SAFe 4.5 reference guide: scaled agile framework for lean software and systems engineering

The Must-have Reference Guide for SAFe® Professionals “There are a lot of methods of scale out there, but the Scaled Agile Framework is the one lighting up the world.” –Steve Elliot, Founder/CEO AgileCraft “Since beginning our Lean-Agile journey with SAFe, Vantiv has focused its strategic efforts and its execution. We have improved the predictability of product delivery while maintaining high quality, and have become even more responsive to customers–resulting in higher customer satisfaction. And just as important, employee engagement went up over the past year.” –Dave Kent, Enterprise Agile Coach, Vantiv Fully updated to include the new innovations in SAFe 4.5, the SAFe® 4.5 Reference Guide is ideal for anyone serious about learning and implementing the world's leading framework for enterprise agility. Inside, you'll find complete coverage of the scaledagileframework.com knowledge base, the website that thousands of the world's largest brands turn to for building better software and systems. SAFe was developed from real-world field experience and provides proven success patterns for implementing Lean-Agile software and systems development at enterprise scale. This book provides comprehensive guidance for work at the enterprise Portfolio, Large Solution, Program, and Team levels, including the various roles, activities, and artifacts that constitute the Framework. Education & Training Key to Success The practice of SAFe is spreading rapidly throughout the world. The majority of Fortune 100 companies have certified SAFe professionals and consultants, as do an increasing percentage of the Global 2000. Case study results–visit scaledagileframework.com/case-studies–typically include: 30 — 75% faster time-to-market 25 — 75% increase in productivity 20 — 50% improvements in quality 10 — 50% increased employee engagement Successful implementations may vary in context but share a common attribute: a workforce well trained and educated in SAFe practices. This book–along with authorized training and certification–will help you understand how to maximize the value of your role within a SAFe organization. The result is greater alignment and visibility, improved performance throughout the enterprise, and ultimately better outcomes for the business. Cover......Page 1 Half Title......Page 2 Title Page......Page 4 Copyright Page......Page 5 Contents......Page 6 Preface......Page 11 About the Authors......Page 13 SAFe Community Contributors......Page 14 Additional Acknowledgements......Page 15 Introduction to the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe)......Page 18 Part 1: The SAFe Foundation......Page 30 Lean-Agile Leaders......Page 32 Core Values......Page 38 Lean-Agile Mindset......Page 44 SAFe Principles Overview......Page 52 SAFe Implementation Roadmap Overview......Page 56 SAFe Program Consultant......Page 60 Part 2: The SAFe Implementation Roadmap......Page 64 Reaching the Tipping Point......Page 66 Train Lean-Agile Change Agents......Page 70 Train Executives, Managers, and Leaders......Page 74 Create a Lean-Agile Center of Excellence......Page 80 Identify Value Streams and ARTs......Page 86 Create the Implementation Plan......Page 100 Prepare for ART Launch......Page 106 Train Teams and Launch the ART......Page 116 Coach ART Execution......Page 122 Launch More ARTs and Value Streams......Page 126 Extend to the Portfolio......Page 136 Sustain and Improve......Page 142 Part 3: The SAFe Principles......Page 150 Principle #1: Take an economic view......Page 152 Principle #2: Apply systems thinking......Page 158 Principle #3: Assume variability; preserve options......Page 162 Principle #4: Build incrementally with fast, integrated learning cycles......Page 164 Principle #5: Base milestones on objective evaluation of