Please join us on Wednesday January 27 in Burlington MA starting at 6:30 pm as senior enterprise agility coach Yuval Yeret describes several techniques that can be used to produce a lasting and productive adoption of the Scaled Agile Framework. The Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) is a powerful and popular framework for implementing agile at large scale across the enterprise. However many organizations see their implementation of SAFe stall and even backfire since the adoption is mandated from its organizational leaders, instead of engaged teams participating and choosing their SAFe. In this talk we will examine some dangerous implementation anti-patterns as well as healthier alternatives. You will learn some concrete techniques that help live up to the Lean/SAFe principles of respecting and engaging people. We will discuss field-proven ideas such as pull-based crossing the chasm approach to implementation, use of open space as part of the different SAFe ceremonies, and how Open Space Agility can combine with SAFe.

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SAFe – A dangerous weapon.
Techniques to implementing a
lasting adoption of the Scaled
Agile Framework
Yuval Yeret
Jan 27
2016

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3. 3© 2016 Scaled Agile, Inc. All Rights Reserved.V4.0.0© 2016 Scaled Agile, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Foundations of the
Scaled Agile Framework®
4.0
Values, Principles, Practices, Implementation
http://scaledagileframework.com/videos-and-presentations/

4. 4© 2016 Scaled Agile, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 4
Apply Lean-Agile principles
#1-Take an economic view
#2-Apply systems thinking
#3-Assume variability; preserve options
#4-Build incrementally with fast, integrated learning cycles
#5-Base milestones on objective evaluation of working systems
#6-Visualize and limit WIP, reduce batch sizes, and manage queue lengths
#7-Apply cadence, synchronize with cross-domain planning
#8-Unlock the intrinsic motivation of knowledge workers
#9-Decentralize decision-making
Leffingwell et al. © 2015 Scaled Agile, Inc. All Rights Reserved 4

5. 5© 2016 Scaled Agile, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
SAFe for midsize solutions
Expand
one level

6. 6© 2016 Scaled Agile, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
SAFe for large solutions
Collapse
one level

7. 7© 2016 Scaled Agile, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Build value with Agile Release Trains
 Apply cadence and synchronization
 Communicate with Vision and Roadmap
 Manage the flow of work
 Apply objective Milestones to measure progress

8. 8© 2016 Scaled Agile, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Synchronize with PI Planning
 Requirements and design emerge
 Important stakeholder decisions
are accelerated
 Teams create—and take
responsibilty—for plans
 All stakeholders face-to-face,
(but typically multiple locations)
 Management sets the mission,
with minimum possible
constraints
Future product development tasks can’t be pre-determined. Distribute planning
and control to those who can understand and react to the end results.
— Michael Kennedy, Product Development for the Lean Enterprise

9. 9© 2016 Scaled Agile, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 9
Lead the implementation

10. 10© 2016 Scaled Agile, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Leadership Foundation
People are already doing
their best; the problems are
with the system.
Only management can
change the system.
—W. Edwards Deming
‣ Lead the change
‣ Know the way; emphasize
life-long learning
‣ Develop people
‣ Inspire and align with mission;
minimize constraints
‣ Decentralize decision-making
‣ Unlock the intrinsic motivation of
knowledge workers
Respectfor
peopleandculture
Flow
Innovation
Relentless
improvement
VALUE
LEADERSHIP

11. 11© 2016 Scaled Agile, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Implementing SAFe 1,2,3

12. 12© 2016 Scaled Agile, Inc. All Rights Reserved.V4.0.0© 2016 Scaled Agile, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

13. 13© 2016 Scaled Agile, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Sustainable Pace – Not just for engineers…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGfplQ1FUFs

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Guided Tour vs Self Guide

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Freedom on the Freedom Trail

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Organizations ARE Snowflakes

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Sometimes a walk with an expert IS much better …

