From Skeptic to Believer, Embracing SAFe for Agile Success | Richard Coplan
Sep 25, 2024
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Richard Coplan, a seasoned Scrum Master and Agile Coach from the UK, shares his remarkable journey from skepticism to embracing the SAFe framework. He highlights the significance of Program Increment (PI) planning as a catalyst for collaboration between teams. Richard discusses effective pre-planning activities, like the value-effort game, to prioritize work. He also delves into the transition to virtual PI planning, using tools like Miro to enhance communication and streamline processes, demonstrating how flexibility can transform organizational dynamics.
Embracing SAFe transformed skepticism into appreciation for structured collaboration, especially during Program Increment (PI) planning within Scrum teams.
Utilizing visual tools like Miro during virtual collaboration enhanced efficiency and communication, proving effective even in remote settings.
Deep dives
Transforming Change Leadership
The discussion highlights the challenges and importance of being effective change leaders in organizations and teams. A significant experience involved implementing the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) in a pharmaceutical company, where initial skepticism turned into appreciation for the structured approach SAFe provided. This change process began with chaotic early stages but evolved to enhance collaboration and output through structured program increments (PIs). By viewing the initiative as an experiment, the team learned to embrace change while incorporating valuable tools and techniques to facilitate smoother transitions.
The Role of PI Planning
The significance of Program Increment (PI) planning is emphasized as a critical step in aligning teams with a common vision and objectives. Successful PI planning involves creating a story that encapsulates the mission and vision of the team, allowing participants to prioritize features based on value and effort. Engaging in interactive games like the value effort game promotes collaboration between Scrum teams and product owners, ensuring that expectations are managed and focused efforts are established. This structured approach not only aids in feature prioritization but also fosters an environment of teamwork and accountability throughout the delivery process.
Adapting to Virtual Collaboration
The transition to virtual collaboration during the COVID-19 pandemic presented new opportunities for enhancing the PI planning process. Utilizing tools like Miro allowed for greater flexibility and efficiency, streamlining communication and dependency mapping without the logistical challenges of in-person gatherings. Visual tools enabled clearer representations of relationships and dependencies, making it easier for teams to assess their progress and facilitate critical conversations. The successful shift to a virtual format demonstrated that remote collaboration could maintain, if not improve, the effectiveness of planning and delivery in a distributed work environment.
Richard recounts his experience with a Pharma company implementing SAFe. Initially skeptical of the framework, he learned its value, particularly in the context of PI Planning, which became a key driver for collaboration between Product Owners and Scrum teams. Richard offers practical tips for using Miro and emphasizes the importance of pre-planning activities, such as the value-effort game, to prioritize work effectively.
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About Richard Coplan
Richard joins us from the UK. He has been a software developer for many years and later became data-centric, eventually transitioning into the role of Scrum Master. Over the past decade, Richard has specialized as a Scrum Master and Agile Coach, with a focus on collaboration tools like Miro and helping firms streamline their team structures.