘the business owner’ and the agile framework encourages continuous engagement with the business owner to ensure that we are always focused on the most valuable work.
The business owner is ultimately funding the Agile Release Train, and as such, are an incredibly important stakeholder to keep informed, engaged, and aware of potential challenges to delivery.
Business Owners have a vested interest to ensure that what we are building is aligned with organizational and customer objectives. Aligned with organizational and customer strategies.
They provide guidance, insight, and recommendations that help the team make great product development decisions. They also play a critical role in ensuring that customers are represented throughout the product development process and that we are aligned with customer objectives.
So, stakeholder communication and collaboration are an integrated part of the SAFe framework.
About Value Glide
Value Glide are a SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework) consultancy, coaching practice, and training specialist who work with organizations to align business objectives with customer needs and wants.
As deeply experienced agile coaches and practitioners, our team are invested in continuous learning through each client engagement and use the data and evidence we gather from each implementation to inform our training, coaching, and consulting services.
In a nutshell, empirical process control or empiricism.
If you are thinking of adopting agile within your organization and have identified SAFe as a great agile framework to adopt, implement and improve your business agility, visit our SAFe Quickstart ART Launch program page or view our SAFe Consulting Services page.
If you have identified a need for an agile coach and SAFe coach to help your organization adopt and implement SAFe, visit our SAFe Coaching Services page.
If you want to know more about SAFe and how to lead SAFe, visit our SAFE Training page for a host of options, from Leading SAFe to a SAFe Release Train Engineer course.
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