working systems......Page 168 Principle #6: Visualize and limit WIP, reduce batch sizes, and manage queue lengths......Page 172 Principle #7: Apply cadence, synchronize with cross-domain planning......Page 176 Principle #8: Unlock the intrinsic motivation of knowledge workers......Page 180 Principle #9: Decentralize decision-making......Page 184 Part 4: The Team Level......Page 188 Team Level......Page 190 Agile Teams......Page 194 Dev Team......Page 200 Product Owner......Page 204 Scrum Master......Page 210 Built-In Quality......Page 214 ScrumXP......Page 220 Story......Page 226 Iterations......Page 236 Iteration Planning......Page 240 Iteration Goals......Page 246 Iteration Execution......Page 250 Iteration Review......Page 258 Iteration Retrospective......Page 262 Team Backlog......Page 266 Team Kanban......Page 270 Part 5: The Program Level......Page 276 Introduction to the Program Level......Page 278 Agile Release Train......Page 282 Business Owners......Page 292 Product and Solution Management......Page 298 Release Train Engineer and Solution Train Engineer......Page 304 System and Solution Architect/Engineering......Page 308 Program and Solution Backlogs......Page 314 Features and Capabilities......Page 322 Enablers......Page 328 Nonfunctional Requirements......Page 334 Weighted Shortest Job First......Page 342 Program Increment......Page 346 Innovation and Planning Iteration......Page 352 Develop on Cadence......Page 358 Release on Demand......Page 362 Architectural Runway......Page 370 PI Planning......Page 378 PI Objectives......Page 388 System Demo......Page 396 Inspect and Adapt......Page 400 Program and Solution Kanban......Page 408 DevOps......Page 414 Continuous Delivery Pipeline......Page 422 Continuous Exploration......Page 430 Continuous Integration......Page 436 Continuous Deployment......Page 444 Part 6: The Spanning Palette......Page 450 Metrics......Page 452 Shared Services......Page 474 Communities of Practice......Page 478 Milestones......Page 484 Roadmap......Page 492 Vision......Page 498 System Team......Page 504 Lean UX......Page 508 Part 7: The Large Solution Level......Page 514 Introduction to the Large Solution Level......Page 516 Solution Train......Page 520 Customer......Page 526 Supplier......Page 530 Economic Framework......Page 536 Pre- and Post-PI Planning......Page 540 Solution Demo......Page 548 Solution......Page 552 Solution Context......Page 556 Solution Intent......Page 562 Compliance......Page 570 Model-Based Systems Engineering......Page 578 Set-Based Design......Page 584 Part 8: The Portfolio Level......Page 592 Introduction to the Portfolio Level......Page 594 Enterprise......Page 598 Value Streams......Page 604 Strategic Themes......Page 610 Lean Budgets......Page 616 Epic......Page 626 Epic Owners......Page 632 Enterprise Architect......Page 636 Lean Portfolio Management......Page 640 Portfolio Backlog......Page 648 Portfolio Kanban......Page 652 Value Stream Coordination......Page 656 Part 9: Advanced Topics......Page 660 Agile Architecture......Page 662 Agile Contracts......Page 670 Agile HR with SAFe......Page 678 CapEx and OpEx......Page 690 Enterprise Backlog Structure and Management......Page 700 Essential SAFe......Page 708 Features and Components......Page 712 Invitation-Based SAFe Implementation......Page 718 Refactoring......Page 726 SAFe Requirements Model......Page 732 Six SAFe Practices for S-Sized Teams......Page 734 Spikes......Page 740 Test-First......Page 744 The Role of PI Objectives......Page 750 Part 10: Glossary......Page 754 SAFe Glossary......Page 756 Bibliography......Page 766 A......Page 772 B......Page 774 C......Page 775 D......Page 778 E......Page 779 F......Page 781 I......Page 782 L......Page 784 M......Page 786 P......Page 788 R......Page 792 S......Page 794 T......Page 800 U......Page 801 W......Page 802 Cover 1 Half Title 2 Title