Scrum vs. SAFe

This is a questions I get asked frequently in my training sessions. What are some differences between Scrum and SAFe and how can we choose?

Here, I highlight a few key ideas that make these two agile frameworks similar and different.

Let's first talk about Scrum:

Scrum is an agile framework primarily focused on managing individual teams and their work.

• Teams: Cross functional group of about 10 people who define, build, deliver value
• Roles: Scrum Master, Product Owner, and Development Team
• Cadence: Work is organized into time-boxed iterations called Sprints, typically 2 weeks long

Next, let's talk about Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe):

SAFe is an agile framework designed for scaling agile practices to large enterprises, focusing on coordination and alignment across multiple teams, to accommodate complex organizational needs.

• Teams: Multiple Cross functional, long lived agile teams on Agile Release Trains (ARTs), multiple ARTs on Solution Trains
• Roles: Roles at each team level – Coach, Customer Representative, Tech Leads
• Cadence: SAFe uses a hierarchy of iterations, including Planning Intervals (PIs) and Sprints, to align work at various levels

Both Frameworks:

• Aim to improve agility, collaboration, and the ability to respond to changing customer needs
• Promote transparency and continuous improvement

Key Differences:

• Scrum is ideal for smaller teams working on individual smaller products, while SAFe is tailored for enterprises dealing with multiple products and complex interdependencies
• SAFe adds additional roles and ceremonies to handle the complexities of large-scale development; Scrum framework can still be applied at the team level within a SAFe enterprise
• SAFe offers more comprehensive guidance for scaling, budgeting and governance at the organization level

How to choose?

• Scrum for small to medium-sized teams or products with less complexity.
• SAFe when you need to coordinate multiple teams, manage large-scale products, or work in a regulated industry.

?

The choice between Scrum and SAFe would depend on your specific organizational needs and the scale of your solutions.