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Come Soon…
COME SOON

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How we achieved a healthy transformation flow at
companies like HP, Siemens, Amdocs
Improve/
Boost
Backlog
I
DecideProspects Stable/
Recharging
F
B
Leading
SAFe
Mgmt
Workshop
Kickoff/
Quick
Start
Stabilize
–
I&A
L
N
“Pull from management & executives”
E
D
Market/Sell more depth
Q
R
Market/Sell the change to LOBs
G

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Let Leaders Pull Training
• Run Leading-SAFe /
Foundations every X
weeks
• Market internally using
“Launch” techniques
(Scarcity, Deadline,
etc.)
• Let people opt-in
• Will identify champions
and potentially
interested value
streams/ARTs

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Use a “SAFe Implementation Workshop” for a specific VS/ART
http://bit.ly/ImplSAFe

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Open the space “SAFe @ our company/org – What does it mean? Why? How?”
https://twambeke.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/openspace.gif

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8:00-
9:00
9:00-
10:30
1:00-
4:00
10:30-
11:30
4:00-
5:00
11:30-
1:00
Sample Open Space Agenda

26. 26© 2016 Scaled Agile, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 12.
Open the space in the SAFe QuickStart
When you find a Value Stream, go all in and all at once for each
Train. The one-week launch is a proven adoption model.
SAFe
Scrum
Master
Orientation
SAFe
Product
Owner
Orientation
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri
Tooltraining
Go.
SAFe.
Now.
Training:
SAFe for Teams
Prepare
PI Planning
• Leave some of the HOW
decisions open for
discussion
• Mini-open-space addressing
“Vote of confidence”
concerns regarding “What
are the implications of
running SAFe on our train”

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Follow a Confidence Vote with a mini-open-space

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Use guerilla marketing to grow – leveraging the beach
head
Improve/
Boost
Backlog
I
DecideProspects Stable/
Recharging
D
Leading
SAFe
Mgmt
Workshop
Kickoff/
Quick
Start
Stabilize
–
I&A
L
N
Q
R
Share success, publicly visualize,
invite prospects to PI Demo
Invite prospects to
QuickStart/
PI Planning
Any other ideas?

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In summary - Try this on your next SAFe implementation:
1. Treat the enterprise/portfolio as an open market, use
marketing techniques, let trains/value streams pull.
2. Invite people to pull/opt into training (Foundations, Leading
SAFe, ScrumXP, PO, etc.) and use that to identify
leads/prospects.
3. Use open space to invite interested people to discuss the
potential and implications of Scaling Agile w/ SAFe in the
organization.
4. Use Leading SAFe combined with Management Workshop for
Trains/VSs that pull and want to start – make them own their SAFe
approach.
5. Spice QuickStart with mini-open-space vignettes e.g. around
“Vote of confidence” in first PI Planning.
6. Use guerilla marketing to grow – share successes, invite
prospects to exciting ceremonies such as PI Planning, PI
Demo, invite excited leaders to share their story in periodical
training or directly send prospects to hear a testimonial from
them.

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• http://scaledagileframework.com/videos-and-presentations/
• http://scaledagileframework.com/videos-and-presentations/
• http://yuvalyeret.com/pull-based-change-management/
• http://yuvalyeret.com/2015/11/02/safe-invitations-part-13-pull-based-change/,
• http://yuvalyeret.com/2015/11/03/safe-invitations-part-23-management-workshop-and-vote-
of-confidence-driven-open-space-in-quickstart/
• http://yuvalyeret.com/2015/11/04/safe-invitations-part-23-combining-open-space-agility-and-
safe/
• http://www.agilesparks.com/safe-implementation-strategy-leadership-focusing-workshop
• http://openspaceagility.com/
References

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Use
AgileBoston
For 10%
discount on all
upcoming
workshops
http://bit.ly/AgileSparksEvents
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Also available in NYC next week
CT on Feb 24-25

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Feedback/ Questions/
Suggestions/ Followup…
Yuval@AgileSparks.com
T: 857-218-9585