SAFe vs LeSS vs DaD: Comparing the Three Frameworks to Scale Agile

Software development methodologies have come a long way. From Spiral to Waterfall to Agile, there is a significant shift in team roles, ceremonies, planning, and delivery activities. And if we talk about the pace at which software applications are brought to market these days, Agile seems to have made an impact and is considered the most relevant approach to manage the SDLC cycle. 

Further, Agile frameworks like Scrum, Kanban enable specific teams to plan, manage, and deliver software on time. At a team level, these Agile frameworks have a history of success. But when it comes to adopting them for multiple teams at an enterprise level, these approaches need to scale up. This is where Agile scaling frameworks (LeSS, SAFe, DaD) come into the picture.

Amongst these three scaling frameworks, SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework) is the one that can extend to the best possible level, while strictly maintaining the Agile principles. The later segment discusses all three frameworks in detail and compares them to understand the basic differences between SAFe vs LeSS vs DaD.

Scaling Agile Frameworks: What are they and How do they Work? 

Let’s start by understanding the purpose of scaling an Agile Framework.

Consider this. Your team (say 2 scrum teams with 7 members each) is developing a software product. Developers, product owners, and scrum masters collaborate through daily scrum (stand-up) to ensure on-time delivery of the project. It’s a simple case of small-scale product development using Scrum methodology. Here, the teams work at a single geo-location, can manage dependencies by collaborating, and ensure a seamless integration.

Now, think of a large-scale product, wherein 10 scrum teams of 6-9 members each are working (2 of them from a different geographical area). Every team has developers, a product owner, a scrum master, and other engineers working to deliver high-quality releases. Each team, in this case, will be following the scrum methodology to plan, manage, and deliver part of the solution. But, there will be a challenge when they have to collaborate to discuss blockers, delays, early completion, integrations, dependencies, and more.

In this case, the Agile teams look beyond day planning, iterations, and release. They also involve product and portfolio planning, which somehow makes management of the SDLC cycle complex. The Agile model, in such a case, will look something like this: 

Large-Scale Solutions: Example

To deal with such scenarios, Scrum of Scrums is considered as a solution by many. Scrum of Scrums is a multi-team standup wherein scrum masters and product owners meet to keep the rest of the team abreast about important issues across the portfolio. It’s not a status meeting nor is it a meeting for iteration planning or discussing Agile processes.

However, this Scrum of Scrums meeting does not define ideal practices to make teams collaborate and deliver a quality release. This is when frameworks to scale Agile are needed (LeSS, DaD, SaFe). 

Scaling Agile at Organizational Level: SAFe vs LeSS vs DaD

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Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe)

SAFe is one of the leading frameworks for scaling Agile at the enterprise-level. It follows lean-Agile principles to help businesses continuously and efficiently deliver value on a regular and estimated schedule. 

SAFe provides guidance at all levels of software development: Team, Program, LargeScale Solution (Value Stream), and Portfolio, so as to align enterprise-level strategies with the team working on a solution. Here is how it manages development agility at the enterprise level. 

Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) Levels

In a general Agile framework, there is a Scrum and Kanban team that comprises a development team, scrum master, and product owner. Such a framework works when there are 2-3 teams with 5-9 team members.

When the number of teams extends (say there are 10 teams), a single product owner and a scrum master for a team are not sufficient enough to manage requirements and facilitate the teams. To handle multiple teams at a larger scale, there is a program layer in the SAFe framework. The program layer has roles like Product Manager who provides guidelines to all the product owners working for individual teams. Then, there are Release Train Engineers who act like chief impediment officers for all the teams. A System Architect defines, communicates, and shares an architectural and technical vision for the Agile Release Train (ART).

Agile Release Team (ART) is a name given to multiple development teams at the program level. These teams deliver their work incrementally in 8-12 weeks long sprints. This time box during an Agile Release Train is called Program Increment (PI).    

At a large stream level, there is a value stream engineer to manage Agile Release Trains (ARTs), a Solution Manager to define vision and roadmap for the solution, and a Solution Architect for the technical and architectural vision of the solution under development.

Moving up, at the portfolio level there are epic owners and enterprise architects who define the base for a portfolio of solutions. For this, a Portfolio Kanban is used that defines an MVP of the solution, a lean business case, and starts implementation on approval. An enterprise architect works across value streams and programs to help provide the strategic technical direction that can optimize portfolio outcomes. The enterprise architect often may act as an epic owner for enabler epics.

