A short introduction to SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework) portfolio management

1. Program Portfolio Management
Introduction on what the SAFe framework says about it.
Fredrik Wiik

2. Roots of the Scaled Agile Framework
Core values
- Code Quality
- Program Execution
- Alignment
- Transperancy
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3. In SAFe - the train is the thing!
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5. Portfolio level in SAFe.
Value
streams
Business
Drivers
Investment
Themes
Business
Kanban
Portfolio
Vision
Drivers
Portfolio
Backlog
Agile Release Trains
Typical 50-125 pers/train
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6. Business Epic Portfolio Kanban System
1. Funnel
2. Backlog
3. Analysis
4. Implementation
-Product roadmap
-New business opp
-Cost savings
-Problems needs
solution
-Refine understanding
-Est CoD
-Refine effort est
-Relative ranking
-Solution alternatives
-Collaboration
-Weighted rank
-Business case
-Ownership transitions
-Teams begin implementing at
release planning boundaries
-Teams break Epics into features
-Analyst support on pull basis
- Effort size estimate
- Value size estimate
- Investment theme
alignment
Authority
approves
Epic
Business analyst
pulls Epic
Portfolio Management
Team/ Product Council
Approval
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7. Weighted Shortest Job First
User/Business Value + Time Criticality + RR/OE Value
WSJF = ------------------------------------------------------------------------Job Size
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8. Centralized Strategy and localized execution
-Investment Themes drive strategy.
-Portfolio backlog stitches the themes
Together.
Portfolio
Backlog
Investment Theme
Driven Strategy
Portfolio Epics
Architectural
Features
Customer / Value Stream Feedback
Product
Management
Team Inputs
Program
Backlog
Local program content
decision-making based
on domain knowledge,
customer and team feedback.
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9. Program Portfolio Management
has the highest level decision-making responsibility in the framework
Program
Portfolio
Management
Typical roles
-Senior executives
-Senior solution
managers
-Line-of-Business
owners
-CTO
-Senior Development
Managers
-Program Management
Director
• Executives who bring necessary knowledge around
–
–
–
–
market knowledge
technology awareness
understanding of financial constrains
understanding of market conditions
• Stewards of Portfolio Vision.
• Drive product and solution strategy; manage
investments.
• Operational assistance may be delegated to PMO.
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10. Program Portfolio Management
responsibilities
Strategy &
Investment Funding
Close the loop on
funding and program
execution; measures
and reporting
compliance.
Governance
Allocate and assure funding
to strategy
Program
Management
Drive, assist or support
program execution.
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11. Program Portfolio Management
SAFe provides transformational patterns to ”agilean” PPM
From traditional approach
to ”agilean” approach
Centralized control
Decentralized decision-making
Project overload
Demand management, continuous value flow
Detailed project plans
Light-weight Epic only business cases
Centralized annual planning
Decentralized, rolling wave planning
Work Breakdown Structure
Agile estimating and planning
Self organizing/managing Agile Release Trains
Project-controlled funding and control
Objective, fact-based measures and MS`s.
Waterfall milestones
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12. Agile Program Portfolio Management
enabling and fostering lean and agile practices for business results.
- Dencentralized decision-making
- Objective, fact-based
measures and milestones
Strategy &
Investment Funding
Governance
Program
Management
- Demand management; continuous
value flow
- Light Weight Epic Business Cases
- Decentralized, rolling-wave
planning
- Agile Estimating and
planning
- Self-managing Agile Release
Trains
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