What is the role of the Scrum Master in SAFe?
The role of a scrum master in Safe or Scaled Agile Framework is very similar to the role of a scrum master in a scrum environment.
Agile Coach
A scrum master is the SAFe coach.
They help the team understand the SAFe processes and systems, as well as the agile values and principles which underpin SAFe as an agile scaling framework.
Their goal is to create an environment where the team can thrive, and to grow capabilities in the environment that make the team more autonomous, within the constraints and parameters agreed with leadership teams and other key members of the SAFe environment.
They will be intensely focused on helping the team successfully adopt SAFe, LEAN, and Agile ways of working. Really get the product development engine firing and help the team improve with each program increment (PI).
Integrate the team into the Agile Release Train.
Because SAFe is a scaling agile framework, we need to coordinate and align teams of agile teams, known as Agile Release Trains, to ensure the continuous delivery of value to customers.
In a complex application, such as building an autonomous car, that would be alignment of the firmware, hardware, and software agile teams to ensure that a customer receives a valuable, working product at the end of each program increment.
It would also mean being present across multiple teams and aware of what problems, policies, and impediments are preventing the team(s) from achieving their objectives. What needs to happen for the team to progress effectively.
That would involve communication and engagement with other SAFe scrum masters in the SAFe environment, as well as interaction and engagement with key players in each of the teams.
Facilitation
The SAFe scrum master is also invested in facilitating SAFe events, such as the System Demo, as well as crucial conversations within the team and with other teams.
They need to be great at keeping conversations within time boxes and ensuring that individuals are locked in on creating value. The nature of continuous delivery means that individuals and teams can’t stray off agenda or tackle topics that don’t create or capture value for the organization.
Sure, separate meetings may be required to address those concerns or raise those issues, but the scrum master will ensure that critical personnel are present at those meetings rather than wasting the entire team’s product development time in non-critical events.
In essence, a SAFe scrum master is facilitating high-performance conversations, events, practices, and processes. They are deeply invested in helping the team become successful, and to build on that success with each program increment (PI).
Optimizing for the whole system.
In most traditional organizations, a project manager or manager will attempt to optimize for the local team environment. There primary concern will be fixing our little patch in the sun, and not give much thought to the impact that may have on other teams, customers, or the organization.
In SAFe, because it is such an integrated and interconnected environment, the scrum master needs to work creatively and effectively across multiple teams, in complex environments, in ways that align the teams with value creation and customer satisfaction.
To do that effectively, they need to work on optimizing for the entire system rather than just the local level. Sure, they will address problems and remove impediments that are unique to their team environment, but they will seek to solve these problems in a way that paves the way for the entire system to improve.
Systems modelling is a great way to do that, and a great SAFe scrum master will look to work with people outside of the team, outside of the Agile Release Train, but embedded within the organization to address those problems, resolve those impediments, and make the necessary policy changes.
That means developing relationships, building trust, and coaching/teaching people outside of the scrum team. It means demonstrating why SAFe is a valuable approach to product development and how people, who are not involved in product development, can play a valuable role in helping the team, and teams of agile teams, improve their performance.
Sometimes that is a policy change, at other times it may mean the cutting of red tape, and at other times it may be the recruitment of a powerful sponsor to pave the way at boardroom level.
It really is a demanding yet rewarding and fulfilling role.
If you’re thinking of becoming a SAFe scrum master, visit our SAFe Scrum Master Course page.
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.
#SAFe #scaledagileframework #scalingagile #agile #agileframework #agilecoach