SAFe is a prescriptive framework. It organizes and structures how software development activities should be performed and in what order. The SAFe framework can be adopted for large scale projects that have at least 50-125 team members in it. 

Large Scale Scrum (LeSS)

LeSS is a scaled version of a one-team Scrum, which focuses on directing the attention of all the teams towards the product. It maintains basic practices of Scrum but has some basic differences from regular Scrum meetings: 

• There is a product backlog, but for the product and not for the team 
• There is only one Definition of Done for all the teams 
• All teams are in a common sprint to deliver a common shippable product

Each sprint starts with Sprint Planning1 wherein team members along with the product owner divides their product backlog items. This is followed by Sprint Planning2 wherein the team discusses their strategies for feature development. Each self-managing team develops the features that they selected and coordinates with other teams for integrating their potentially shippable product increment altogether.

In LeSS, coordination amongst the teams is the responsibility of the teams itself and there are no assigned coordinators for it (like we have in the case of SAFe). These teams coordinate through scrum meetings which include product owners, scrum masters, and rotating representatives from each team.

Once there is an increment by teams, a shared session amongst the teams happens where teams and customers explore what is done and discuss the next increment to develop. This session is called the Sprint Review. After this, each team retrospects its product increment, followed by an overall retrospection session where teams, scrum masters, product owners, and managers determine any impediments that affect the delivery of the product.

Depending upon how large the team is, there are two LeSS frameworks available for adoption: 

1. LeSS: Up to eight teams (of eight members each)
2. LeSS Huge: Up to a few thousand members on one product

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Disciplined Agile Delivery (DaD)

Scrum defines the most efficient strategies for leading Agile teams. However, it is only a part of what’s needed to build a complete, scalable solution. The Disciplined Agile Delivery (DaD) framework works around the gaps that Scrum has in Agile solution delivery.

DaD is a hybrid approach to software development that extends the strategies from various Agile frameworks- Kanban, LeSS, Lean development, Extreme Programming, Agile Modeling, etc. 

Unlike Scrum, which is a prescriptive approach to software development, DaD is a goal-driven approach. DaD provides contextual advice regarding viable alternatives and trade-offs that address the different situations and problems one may find himself in. By describing what works, what doesn’t, and why, Disciplined Agile Delivery increases the possibility of adopting strategies that will work to deal with a situation.

There are 10 roles that a DaD project has. While five of them are primary, five are secondary. The primary roles will occur, regardless of the scale that a project has; while the secondary roles are added to the primary roles as the demand or scalability expands.

Disciplined Agile Delivery Roles 

The reason why the number of members in a Scrum and DaD varies is the difference in scope that both the frameworks handle. Scrum has its focus on leadership and change management while DaD focuses on the entire delivery lifecycle. Thus, with a larger scope, there are more roles in DaD.

Pros of SAFe Framework

1. Structured Scaling: SAFe provides a highly structured approach to scaling Agile, offering detailed roles, ceremonies, and artifacts that help coordinate work across multiple teams. This structured approach ensures alignment and consistency in large organizations.
2. Flexibility and Scalability: One of SAFe’s standout features is its adaptability and scalability. Whether you’re a small team or a large enterprise, SAFe provides tailored configurations like Essential SAFe, Large Solution SAFe, and Portfolio SAFe, allowing you to scale Agile according to your specific needs.
3. Improved Collaboration: SAFe emphasizes collaboration through features like Program Increment (PI) Planning, which brings together teams, stakeholders, and product owners for synchronized planning. This collaborative effort ensures that everyone is on the same page and working towards common goals.
4. Focus on Quality: SAFe promotes a focus on quality through practices like Built-In Quality, encouraging teams to prioritize quality in every aspect of development. This results in higher-quality products and customer satisfaction.
5. Enterprise-Level Visibility: SAFe provides tools and practices for real-time, enterprise-level visibility, allowing stakeholders to track progress, identify bottlenecks, and make data-driven decisions. This transparency is crucial for effective Agile scaling in large organizations.

