Scrum vs. SAFe - the most important differences
Contents
Agile methods are indispensable tools for maximizing efficiency and adaptability in software development. They are based on flexibility, continuous learning and adaptation to change. This allows teams to react more quickly to market changes and improve products iteratively.
According to the "Agile Pulse Study" by BearingPoint , more than half of the organizations surveyed use agile practices to optimize their product development. These methods are particularly important in the IT industry, as they promote the rapid delivery of high-quality software and increase customer satisfaction. The study also shows that not only digital products, but also more and more physical products or services are being developed in an agile way.
Here we look at two of the best-known frameworks and practices and explain their differences and areas of application.
Scrum vs. SAFe
Scrum is an agile framework that is primarily used for the development of software products. It is based on iterative and incremental processes in which a team works in regular, short cycles (sprints) to deliver results piece by piece.
SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework), on the other hand, is a framework that scales the agile principles of Scrum to larger, often company-wide projects. SAFe integrates agile development with lean management principles and aims to improve alignment, collaboration and delivery in large and complex projects. It provides structures and roles that go beyond those of a single Scrum team, allowing multiple teams to align on common goals.
Scrum in IT projects
Scrum is often used in small to medium-sized projects where a team of around 3 to 9 people is involved. Here are the basic steps:
1. define roles: The main roles include the Product Owner, the Scrum Master and the development team.
2. create a backlog: The product owner is responsible for creating the product backlog, a prioritized list of tasks and requirements for the product.
3. planning sprints: The sprint is a period of time (usually 2-4 weeks) in which specific tasks from the backlog are processed. The planning includes the selection of tasks from the backlog that are to be completed in the upcoming sprint.
4. conduct daily scrums: Short daily meetings (approx. 15 minutes) to discuss progress and identify obstacles.
5. sprint review and retrospective: At the end of each sprint, the team presents the results and discusses what went well and what could be improved.
SAFe in IT projects
SAFe is used in larger organizations or for very large projects where several agile teams need to be coordinated. It extends the principles of Scrum by adding additional levels and processes:
1st portfolio level: Strategic topics and investment decisions are managed at this level. Epics that represent major business projects are defined and prioritized here.
2nd program level: At this level, the epics are broken down into smaller parts and coordinated via the Agile Release Trains (ARTs). ARTs are long-term teams of teams that deliver regularly (usually every 10-12 weeks) in defined program increments (PIs).
3. team level: Scrum or another agile method such as Kanban is used here to carry out the actual work. Each team works in its own sprints, similar to pure Scrum projects.
4 PI Planning: This is a key event at SAFe where all members of the ART come together for two days to plan the work of the next program increment.
[DEFINITION][The interaction of Scrum and SAFe][Both Scrum and SAFe aim to promote rapid feedback, continuous improvement, regular delivery of valuable software components and close collaboration between all stakeholders. IT projects benefit from these methods through improved flexibility, better adaptation to changing requirements and increased transparency in the development process]].
Mastering agile methods with skill it
The Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) is the answer to complex challenges that arise when several agile teams in larger organizations need to be efficiently coordinated. In our SAFe training courses, you will not only learn the basics of this comprehensive framework, but also how to implement it successfully in your organization - whether as a Scrum Master or product owner.
[PRODUCT][1]
[PRODUCT][2]
