The recent SAFe Fellows Retreat held virtually on June 11, 2024, was an invaluable experience that left the participants with profound reflections on their journey, the Framework’s evolution, and the Fellow’s future engagements. This retreat reinforced the SAFe Fellows community’s importance and showcased the tremendous value they collectively bring to the Lean-Agile landscape.
What is a SAFe Fellow?
A SAFe Fellow is Scaled Agile’s most prestigious recognition awarded to individuals who have contributed to the highest level of mastery and thought leadership of the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe). These individuals are thought leaders and practitioners who demonstrate exceptional expertise, leadership, and dedication to the principles and practices of SAFe. They are instrumental in advancing the Framework, mentoring others, and promoting Lean-Agile transformations at enterprise scale. There are 43 SAFe Fellows globally, including the US, Europe, and Australia.
SAFe Fellows perform a wide range of important work that significantly contributes to the development, implementation, and improvement of SAFe. Their key activities include:
- Thought Leadership: Publishing content, speaking at conferences, and sharing insights through various platforms to educate and inspire the SAFe community.
- Mentorship and Coaching: Guiding practitioners, providing mentorship, and leading community-building efforts to foster collaboration and knowledge sharing.
- Framework Development: Contributing to the continuous improvement and refinement of SAFe, developing new tools, practices, and ways of working.
- Strategic Collaborations: Engaging with large organizations to implement SAFe at scale, collaborating on research projects, and driving enterprise engagement.
- Feedback Loop: Gathering insights from the SAFe community to drive improvements in the Framework and related tools (e.g. SAFe Studio, CoPilot, etc.).
- Simplification and Accessibility: Simplifying and streamlining SAFe content to enhance usability and readability.
If you want more information about the SAFe Fellows Program, please visit our web page on ScaledAgile.com. Additionally, you can see the list of SAFe Fellows here.
Key Takeaways
One of the most remarkable aspects of the retreat was the depth of discussions around the current challenges and opportunities facing the SAFe Framework. Andrew Sales’ overview of SAFe and future updates provided a comprehensive vision and purpose, sparking insightful feedback and discussions. The collaborative activities, such as Framework article updates and an AI prompt engineering exercise, were particularly impactful. These sessions allowed us to dive deep into the intricacies of the Framework, exploring ways to simplify and enhance its application. Some of the most compelling moments:
- Fast Feedback for Strategic Direction: One of the standout topics was the emphasis on obtaining feedback from the Fellow community. This approach was highlighted as a crucial method for validating strategic direction quickly and effectively. The engagement on this topic was particularly strong. Fellows shared real-world insights and experiences to drive more informed decision-making and ensure alignment with our customers and communities.
- Experimenting with AI and Prompt Engineering: Dr. Steve Mayner led a highly engaged exercise on experimenting with AI and utilizing prompt engineering to streamline research topics. Fellows explored the potential of AI to enhance various aspects of SAFe, from automating routine tasks to providing advanced analytics. Using prompt engineering to improve research efficiency and outcomes sparked considerable interest and collaborative brainstorming.
- Customer Centricity for Greater Value: The retreat also focused on using customer centricity to obtain greater value from Framework articles. Rebecca Davis discussed strategies and led exercises to ensure that the Framework content is not only accessible and easy to understand but also highly relevant and valuable to the end users. By prioritizing customer-centric approaches, the Fellows community aims to enhance the practical application and impact of SAFe.
Final Thoughts
These retreats have been invaluable to Scaled Agile. Looking ahead, the necessity for future retreats and ongoing engagement within the SAFe Fellow community cannot be overstated. These gatherings provide a platform for us to align on strategic initiatives, share experiences, and collectively drive the evolution of SAFe. The retreat’s success underscores the value of regular interactions, both virtual and in-person, to foster collaboration and innovation. The Fellows Community has four annual retreats – two in-person and two virtual. As we move forward, we will continue to leverage these gatherings to drive innovation and foster growth in the Fellow community.
— Joe Vallone and The Framework Team