The SAFe® Evolution: What's New in SAFe® 6.0?

On March 15th, 2023. Scaled ​​Agile Framework® (SAFe®) released its latest version, SAFe 6.0, which includes updates and refinements to help users get the most out of the framework. SAFe has helped organizations optimize their journey as they scale their agile practice across their organizations since 2011, and the latest version contains exciting updates that could impact how companies approach using SAFe. But before we unravel the key improvements in the new SAFe version, let's first take a glance at what SAFe 6.0 brings to the table.

Overview of SAFe 6.0

SAFe 6.0 has undergone significant changes, prioritizing value flow on all levels and establishing a stronger foundation for business agility. It includes OKRs to align and track progress, emphasizes agility across the entire business, clarifies roles and terminology, and integrates AI, Big Data, and Cloud concepts. These improvements demonstrate SAFe 6.0's commitment to providing a comprehensive and adaptable framework for achieving business agility.

Key Improvements from SAFe® 6.0 to  SAFe® 5.1

1. Strengthening Business Agility foundation

The foundation for business agility is essential for organizations to keep up with the ever-changing market and to stay competitive. The SAFe 5.0 framework established Business Agility as a core concept, and the latest changes to SAFe 6.0 have further strengthened this foundation. The updates include changes to the Business Agility Value Stream, SAFe Foundation, SAFe Implementation Roadmap, and revised responsibilities for SPCs. The Lean-Agile Mindset is now represented by the five principles of Lean Thinking and the Agile Manifesto, while the House of Lean has been retired. The SAFe Principles now align with the five principles of Lean Thinking and eight common properties of a flow-based system. SAFe 6.0 also emphasizes developing a Continuous Learning Culture that promotes relentless improvement and innovation. Additionally, SPCs are encouraged to provide coaching for practices and critical moves within the Implementation Roadmap, acting as change agents.

1. Empowering teams and clarifying responsibilities

SAFe roles and responsibilities are critical components of the framework, and many Agile professionals have established careers by building their expertise in these areas. SAFe 6.0 now clarifies many of these responsibilities, enabling Agile practitioners to perform their roles more effectively. Although there are changes to almost all the roles and concepts in alignment with the updated framework, some changes are particularly noteworthy. Scrum Masters, now also referred to as "Team Coaches," have an expanded role that includes optimizing flow, building high-performing teams, and supporting organizational agility. Furthermore, there were updates to the roles of System Architect, Solution Architect, Product Management, and Solution Management to reflect the critical collaborations required to promote efficient product development flow.

1. Accelerating value flow

SAFe Principle #6, which emphasizes the importance of flow, has been further developed in SAFe 6.0. The framework has outlined eight properties of flow and eight corresponding accelerators to make value flow faster. Here are the specific changes and updates:

• The framework now has new section headers on The Big Picture, including Team Flow, ART Flow, Solution Train Flow, and Portfolio Flow, to incorporate the properties of flow and apply flow accelerators.

• The use of a Kanban, now renamed SAFe Team Kanban, has been clarified. This will help individual teams to improve the flow of value through ART.

• SAFe 6.0 recognizes Value Stream Management as an important portfolio-level responsibility.

• The Agile Program Management Office has been renamed as the Value Management Office (VMO), which now focuses on understanding, measuring, and enhancing the flow of value.

1. Enhancing business agility

Agility should not be limited to IT workflows, but rather should guide workflows across the entire organization. SAFe 6.0 now offers an expanded knowledge base that provides insight into how to achieve this goal. For example, a new article titled "Business and Technology" outlines five patterns that can help support full-scale business agility. These patterns include business-enabled ARTs, launching business trains, creating an Agile executive team, applying SAFe to other business functions, and combining development and operational value streams within the same portfolio. In addition, a new "SAFe Beyond IT" home page curates articles written by experts who have successfully applied SAFe beyond IT.

1. Building the future with AI, Big Data and Cloud

SAFe 6.0 has a forward-looking perspective, acknowledging the significance of emerging technologies to enterprises' future success. This is reflected in the framework's conceptual updates. AI is now recognized as a valuable tool for improving operational and development value streams. Big Data has been identified as a crucial component of Portfolio Flow, with organizations prioritizing the aggregation, analysis, and application of data generated by ARTs and external sources. Additionally, shifting to the cloud has become a business necessity, fundamentally transforming how digitally enabled solutions are developed, deployed, and managed.

Overall, SAFe 6.0 provides a comprehensive framework for organizations looking to adopt a Lean-Agile approach to software development. By leveraging the principles of Lean and Agile, organizations can achieve greater efficiency, faster time-to-market, and improved customer satisfaction. With its focus on continuous improvement and customer-centricity, SAFe 6.0 can help organizations stay ahead of the competition in today's fast-paced business environment.