Page 4 Copyright Page 5 Contents 6 Preface 11 About the Authors 13 Acknowledgments 14 SAFe Community Contributors 14 Additional Acknowledgements 15 Introduction to the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) 18 Part 1: The SAFe Foundation 30 Lean-Agile Leaders 32 Core Values 38 Lean-Agile Mindset 44 SAFe Principles Overview 52 SAFe Implementation Roadmap Overview 56 SAFe Program Consultant 60 Part 2: The SAFe Implementation Roadmap 64 Reaching the Tipping Point 66 Train Lean-Agile Change Agents 70 Train Executives, Managers, and Leaders 74 Create a Lean-Agile Center of Excellence 80 Identify Value Streams and ARTs 86 Create the Implementation Plan 100 Prepare for ART Launch 106 Train Teams and Launch the ART 116 Coach ART Execution 122 Launch More ARTs and Value Streams 126 Extend to the Portfolio 136 Sustain and Improve 142 Part 3: The SAFe Principles 150 Principle #1: Take an economic view 152 Principle #2: Apply systems thinking 158 Principle #3: Assume variability; preserve options 162 Principle #4: Build incrementally with fast, integrated learning cycles 164 Principle #5: Base milestones on objective evaluation of working systems 168 Principle #6: Visualize and limit WIP, reduce batch sizes, and manage queue lengths 172 Principle #7: Apply cadence, synchronize with cross-domain planning 176 Principle #8: Unlock the intrinsic motivation of knowledge workers 180 Principle #9: Decentralize decision-making 184 Part 4: The Team Level 188 Team Level 190 Agile Teams 194 Dev Team 200 Product Owner 204 Scrum Master 210 Built-In Quality 214 ScrumXP 220 Story 226 Iterations 236 Iteration Planning 240 Iteration Goals 246 Iteration Execution 250 Iteration Review 258 Iteration Retrospective 262 Team Backlog 266 Team Kanban 270 Part 5: The Program Level 276 Introduction to the Program Level 278 Agile Release Train 282 Business Owners 292 Product and Solution Management 298 Release Train Engineer and Solution Train Engineer 304 System and Solution Architect/Engineering 308 Program and Solution Backlogs 314 Features and Capabilities 322 Enablers 328 Nonfunctional Requirements 334 Weighted Shortest Job First 342 Program Increment 346 Innovation and Planning Iteration 352 Develop on Cadence 358 Release on Demand 362 Architectural Runway 370 PI Planning 378 PI Objectives 388 System Demo 396 Inspect and Adapt 400 Program and Solution Kanban 408 DevOps 414 Continuous Delivery Pipeline 422 Continuous Exploration 430 Continuous Integration 436 Continuous Deployment 444 Part 6: The Spanning Palette 450 Metrics 452 Shared Services 474 Communities of Practice 478 Milestones 484 Roadmap 492 Vision 498 System Team 504 Lean UX 508 Part 7: The Large Solution Level 514 Introduction to the Large Solution Level 516 Solution Train 520 Customer 526 Supplier 530 Economic Framework 536 Pre- and Post-PI Planning 540 Solution Demo 548 Solution 552 Solution Context 556 Solution Intent 562 Compliance 570 Model-Based Systems Engineering 578 Set-Based Design 584 Part 8: The Portfolio Level 592 Introduction to the Portfolio Level 594 Enterprise 598 Value Streams 604 Strategic Themes 610 Lean Budgets 616 Epic 626 Epic Owners 632 Enterprise Architect 636 Lean Portfolio Management 640 Portfolio Backlog 648 Portfolio Kanban 652 Value Stream Coordination 656 Part 9: Advanced Topics 660 Agile Architecture 662 Agile Contracts 670 Agile HR with SAFe 678 CapEx and OpEx 690 Enterprise Backlog Structure and Management 700 Essential SAFe 708 Features and Components 712 Invitation-Based SAFe Implementation 718 Refactoring 726 SAFe Requirements Model 732 Six SAFe Practices for S-Sized Teams 734 Spikes 740 Test-First 744 The Role of PI Objectives 750 Part 10: Glossary 754 SAFe Glossary 756 Bibliography 766 Index 772 A 772 B 774 C 775 D 778 E 779 F 781 G 782 H 782 I 782 J 784 K 784 L 784 M 786 N 788 O 788 P 788 Q 792 R 792 S 794 T 800 U 801 V 802 W 802