Category Archives: Scaled Agile Framework

15 Dec

Combine Agile@Scale and Implementing SAFe with ‘SPC in a week’

Aspiring SPCs that want to improve their game should seriously consider the triple-deal ‘SPC in a week.’ The subtle work of the SAFe Program Consultant (SPC) requires a lot of what the Germans call ‘Fingerspitzengefühl’: in other words, experience is key. So, what better way to boost your beginnings as an SPC than with our ‘SPC in a week’ offer? Immerse yourself in a full week of mentorship, knowledge exchange and training by one the world’s most experienced SAFe trainers, SPCT... Learn more

10 Dec

“Combining Product Ownership with line management? Hold my beer.”

Agilists focus on program performance; line management focuses on functional excellence and control. Agilists preach a focus on product outcome, while line management tends to maximize output. Just two obvious stereotypes between the two groups. Sander Nienkemper looks forward to visiting Agile@Scale, because he combines both roles (as well as a third!) at insurance company Vivat. Sander Nienkemper has come to fill three roles simultaneously at Vivat. Firstly, he’s the IT manager for... Learn more

19 Oct

Nike’s historic cross-continental SAP implementation

Jenny van Rinsum and Larry Anderson are both witty personalities who like to share a joke. They also share the responsibility for a monumental undertaking at Nike: the replacement of its huge legacy ERP platform Island Pacific with SAP CAR and S/4HANA. And that’s no joke, especially because it involves a cross-continental ART that has several complex dependencies with other ARTs. “Dealing with cultural differences can make or break this effort,” says Jenny. “I look forward... Learn more

22 Sep

Catch up with Weronika Śreniawa-Pisarska, ‘RTE of the Year’ 2020!

Each RTE Summit features the election of an ‘RTE of the Year’ in recognition of someone’s contribution to building the Release Train Engineer practice. In preparation for the RTE Summit Global, learn about what this year’s winner Weronika Śreniawa-Pisarska has been up to since receiving the award. A ‘Foundational’ RTE With an extensive background in project management, Weronika made the jump to Agile and SAFe several years ago, becoming an RTE at Nordea in Gdynia... Learn more

18 Sep

Exploiting synergies: Gladwell Academy and wibas jointly offer the “Implementing SAFe® (SPC)” training course in German

The “Implementing SAFe® (SPC)” training course is part of the Gladwell Academy’s SAFe training portfolio. While all Gladwell Academy training courses were previously conducted in English, prospective SAFe 5.0 Program Consultants in Germany have been able to learn in their native language since September: the “Implementing SAFe® (SPC)” training course is offered in German on a total of four dates in 2020. These training courses are organised by the Gladwell Academy in cooperation... Learn more

07 Sep

A tale of Lean Portfolio Management

I have always done it this way and been successful. I know what I’m doing. Trust me! Chocolate chips, come and get ‘em! We need a company for this turnaround tale. Imagine a manufacturer of… computer motherboards. We’ll call it Choc Chip, because today is a very hot day and we’re craving ice cream. In charge, we’ll imagine a guy called Albert Albertsson. He’s a charismatic creature and everyone likes him, no exception. As... Learn more

26 Aug

RTE Summit Global: An event for RTEs by RTEs

Ali Hajou, co-chairman of the RTE Summit discusses his ambitions for the first ever virtual RTE Summit, set to be online from Gladwell Academy’s professional. Aimed entirely at strengthening the community of practice of Release Train Engineers everywhere, he invites both experienced hands and newcomers to contribute: “If you have a real-life story to share, or a question you need answers to, The RTE Summit Global is the place for you.” High hopes for the first Virtual RTE... Learn more

14 Aug

Jimmy Cams: “Lean Portfolio Management creates efficiency and stability”

As one of the five core competencies of the Lean enterprise, Lean Portfolio Management (LPM) can help you learn to recognize and optimally leverage your organization’s value streams. We reached out to Jimmy Cams, a former participant of the course to get his thoughts on what he learned and how it has impacted his work. Step-by-Step story building “The course was great - I can’t think of any other way to describe it. LPM puts a number of distinct principles in sequence, and instructors... Learn more

