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SAFe vs Nexus

Last post 10:51 pm March 10, 2020 by Mark Adams
6 replies
02:44 pm March 17, 2017

I am confused to what exam to attempt, whether SAFe ( Scaled Agile Framework) or SPS from scrum.org, I have many colleagues who use SAFe  in their organisations. Anyone have better idea which scaled framework is better in terms of acquiring knowledge and certification.

 

 


01:49 am March 24, 2017

SAFe is not agile, it is just a marketing product for big companies.


01:19 am June 16, 2018

I agree with Jose.  I am doing the Nexus cert next  because SAFE can get really quickly. It's difficult to understand and master. If you have a good grasp on the AGILE\Scrum Principles then I would go with NEXUS.


04:47 pm June 16, 2018

When I started scaling with Scrum I worked with a coach who wasn't certified in any specific framework, but he knew a lot of scaling patterns which really helped me get the concepts under my belt.  If you don't have access to a coach or a Scrum Master who has done it before and can offer guidance, I would start with the Nexus guide.  It is much more straight forward to learn, and there is a free guide here on this site under resources.  I am not totally anti SAFe, there are a few good patterns there that have been useful (e.g. WSJF), but overall it is not simple, highly prescriptive, and requires a lot of training across the organization.  Many won't have the appetite for that expense or training costs. 

There is also a nice book on Nexus written by folks from Scrum.org: https://www.amazon.com/Nexus-Framework-Scaling-Scrum-Continuously/dp/0134682661/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1529166748&sr=8-1&keywords=nexus+scrum 

You may also want to consider getting your Scrum house in order before scaling:

  • Solid Engineering practices such as XP, and CI/CD tools (multiple Scrum Teams integrating code will be a challenge without it).  My first scaling effort had a lot of code integration challenges.
  • Product Backlog: Multiple Scrum Teams sharing a Product Backlog - how will you manage dependencies?  Is your Product Owner ready for multiple teams?  How will work flow to the Scrum Teams?
  • Are your Scrum Teams feature or component teams?  Feature teams will have less dependencies on other teams if they can deliver a feature that is vertically sliced through the technology stack.  Might there be an opportunity for the teams to self organize into feature teams if they are not already?
  • How will you visualize the work?  How will you coordinate the work?  How will teams plan together, hold Sprint Retrospectives, etc.?  Will you have distributed teams?  Just a few things to think about.

All the best


10:52 am June 18, 2018

Without even considering SAFe's pros or cons, I think it does itself and Scrum a disservice by using Scrum terminology but changing the definitions of those terms.  


04:07 am March 10, 2020

Suppose there are two universities, One allowed all the students who pay a good amount of money and the other one allows only the candidates who deserve it.  


10:51 pm March 10, 2020

It shouldn't be an either or. If you're looking for work with large, global enterprises, you'll like see a SAFe certification as a prerequisite because of its popularity with leadership at these businesses. SAFe is very complex and leaders like it because it gives them a detailed implementation map.

For your personal growth, and if you're willing to invest in yourself, you should look into in-person certification training classes with all major Agile organizations granting certifications today. It will help you stand out.


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