What Is The Role Of A Scaled Agilist?

Scaled Agile Framework, also known as SAFe, may be described as a set of workflow patterns for implementing Agile practices at an enterprise level. SAFe is regarded as a comprehensive framework that addresses different levels of organizations. SAFe may be described as a toolbox used to address organizational needs.  SAFe empowers complex organizations to achieve the benefits of Lean-Agile software and system development. Scaled Agilists are also known as SAFe Agilists.

Introduction to SAFe Agilist

A SAFe Agilist knows how to implement the SAFe, Lean, and Product Development flow principles. The main motive of a SAFe Agilist is to enhance employee satisfaction and productivity. SAFe Agilists know how to achieve their goals and to reap benefits from them. SAFe Agilists are trained to introduce and implement SAFe in an organization. Simply put, a SAFe Agilist may be described who understands, applies, and propagates the Agile principles to solve problems. Knowledge is not everything for SAFe Agilists. Practical, hands-on experience is way more important than theoretical knowledge or a certificate.

The SAFe Agilists validate their knowledge in applying the Scaled Agile framework, the product development flow principles, and Lean principles in an enterprise context. The SAFe Agilists need to master a variety of skills.

• Apply Lean-Agile principles
• Plan and execute Program increments
• Execute and release value through Agile Release Trains
• Building an Agile portfolio through Lean-Agile budgeting
• Familiarity with the Scrum framework

Now, let us find out the roles and responsibilities of a Scaled Agilist.

Top 10 Roles Of A Scaled Agilist

The SAFe Agilists know how to change the Agile portfolio management into an efficient organization. Their presence delivers the continued flow of value to the stakeholders and customers within the shortest sustainable time to market. The Scaled Agilists are aware of what is necessary for the Agile Development process.  They need to plan strategically, as a lead. Their planning paves the way, for the Development team and other members of the organization to follow.

A few important roles and responsibilities of a Scaled Agilist are as follows-

1.Planning And Execution Of Program Increment

• The SAFe Agilists create the planning and execution to program increments within the organization. For that, they adopt the fundamental principles of Scrum methodology. Moreover, they need to guide their team members to achieve better results.
• The SAFe Agilists need to implement the basics of the Scaled Agile Framework at an early stage of the product development process. They use SAFe principles and techniques to develop the culture of the work process, on the basis of the Lean-Agile method. Their aim is to promote various operations within the organization.
• The SAFe Agilists also help the knowledge workers understand the importance of being Agile, to increase employee engagement. They plan, inspect and adapt the entire workflow that is involved in the planning and execution of program increment. Their motive is to ensure there is consistency within the workflow.

2. Implementing The Lean-Agile Framework

The Scaled Agile Framework is rooted in ten basic Lean-Agile principles. The principles are as follows-

• Taking An Economic View
• Applying System Thinking
• Assuming variability and preserving options
• Building incrementally with fast and integrated learning cycles
• Basing the milestones on the objective evaluation of working systems
• Visualizing and limiting WIP, reducing the size of batches, and managing the height of queues
• Applying cadence and synchronizing with cross-domain planning
• Decentralizing decision-making
• Unlocking the intrinsic motivation of knowledge workers
• Organizing around value

The SAFe Agilists get the best possible help to build up the Agile Portfolio Management with Lean-Agile budgeting while working under the Lean-Agile principles. The Safe

Agilists govern the primary task ofnimplementing the Lean-Agile principles and values in the workflow process. ThenSAFe Agilists enhance the prioritization, identification, and management of thendeveloped products, with the help of Agile Portfolio Management.

 Safe Agilists find Agile Portfolio Management to be highly helpful while optimizing the developmental process.

3. Motivate The Employees

The Scaled Agilists motivate the employees in such a way that they feel obliged to meet the perceptions and goals of the company. Their motivation also helps to boost the capability.

 The Scaled Agilists need to understand that quality may diminish as the size of the team increases. Agile enterprises seem to have a collection of smaller teams than one big team. For example- Agile enterprises would prefect to have two teams of five people each rather than a team of 10

4. Respond To The Need For Innovation

The Scaled Agilists help to define thenperceptions and goals of the organization. Only then will the stakeholders ofnthe organizations be successfully able to communicate the strategic agreements.nSo, the Scaled Agilists respond to the need for innovation of the teams andnstakeholders.

5.Provide Effective Coaching

Certified SAFe Agilists have an in-depth idea of the Scaled Agile Framework. The SAFe Scrum Product Owner may provide several teams in an Agile Release Train. They may display expertise while meeting the demands of stakeholders and customers. The SAFe Scrum masters may facilitate and coach one or more Agile teams in a SAFe organization.

6.Developing A Collaborative, Supportive, And Cross-Dimensional Approach

A collaborative approach is a key to growth and development in any organization. The culture of collaboration provides both physical and mental support to be happy and successful. A SAFe Agilist is qualified to be a team leader, who helps the team members have a shared approach to make the customers feel valued. They also aim to make the team members go forth with a vision.

The SAFe Agilists can be dedicated to the Agile Team, which supports the common goals. They can also be better team players than their non-certified counterparts. Only a collaborative, supportive, and cross-dimensional approach can help the SAFe Agilists make any project successful.

7. Planning And Executing Through Agile Release Trains

 ThenAgile Release Trains combine teams for a common technical or business-relatedngoal. They are thoroughly systematized for the significant value streams of annorganization.

The sole purpose behind the existence of an Agile Release Train is to keep the promise of that value which provides end-solutions and benefits to the user. Agile Release Trains work cross-functionally. They have the capabilities to deliver a constant flow of value.

