Category Archives: Scaled Agile Framework

23 May

We’ve teamed up with AgileSparks!

Fellow global educators with a long-term focus on quality and lasting Agility. The meeting of the two CEOs Erez Tatcher and Miranda Goossens was brisk and clear. “There’s so much we share; there’s so much we stand to benefit. Time’s a-wasting. Let’s go!” The two companies have agreed to service the US, Europe and India together for the months to come. Each will leverage their strong trainer network and long-term commitment to quality. Erez Tatcher is quick to... Learn more

02 May

RTE Summit 2019: Schiphol Airport Agile Controller Martin Hofman will speak

Andres Jansen updates the agenda for November 12th, the RTE Summit 2019. As chairman of the RTE Summit 2019, Andres Jansen is certain that this year’s edition on 12 November of 2019 will be even better than the last one. “We’re circling the speakers list, admiring the venue and building the social program. Not wanting to be pinned down by a theme, we’ve nonetheless listed several clear topics for the event. It’s exciting!” “We’re definitely keeping the... Learn more

19 Oct

Scaled Agile Framework

The Scaled Agile framework has been developed to allow companies to apply the Agile principles at all levels of the organization. The Scaled Agile Framework and its implementation is a process of trial and error. It is a road full of dedication and demands commitment of those involved. However, it should also encourage several self-organizing teams to collaborate effectively so that it results in a successful product, which is not an easy task. The Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) enables... Learn more

10 Apr

Servant Leader in Superman’s clothing: Ready to be RTE?

What are the tasks of the Release Train Engineer? The RTE is a new breed of super scrum masters, arisen since the advent of SAFe. Upon passing the SAFe Release Train Engineer (RTE) exam and achieving RTE certification, the RTE becomes a far more effective scrum master of the Team of Teams and coach for the organization around it– a complex, challenging, and intense role with a lot of responsibility for the whole enterprise. “It’s like Scrum on steroids,” says Andres Jansen, Senior... Learn more

10 Apr

“U.S. corporate culture helps and hinders Agility” – Eelco Rustenburg, SPCT

As an accredited SPC Trainer, Eelco Rustenburg is one of the very few people in the world today allowed to train new SAFe Program Consultants – and he’s coming to New York this April 16thto train a hopeful group. We asked him to share his experience in training people from both sides of the Atlantic. “My life as an SPCT changed significantly when I was okayed for that additional T. But that change hasn’t been nearly as heavy as when I became an SPC! Demand for corporate Agility is so... Learn more

15 Oct

Agile Coach: Crucial for Transformations

Do you see the role of an Agile Coach as a logical next step in your own career? You could be right. Not only in terms of content, because Agile clearly has a rich future in business, but also as a ‘transversal skill’: Coaching is a skill that can be useful throughout your professional life. But what does it take to become a good Agile... Learn more

25 Mar

Stepping up to SPC: The value of becoming a certified SAFe Program Consultant

The SAFe Program Consultant (SPC) course is a relatively new program – one that, upon successful completion of the SPC exam, will lift your knowledge and can lift your network and career, to a new level. According to thought leader Andres Jansen, Senior Trainer at Gladwell Academy, the certification unlocks a world of SAFe Program Consultant jobs as it transforms the scope and impact of your work. SPC certification: next-level Lean/Agile coaching The Number One... Learn more

19 Mar

Find your way through the maze: online course ‘Compass to Scaling Agile’

Travelling around the world to train and coach people about scaling Agile is a privilege. Working as a trainer feels sometimes like working as an explorer. During the trainings I get to educate and inspire people to apply Lean-Agile ways of working. But sometimes I notice that the participants would need some extra advise on where to start from. For this, we have recently developed a new online platform. After 2-4 days of training, your behavioural patterns might not be radically... Learn more

11 Dec

Leading SAFe: It’s all in your head. – PART 2

There are absolutely no one-size fits all, just-tick-the-box solutions in an agile environment. Instead, leaders who want to manage with the Lean-Agile mindset need to learn to organize safe environments so that others - through engagement - can come to the next steps of effective action. In this two-part blog, Janse gives his expert perspectives on the challenges – and rewards – of expanding your mind and becoming a SAFe Agilist. This is the second part of the blog... Learn more

05 Dec

Leading SAFe: It’s all in your head – part 1

Part 1 of 2 “The crisis consists precisely in the fact that the old is dying and the new cannot be born; in this interregnum (gap) a great variety of morbid symptoms appear.” – Antonio Gramsci, political theorist. There are absolutely no one-size fits all, just-tick-the-box solutions in an agile environment. Instead, leaders who want to manage with the Lean-Agile mindset need to learn to organize safe environments so that others - through engagement - can come to the... Learn more

16 Nov

What is an Agile Release Train?

