4 Levels of Scaled Agile Framework

While implementing Agile Methodology, organisations often face the challenge of scaling their practices to accommodate larger projects and teams. This is where the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) steps in, providing various Levels of Scaled Agile Framework to navigate the complexities of achieving enterprise-wide agility. 

Did you know that SAFe has become the top choice of companies looking to scale their organisational environment? It is apparent from a report by the University of Applied Sciences Koblenz on Status Quo that 54% of the companies worldwide use SAFe as a scaling framework. It provides various levels to place  organisations according to their agility. 

So, at what level does your organisation lie? How can you incorporate SAFe within varied organisational structures? Read this blog to learn about the Levels of Scaled Agile Framework. Also, explore how these levels are significant and contribute to organisational agility. 

Table of Contents 

1) Overview of the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) 

2) What are the four Levels of Scaled Agile Framework?

      a) Portfolio Level 

      b) Program Level 

      c) Team Level 

      d) Value Stream Layer 

3) Why opt for SAFe?

4) Conclusion 

Overview of the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) 

SAFe is a comprehensive framework designed to help organisations scale their Agile Processes effectively. The framework provides a structured approach that enables organisations to align teams, coordinate work, and foster collaboration across the enterprise. At its core, SAFe embraces the principles of Agile Methodology and extends them to the enterprise level. 

Further, it consists of various components and practices, including Agile Teams, Program Increments (PI), Agile Release Trains (ARTs), and Value Streams. All of these, when combined, aim to achieve enterprise-wide agility. 

To understand the Levels of  Scaled Agile Framework, it is first crucial to understand the configurations or setups of SAFe across organisations. Let’s have a detailed look at their configurations within SAFe: 

Essential SAFe 

Essential is the most basic form of SAFe, consisting of two layers, namely, Team and Program. Here, the tasks completed are reduced to a logical string of things. Also, tasks that aren’t performed are augmented to simplify the process. It consists of 10 elements that are as follows: 

a) ART 

b) PI planning 

c) Lean-Agile principles 

d) DevOps  

e) System-level Demo 

f) Inspection and adapting 

g) Iteration and innovation 

h) Synchronisation 

i) Architectural runway 

j) Leadership 

Large Solution SAFe 

This form of SAFe is a step ahead of Essential, focusing on complexities or diverse tasks. Large Solution SAFe is usually used to design complex and large solutions for the project. As a result, many ARTs synchronise and collaborate in this form of SAFe to deliver value. Apart from the 10 elements of Essential SAFe, Large Solutions SAFe introduces additional elements that are as follows: 

a) Solution train to streamline multiple trains 

b) Solution intent to develop a quality system 

c) Solution context to determine system interface 

d) Solution Kanban to maintain a capability flow 

Portfolio SAFe 

Portfolio SAFe aligns the organisation’s strategies with portfolio execution. This configuration is used by enterprises with over 500 developers, i.e., medium-scale enterprises. For big enterprises, the stakeholders require multiple portfolios. The key elements of Portfolio SAFe include the following: 

a) Lean budget to make quick and informed decisions 

b) Funding people for efficient value delivery 

c) Portfolio Kanban implementation 

d) Visibility of work 

e) Defining portfolio management goals 

Full SAFe 

As SAFe 5.0 is the highest form of SAFe. It encompasses all the levels - Team Level, Program Level, Portfolio Level, and Value Stream Layer - and provides a comprehensive approach to achieving enterprise agility at scale.  

Full SAFe is designed for organisations that require extensive coordination and alignment across multiple Value Streams, portfolios, and teams

Ready to lead and drive success? Enroll in our Change Management Certification program to gain the skills and credentials you need.

What are the four Levels of Scaled Agile Framework?

Based on the organisational configuration or setup, the teams are encouraged to adopt various levels of SAFe. These levels assist in smooth value delivery and achieving business goals. So, let’s have a detailed look at the Four Scaled Agile Framework Levels: 

Portfolio Level 

The Portfolio Level in the SAFe plays a critical role in aligning an organisation’s strategic objectives with its portfolio of initiatives. 

It provides a framework to make investment decisions, optimise resource allocation, and ensure that the organisation maximises value delivery. Let’s delve into the key aspects of the Portfolio Level in SAFe: 

a) Defining strategic themes and objectives to guide the organisation’s investments and initiatives. They serve as a compass for decision-making and provide a common understanding of the desired outcomes. 

b) Establishing a portfolio vision and roadmap, which outlines the strategic direction, milestones, and key initiatives. It enables stakeholders to understand how their efforts contribute to the portfolio objectives. 

c) Making investment decisions that align with the organisation’s strategic goals. These decisions are based on evaluating potential initiatives and assessing their value, strategic fit, risk, and resource requirements. 

d) Promoting Agile portfolio operations to foster adaptability and responsiveness. This involves establishing Lean Portfolio Management (LPM) practices, which focus on Lean governance, Lean budgeting, and continuous value delivery. 

e) Implementing ARTs to align multiple teams working on a specific Value Stream and providing a structured way to organise and coordinate their efforts. 

f) Addressing investment funding and governance for allocating budgets, monitoring financials, and tracking the performance of initiatives. 

g) Establishing portfolio-level metrics and reporting to track the progress, performance, and value delivery of the portfolio of initiatives. 