The SAFe Agilists ensure that proper planning and execution are done through Agile Release Trains. Also, they make sure that the workflow process is thoroughly organized, as a part of ART.

The SAFe Agilists promote the principles of ART, such as embracing the Agile mindset, face-to-face planning, and fixing schedules. Every Agile Release Train consists of 50-125 people who commit, plan, develop and implement together. They also ensure fast feedback and a fixed time box for building.

8.Efficient And Optimized Flow Of KanBan Solutions

A Japanese industrialist had developed thenprocess of Kanban as early as the 1940s. Kabban may be described as annoptimized, simple, yet efficient planning system. It aims to control and managenthe flow of work at every stage of development. Kanban acts like an inventorynmethod, at every stage.

KanBan Solutions has proved useful. It has ansignificant contribution to the evolution of the modern workflow system. Thenprinciples and values of KanBan have been utilized by the IT sector for quite anlong time.

The SAFe Aglists is responsible for the efficient, constant, and optimized flow of KanBan solutions. They are far-sighted enough to visualize the workflow process at an early stage. As a result, traffic and other blockage is eliminated. The KanBan solution is responsible for making the workflow process cost-efficient and optimized.

9. Typically Blend Agile Methodology

SAFe is primarily a flow-based system. The teams of SAFe Agilists use chosen Agile practices, based on Kanban, Scrum, and Extreme programming to improve performance. The Agile Teams apply Design thinking to ensure they are solving the right problem.

Also, they apply built-in quality practices to drive the creation of disciplined content. The Agile teams collaborate to build an increasingly valuable increment of working solutions. Several Agile teams implement WIP (Work In Progress) limits.

They also use Cumulative Flow Diagrams to identify the key opportunities for increasing throughput. A few teams, on the other hand, choose KanBan as their primary practice. The reason is that the planning elements of Scrum are not equally efficient to handle the activity and demand-based workloads, where priorities change often.

The SAFe Agilists ensure that the Agile teams learn, plan and demonstrate together. A common framework empowers guides and governs the Agile train. Continuous integration embeds quality and ensures efficient operation in the process. It helps to keep things Lean.

 10.Divide The Role Accordingly

 The SAFe Agilists have two divisions within the AGile teams. They are Product Owners and Scrum Master. SAFe Agilists claim that they divide the roles according to the potential for the improvement of the organization. The responsibility of the Scrum Master is as follows-

• Coaching the Agile Team in self-management
• Helping the team concentrate on creating increments on value
• Facilitating the removal ofnhindrances to the progress of the team
• Ensuring that all the team eventsntake place within the time limit and are productive

Goals Of SAFe Agilist

The goals of a SAFe Agilist are as follows-

• Create high-performing teams, by anpurpose and a mission
• Applying the Lean and Agilenprinciples of SAFe to the roles and practices of SAFe
• Interpreting the fundamentalnconstructs of SAFe
• Applying the values and principlesnof a Lean-Agile mindset
• Supporting PI planning and thenevents associated with the successful program execution
• Using transformational leadershipnto drive change and encourage innovation
• Driving continuous value deliverynthrough the continuous delivery pipeline
• Establishing execution and thenalignment with strategic themes and Lean portfolio management
• Coordinating several Agile ReleasenTrains and suppliers with a solution train

Responsibilities of SAFe Agilist

Certified SAFe Agilists are introduced to the SAFe Framework. They need to understand which role is suitable for them. They may take the training accordingly. So, let us find out a few roles that are suitable for the SAFe Agilists. They are as follows-

• They learn how to establish a team and technical Agility
• Organize and reorganize around the Flow of Value
• Master the skills necessary to support and execute PI Planning events
• Coordinate several Agile Release Train (also known as ART)
• Explore the importance of adopting a customer-centric mentality to Agile Product Delivery
• Explore the importance of a design-thinking approach to Agile Product Delivery
• Apply the principles of Agile to the roles and principles of SAFe
• Apply the principles and values of a Lean-Agile mindset
• Lead the transformation with the help of SAFe implementation Roadmap
• Support PI Planning
• Support the events associated with successful program execution

The Scaled Agile Framework is a powerful weapon for leaders across the world. Most of the entrepreneurs who want their business to thrive in the disruptive markets SAFe Agilists undergo a two-day training to understand how Lean-Agile enterprise can be adopted for the implementation of SAFe.

The Scaled Agilist program sharpens the understanding. The incremental values that are implemented by SAFe Aglisits include time box planning in the form of tested software. Such software needs to be fully functional.

People who clear the Leading SAFe exam successfully, receive a SAFE 5.1 Scaled Agilist certificate. They are also rewarded with a digital badge to share and promote their accomplishments online. They also get a certified membership as a SAFe Agilist for a year/ As a result, they are granted access to the SA Community of practice. The SAFe Agilists may apply mindset to their leadership role. The Lead certification training program enables professionals to lead their enterprises during the Lean-Agile transformation. The SAFe Agilist certification training teaches people to apply SAFe effectively to build to support Agile teams to the organization.

Conclusion

Project managers, program managers, process leads, product line management, and portfolio managers benefit from the SAFe Agilist certification. The SAFE 5 Agilist exam consists of forty-five multiple-choice questions. The passing score is 76%.  

The Safe Agilists understand the interaction between Agile portfolio management, Agile teams, and Agile programs. The principles underlying the Scaled Agile Framework provide the Lean-Agile leaders with an understanding of their responsibilities.