Upgrading to SAFe 6.0: What's New and Improved Compared to SAFe 5.1

“SAFe helps organizations achieve alignment, collaboration, and synchronization across multiple teams, enabling them to deliver value faster and more predictably.”

SAFe provides a structured approach to achieving enterprise-wide transformation. It continuously develops to keep up with the new trends and technologies in supporting business agility. Usually, it comes up with updated articles and new features that help businesses revolutionize their way of working in producing value for the customers. And as a SAFe practitioner, you need to have a clear understanding of the regular updates to lead a proper SAFe implementation at your organization.

So, here we are with this article to help you understand the new updates and features that make SAFe 6.0 even better compared to the previous version SAFe 5.1

Comparing SAFe 6.0 with SAFe 5.1

The new SAFe 6.0 comes with a new tagline “Work Differently. Build the future” which represents the idea of the entire organization working with the same Lean-Agile mindset and practices. SAFe 6.0 Agile framework includes the following features and some important changes include:

1.  BAVS and SAFe Foundation

The important aspects of business agility include two elements as Business Agility Value Stream (BAVS) and SAFe Foundation. These are a sequence of steps that an organization implements from the point they identify the value stream to the point where a meaningful solution has been delivered. As a result, when the SAFe framework is used to build a complex project, it should be able to produce a minimum viable product in the given time frame.

Here when compared to the previous model SAFe 5.1, along with a Lean-agile mindset, core values, SAFe principles, implementation roadmap, and SPC, SAFe 6.0 comes with a new feature called Continuous learning culture to the SAFe Foundation.

2.  SAFe Lean-Agile Mindset

The SAFe Lean-Agile Mindset from the previous version has been retired in the new model of SAFe 6.0. The four pillars of this feature have been embodied and amplified throughout the framework. The components such as respect for people and culture, flow, innovation, and relentless improvement have been moved to core values, principles, and other sections of the framework. And the new SAFe mindset in SAFe 6.0 consists of two schools of thought, Lean thinking, and Agile Values.

3.  SAFe Core Values

The SAFe 5.1 had core values such as Built-in Quality, Alignment, Transparency, and Program Execution. And now in SAFe 6.0 the Built-in Quality and Program Execution has been replaced with Respect for People and Relentless improvement.

4.  SAFe Principles

One fundamental change that has been made in SAFe Principles is principle #6. This principle has been replaced from Visualize and Limit WIP to Make Value Flow.

5.  Implementation Roadmap

The SAFe implementation roadmap has also undergone 8 changes:

1.      Waterfall/Ad Hoc Agile

2.      SAFe executive workshop toolkit

3.      Lean-agile center of excellence

4.      Leading in the digital age

5.      Organize around value

6.      SAFe value streams and ART identification workshop toolkit

7.      Enhance the portfolio

8.      Accelerate

6.      SAFe Program Consultant

SAFe Program Consultants are now called SAFe Practice Consultants as their role has been improved to higher levels. Their role has been enhanced from only being concerned about the implementation process to a wider part. SAFe Practice Consultants are now also responsible for coaching flow, accelerating business agility, embodying a lean-agile mindset, and leading the change.

7.      Role Clarification

Role clarification articles have also changed. More clarity is been given to roles such as:

1.      Epic owners

2.      Enterprise Architects

3.      Solution Train Engineer

4.      Business owners

5.      Product Management

6.      Release Train Engineers

7.      System Architects

8.      Product Owners

9.      Agile Teams

8.  Team Coach as a new role for Scrum Master

The role of the Team Coach is to build high-performing teams, improve ART performance, facilitate PI Planning, support iteration execution, and improve flow.

9.  AI, Big Data, and Cloud

The next big change that has been added to the spanning palette is the technology such as AI, Big Data and Cloud that helps revolutionize solutions developed by SAFe organizations.

Title Description

1.      What are the eight common properties of flow in SAFe 6.0 agile framework?

The SAFe 6.0 agile framework introduces eight properties of flow such as visualizing and limiting WIP, identifying bottlenecks, minimizing hand-offs and dependencies, getting faster feedback, working in smaller batches, reducing queue length, workers, and remediating legacy policies and practices.

 

 What are the five business and technology patterns introduced in SAFe 6.0?

The significant Business and Technology article highlights of SAFe 6.0 includes Business enabled ART, Agile Business Train, Agile Executive Team, Agile Business Function, and Combined Portfolio.

 

What is the use of OKRs in the SAFe 6.0 framework?

The OKRs in SAFe 6.0 Framework serve as an effective tool to help businesses drive better results for their customers. Although it is considered optional, OKRs help organizations build solutions better and set improvement goals for the SAFe transformation.

 

About Advance Agility

We, at Advance Agility, are the new-age Agile Coaching, Consulting, and IT services company. We enable end-to-end Digital Transformation. Agile execution is integral to our being. We are doing SAFe implementation with small, medium, and large organizations across the globe.

Our vision is to be the leading Agile execution player globally. To keep adding value at every process stage. We are on a mission to empower our clients and move from concept to cash in the shortest sustainable lead time by adopting the human-centric approach to business agility. Embracing change is in our DNA.

Things that keep us apart are Quicker and Seamless execution with End to end gamut of services. Our Global presence and Stellar Track Record give us an edge over our competitors.

Connect with us at advanceagility.com to learn about SAFe and SAFe implementation. Write to us at contact@advanceagility.com for any agile training or consulting needs. We are always looking for competent agile trainers as well. So if you are the one or want to become one, do get in touch with us to that we can learn, grow and achieve together.