A Complete Guide to Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe)

Agile development is a transformative approach that has revolutionized the information technology (IT) industry. It has allowed enterprises to deliver high-quality software solutions that meet customer needs in a well-organized and efficient way.

As its name suggests, agile puts emphasis on adaptability, pace, and collaboration. As an agile framework that is commonly preferred by large-scale organizations, the scaled agile framework (SAFe) ensures faster delivery of value to end users. In this piece, we will dig deeper into the advantages of SAFe and how it can be reinforced by the implementation of low-code development tools.

What is an agile framework?

The term agile is the new buzzword in the software industry. The emphasis on pace and adaptability has made it an integral part of the product development processes. An agile framework is an iterative approach that provides a structured approach to project management while emphasizing adaptability and continuous development.

An agile framework breaks down the work into manageable iterations. This not only provides continuous planning but also enables feedback and adjustments based on new information. An agile development framework fosters collaboration within teams and empowers them to rapidly deliver value to stakeholders.

While specific practices may vary between different agile frameworks, they all share common ground by emphasizing core principles like flexibility, responsiveness, and continuous learning. Now let's take a more comprehensive look at the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) and how low code enhances its key advantages.

What is a scaled agile framework (SAFe)?

SAFe is a set of organizational and workflow patterns for large enterprises to implement agile practices across their large teams and complex project ecosystems. Combining agile software development, lean product development, and systems thinking, SAFe aims to improve collaboration, alignment, and faster delivery of value to customers.

What sets SAFe apart is that it's built for large-scale companies. While Scrum, Kanban, and XP are more implementable in team-level processes, SAFe tackles complex projects by coordinating teams across different levels, from small groups to entire product portfolios. Although the other approaches can be scaled using various strategies, they do not contain the structured and cross-team coordination mechanisms that SAFe does.

What are the four levels of scaled agile framework (SAFe)?

Portfolio Level

The portfolio level plays a critical role in setting the organization’s strategy and investment funding. It provides a framework for enterprises to determine their investment strategies, optimize resource distribution, and make sure that the enterprise prioritizes value delivery. It uses strategic decision-making, budgeting, and lean governance to ensure that investments in solutions deliver the expected return on investment (ROI) and align with the business strategy.

Program Level

Also known as the "Agile Release Train (ART)" level, the program level aims to align multiple agile teams working together towards the organization's strategic goals and common mission. The ART operates in program increments (PI), where teams plan, execute, and deliver features collectively. Key roles at this level include the Release Train Engineer (RTE) who acts as a chief Scrum Master for the train, and Product Managers who guide the feature priorities.

Team Level

The core principle of the team level of SAFe is to deliver incremental value through continuous improvement. At this level, teams work in iterative Sprints that typically last 2 weeks, utilizing common Agile practices like sprint planning, backlogs, and retrospectives. The team level aims to build a solid agile foundation with key roles like developers, testers, and product owners working collaboratively.

Value Stream Layer

The value stream layer is added in SAFe version 4.0. It outlines the process by which customers engage with the organization, the methods by which the agile team or teams generate and secure value for these customers, and all the necessary actions required to fulfill a customer's needs.

Gain more speed with low code in your Agile framework

Low-code development enhances the advantages of the agile methodology by accelerating development, incorporating the necessary collaboration tools and services to support teams, and providing space for flexibility and integration to development teams. It sounds like a match made in heaven, doesn’t it?

Low-code development platforms are powerful tools to enhance the adoption and effectiveness of agile frameworks. Here are four main reasons why it can be a great fit for agile teams:

• While agile emphasizes short, iterative cycles of development (sprints) and continuous improvement, low-code platforms like Kuika accelerate application development via their visual modeling tools and drag-and-drop interfaces.

• Agile emphasizes collaboration among cross-functional teams, including both developers and business stakeholders. This aligns perfectly with low-code's reduced reliance on complex coding, which allows stakeholders such as business analysts and domain experts to actively participate in the development process.
• Agile frameworks focus on flexibility and responsiveness to change, which is enhanced by low code's capability to adjust applications rapidly. This allows for quick modifications and adaptations of applications and ensures that the final product is aligned with user needs and market demands.
• The agile methodology prioritizes continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) to make sure that changes are tested and released frequently. Low-code platforms enhance this process by simplifying and automating these operations and reducing potential errors and downtime.
• Scalability is a top priority in agile methodology. While maintaining multiple iterations and versions can become complex as projects scale, low-code platforms offer scalable solutions that can grow with the business needs.

Go agile with Kuika’s low-code platform

If you run a large organization and want to level up your agile journey, Kuika’s low-code platform is only one click away from you. Choose Kuika for a quick and agile application development process. Whether you are creating cutting-edge mobile applications or building complex web-based solutions, Kuika's is here to help you achieve your development objectives with ease.

Explore the benefits of Kuika’s low-code platform and join now. If you have no coding experience, you can also opt for our turnkey project service, in which our team of experts guide and support you throughout your software development journey, so you can focus on actualizing your potential.