Forget the express train, the Intercity or the Thalys. The Agile Release Train is where it’s at! This train runs quickly and efficiently to its ultimate goal. It always keeps to the timetable. The passengers mostly set this timetable themselves! The Agile Release Train (ART) was invented by SAFe, the Scaled Agile Framework. The ART is a virtual train consisting of 5 to 10 self-organising, multidisciplinary teams who plan, organise and perform their work together. Together they work on... Learn more

15 Nov

The toolkit of an effective SAFe Program Consultant

Big organisational changes only have a chance of succeeding if there is a clear vision for the future that has broad support. A SAFe implementation will be successful if enough people are involved and are prepared to work together according to the SAFe principles. The SAFe Program Consultant (SPC) takes the lead in this. As a SPC you’re responsible for setting up the new organisation. You train teams in the SAFe framework and help colleagues to find their way in their new role. The SPC gets... Learn more

24 Oct

A safe transformation to a SAFe organization requires a SAFe leader

In practice, the Scrum/Agile way of working seems to work best in a greenfield. The ideal approach is for one or two development teams to set up and maintain an application landscape. As soon as there’s a complex environment with a lot of legacy and interdependencies, more help is needed. This is why more and more established organisations in particular are becoming familiar with the Scaled Agile Framework, SAFe. What are the concrete tasks of a SAFe leader? Why scaling is... Learn more

09 Oct

Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) 4.6 for Lean Enterprises released

Scaled Agile Inc. Announced 3rd October the general availability of Scaled Agile Framework 4.6 for Lean Enterprises. Main updates constitute the five core competencies of a Lean Enterprise, and two new courses: SAFe for Government and Agile Software Engineering. The new Five core competencies of organizations that have successfully transformed into a Lean enterprise, working as the starting point for understanding and implementing SAFe: Lean-Agile Leadership Team and... Learn more

17 Sep

SPCT candidate Niels Groen: “Failure is often the best mentor there is.”

With the popularity of Scaled Agile Framework only on the rise, demand remains high for the SAFe Program Consultants (SPCs), the professionals who guide organizations towards governing their Agile workforce with a tried and proven approach. That in turn raises the demand for those who train the SPCs: the SPC Trainers (SPCTs). Nonetheless, there are currently less than a hundred working in the world today. It’s quite the responsibility, but Niels (SPCT candidate) looks forward to it, he... Learn more

14 Sep

“The two trainers seamlessly merge into one inspiring presence.”

All the marketing in the world can't beat a glowing, motivated customer review. But the e-mail we received from recent Implementing SAFe 4.5 (SPC) student Jameer Syed wasn’t just an opportunity for our trainers Anand Murthy Raj and Sathya H.R. to gloat – it’s also an opportunity for us to learn what inspires you the most. “Anand & Sathya, I would like to THANK YOU both for facilitating a great session with so much passion, which I believe helped all of us to... Learn more

07 Mar

What is SAFe? The Scaled Agile Framework – part 2

In the previous blog about the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe), I explained the motivations for organizations to use this well-known Agile scaling model. In this blog I will discuss the available content and the use of the framework itself. Training is needed Nevertheless, it is very necessary to garner information from data, in order to experience practicality in theory. Getting yourself trained is the most common way. You can attend various training... Learn more

06 Mar

What is SAFe? The Scaled Agile Framework – part 1

Enter Dean Leffingwell’s SAFe – the Scaled Agile Framework – a framework designed by Scaled Agile, Inc. to allow large organizations to move toward a more Agile Way Of Working. The purpose of the Scaled Agile Framework The framework is an overview of all sorts of ingenious ideas, conceived over time for problems of inflexible organizations looking for more Agility (Agile in a broader sense). In the words of Dean Leffingwell, SAFe helps companies meet major... Learn more

27 Sep

”How do you do Scrum with 200+ teams? You do it SAFe. Pure pragmatism.”

In the Scaled Agile framework (SAFe), the highest rank is reserved for the SAFe Program Consultant Trainer. There are only about 50 such SPCT-certified SAFe gurus in the world today. Two of these work at Gladwell Academy: the recently certified trainer-consultants Eelco Rustenburg and Anand Murthy Raj. We looked the two of them up in Amsterdam, the Netherlands to discuss how they see the future of Agile project management in the corporate world. Good day, gentlemen. Let’s get... Learn more