Pros of LeSS Framework

1. Minimalistic Approach: LeSS adopts a minimalistic approach, adhering closely to the core principles of Scrum. It avoids unnecessary complexity, making it easier for teams to understand and implement Agile practices effectively.
2. Single Product Backlog: LeSS consolidates multiple teams into a single product backlog, ensuring a unified view of work. This simplicity enhances collaboration, maintains focus, and allows for effective prioritization of features based on customer value.
3. Deep Collaboration: LeSS emphasizes deep collaboration within and between teams. This collaboration ensures that teams have a shared understanding of the product and customer needs, leading to better decision-making and higher-quality outcomes.
4. Adaptive Organizational Design: LeSS promotes an adaptive organizational design, encouraging companies to rethink their structures and processes. This adaptability enables organizations to respond quickly to market changes and customer demands.
5. Continuous Improvement: LeSS encourages a culture of continuous improvement through regular retrospectives and feedback loops. Teams are empowered to identify challenges, experiment with solutions, and evolve their processes for enhanced productivity and customer satisfaction.

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Pros of DaD Framework

1. Context-Driven Agility: DaD takes a context-driven approach, allowing organizations to tailor Agile practices based on their unique context, industry, and culture. This flexibility ensures that Agile methodologies are customized for maximum effectiveness.
2. Full Lifecycle Focus: DaD addresses the entire delivery lifecycle, including solution delivery, solution architecture, and portfolio management. This comprehensive focus ensures that all aspects of the project align with business objectives and deliver value to stakeholders.
3. Hybrid Methodologies: DaD supports hybrid methodologies, allowing teams to integrate Agile practices with other approaches like Lean, Six Sigma, or traditional project management. This adaptability enables organizations to leverage their existing practices while transitioning to Agile.
4. Enterprise Alignment: DaD keeps the focus on business outcomes. It aligns Agile initiatives directly with business goals, ensuring that every effort contributes meaningfully to the organization’s success.
5. Pragmatic Decision-Making: DaD promotes practicality in decision-making., encouraging teams to choose the right tools and techniques for the job at hand. This ensures that teams focus on delivering value rather than adhering rigidly to a specific set of practices, leading to more efficient and effective outcomes.

SAFe vs LeSS vs DaD: Which one to Choose?

When to Choose SAFe:

Best for: Large enterprises with complex projects and multiple teams.

Scenario 1: Enterprise-Scale Projects: When your organization is working on projects that involve multiple teams, SAFe provides a structured framework for coordination and alignment.

Scenario 2: Need for Governance: When there’s a need for strict governance, compliance, or regulatory requirements, SAFe’s structured approach can ensure compliance while maintaining agility.

Example: Siemens Healthineers, a global leader in medical technology, adopted SAFe to streamline their product development process, which includes complex medical devices and software  components. The implementation of SAFe allowed them to respond more effectively to market demands, ensuring their medical devices meet regulatory requirements and customer expectations.

When to Choose LeSS:

Best for: For small to medium-sized organizations that have a strong foundation in Agile practices and prefer simplicity & a more decentralized approach.

Scenario 1:  Product-centric: LeSS works well when an organization’s focus is on a single product or a few related products, ensuring teams are aligned on delivering maximum value to the customers.

Scenario 2: Cross-Functional Collaboration: When the project requires intensive collaboration among multiple teams and stakeholders, LeSS fosters a collaborative environment.

Example: Spotify, the music streaming service, adopted LeSS to maintain its agility despite rapid growth. They needed a framework that allowed their teams to collaborate seamlessly and innovate quickly.

When to Choose DaD:

Best for: Organizations looking for flexibility and tailoring of agile practices.

Scenario 1: Varied Project Types: When your organization deals with a variety of project types, including agile, lean, and traditional projects, DaD’s flexible approach allows tailoring practices for different contexts.

Scenario 2: Need for Customization: When your organization requires a framework that can be customized and adapted extensively to meet specific project and organizational needs.

Example: TD Bank, one of the largest banks in North America, adopted the Disciplined Agile approach to enhance their project management and delivery processes across various business units. This implementation resulted in faster project delivery, increased operational efficiency, and a more adaptive approach to handling diverse projects in the highly regulated banking sector.

The three Agile scaling frameworks- SAFe, LeSS, and DaD can be chosen according to a number of factors: team size, the rigidity of rules or structure followed for development, product scalability, solution complexity, time-to-market, and more. 

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