Learn how to implement the Scrum framework into your organisation with our Scrum Certification Training. 

Program Level 

The Program Level of SAFe focuses on coordinating the work of multiple Agile teams to achieve a common set of objectives. It serves as the crucial layer that aligns and synchronises teams within a specific Value Stream. 

As a result, it enables them to communicate effectively and deliver value in a coordinated manner. Let's look at a few key characteristics of the Program Level in SAFe: 

a) Implementing ARTs to align multiple teams towards a common mission and shared objectives. This enables the teams to work collaboratively and deliver larger, integrated solutions. 

b) Planning PI to bring together all the Agile teams within an ART to plan and align their work for the upcoming PI. It fosters transparency, collaboration, and synchronisation, ensuring that teams are aligned and ready to execute their work. 

c) Emphasising the roles of Solution Architects to gain architectural guidance and technical leadership. Also, ensuring the overall integrity and quality of the solution being developed. 

d) Inspecting and adapting SAFe to reflect on the team’s performance and identifying areas for improvement. Also, defining actionable steps to address any challenges or bottlenecks. 

e) Facilitating Scrum of Scrums to share updates, discuss dependencies, and address cross-team issues. The Scrum of Scrums provides a platform for collaboration, problem-solving, and ensuring alignment across teams. 

f) Emphasising the roles of Product Management and Product Owners to define the overall vision, strategy, and business objectives for the solution being developed. 

Team Level 

It is one of the crucial Levels of Scaled Agile Framework where the real development and delivery of value occur. At this level, Agile Teams collaborate closely to deliver incremental value to the customer. 

Team Level embodies the principles and practices of Agile Methodologies. Agile Teams work in short iterations, focusing on delivering small, usable increments of the product. Here are some key aspects of Team Level: 

a) Promoting cross-functional collaboration to address complex problems effectively and ensure a holistic approach to product development. 

b) Facilitating iterative development to adjust the product direction, adapting to changing requirements, and incorporating stakeholder feedback. 

c) Emphasising continuous integration and delivery to ensure the frequent integration of code changes and the rapid deployment of the product. It enables the team to release new features or updates to the product on time, reducing time-to-market. 

d) Facilitating Agile Ceremonies, including daily stand-up meetings, where team members update their progress and identify blockers or impediments. 

e) Focusing on continuous improvement to reflect on team processes, practices, and outcomes, seeking opportunities to enhance performance. 

Gain a deep understanding of iteration planning. Register for our Certified SAFe® Product Manager / Product Owner Training And Exam. 

Value Stream Layer 

The Value Stream Layer represents the end-to-end flow of value delivery within a specific Value Stream. It encompasses all the activities, processes, and teams indulged in delivering a product or service to the customer. 

The Value Stream Layer is critical in streamlining value delivery, eliminating waste, and optimising workflow. Here are some of the key characteristics of the Value Stream Layer in SAFe:

a) Using Value Stream Mapping to visualise and analyse value flow through the entire Value Stream. It provides a holistic view of the end-to-end process, including all the steps, handoffs, and delays. 

b) Encouraging cross-functional collaboration to optimise workflow and improve communication and coordination across teams. As a result, ensuring that everyone is working towards the same goal. 

c) Focusing on continuous integration and deployment by integrating code changes frequently and automating the deployment process. This helps organisations to reduce the time and effort required to deliver value to customers. 

d) Adopting DevOps principles to promote collaboration, automation, and shared accountability between development and operations teams. By implementing DevOps practices, organisations can eliminate bottlenecks, reduce manual handoffs, and improve the speed and reliability of value delivery. 

e) Facilitating Quality Assurance (QA) and testing to validate and verify the functionality and performance of the solution. It helps organisations deliver high-quality products or services that meet customer expectations. 

f) Establishing feedback Loops and continuous improvement to identify areas for enhancement, address bottlenecks, and optimise the Value Stream to deliver increasing levels of customer value. 

 

Why opt for SAFe? 

Now that you have an idea about the four Levels of Scaled Agile Framework, you might be thinking about “why to choose this framework for your organisation and why it’s gaining a lot of attention lately?”. Well, quality is the answer. Prioritising quality over quantity remains a basic principle, yet modern customers demand both quantity and timely delivery. SAFe excels at maintaining high solution quality, even while dealing with complex systems and technology challenges. As businesses grow more, they usually need to handle more complex systems without sacrificing quality. 

Not only in terms of quality, but SAFe also helps organisations to increase productivity and respond more quickly to market changes. All in all, SAFe ensures organisations can meet these demands effectively. So, if you're wondering how to manage budgets or implement cross-functional collaboration in areas like DevOps and architecture, SAFe is your go-to solution.  

Conclusion 

As organisations embark on their Agile Transformation journey, they must familiarise themselves with the Levels of Scaled Agile Framework to achieve enterprise-wide agility. By embracing SAFe, organisations can navigate the complexities of modern business environments and deliver value to customers at an accelerated pace. 

Become a step closer to driving successful Agile transformations. Register for our Certified Scaled Agile Framework Leading SAFe® 6.0 Training And Exam now!