07 Aug

Gladwell Academy begins to experiment with Hybrid Courses

As the world begins the gradual process of returning to normal, the trainers and consultants at Gladwell Academy and Blinklane Consulting are considering how we might facilitate and make the most of this transition by introducing “hybrid” trainings”, which draw on the best qualities of both remote and in-person courses. In-person or remote training? Right now, the world of Agile training uncharted territory. There are people who prefer traditional in-person trainings, who enjoy a... Learn more

05 Aug

Enlist in our ‘RTE Bootcamp’ and begin your RTE Journey in only One Week

Join up with Gladwell’s ‘RTE Bootcamp’ for a full week and learn all the needs and requirements of an RTE through the mentorship, knowledge, and experience of some of the industry’s best and brightest RTEs and SPCTs. Begin your RTE by attending the first ever virtual RTE Summit Global on November 9 – 10, followed by our three-day course. Scaled Agile Framework: Release Train Engineer Training Discover Gladwell Academy’s tried and proven effective 3-day program for... Learn more

04 Aug

Remote SPC Training: “More important, and better than ever.”

Ever since social distancing made impact, we have been hard at work making all of our courses and trainings compatible with remote learning. Through hard work and expertise, trainers like SPCT Anand Murthy Raj have made remote SPC training effective, informative, and enjoyable leaving participants ready to begin their SAFe Program Consultant journey. How SPC training has adapted to remote classes Anand describes: “The first challenge we had to overcome in remote training was to build a... Learn more

03 Aug

Saahil Panikar: “Compromise in the changing demands of PI Planning.”

Certified SPCT Saahil Panikar of Icon Agility Services is planning a workshop at the virtual RTE Summit Global. The pitch: a deep-dive into the conflicts of communication and visualization that take place between teams during PI planning events. Saahil being an expert in every facet of working within an Agile framework, we expect an exciting, informative moment. An RTE with ‘rock star’ status? Saahil has over 10 years of experience with Agile, working with SAFe since 2014, and... Learn more

27 Jul

SAFe POPM: Vision and expertise give authority

Product Owners and Product Managers (POPM) together represent the customer’s wishes regarding a service or product. We asked Gladwell Academy trainer Boris de Jong to offer his thoughts on what role the PO and PM play in a SAFe organization, and how they can optimize their work. The Product Owner and Product Manager in SAFe “At a more basic level, Scrum creates two roles, the Scrum Master and Product Owner. It’s the Product Owner who sets the product course for the whole team.... Learn more

06 Jul

Leading SAFe: Everything you need to know

Have you heard about the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) and how it can bring both Agile and Lean ways of working to large organizations? Maybe your organization has decided to adopt SAFe but you don’t know where to begin? The Leading SAFe course answers all your questions as you begin your SAFe journey and earn your SAFe Agilist certification. The course We asked Gladwell Academy trainer Renate Cremer to describe what the course has to offer prospective participants. “This two-day course... Learn more

01 Jul

Voices from the classroom: “SAFe is an egalitarian model”

Gladwell Academy’s “Leading SAFe” course with instructor Boris de Jong was one of its first courses to move to a remote setting following social distancing measures. We reached out to a former participant to get their thoughts on the experience and what they learned. SAFe methods to encourage SAFe thinking “When I took the remote Leading SAFe course, I was surprised by how much I actually learned! In conventional courses it’s easier to ‘hide in the crowd’ and just... Learn more

19 Jun

SAFe Summit 2020: A new frontier in virtual communication

On June 10-11 2020, Gladwell Academy was proud to be among the exhibitors at Scaled Agile’s first ever virtual European SAFe Summit. One of the first events of its kind, the summit provided an opportunity to consider where the future of events to share knowledge and build new connections may be moving. A new platform The SAFe Summit’s remote setting did nothing to hinder the exchange of new ideas and knowledge. Gladwell Academy’s speakers found that the online platform offered... Learn more

16 Jun

SAFe for Architects: “The shift to agile architecture impacts everything.”

SAFe for Architects is a relatively new training in the Scaled Agile curriculum. What value does it add and why is it important? A seasoned architect himself, Frank Langeveld is also a SAFe trainer at Gladwell Academy. He shares his insights and experience with organizational architecture. Improve the impact of architecture “This course fundamentally addresses how architects work because the shift from traditional architecture to agile architecture impacts everything. “When the class... Learn more

07 Jun

Gladwell Academy remotely trains over 170 participants simultaneously!

Okay, here’s a challenge for you. At Gladwell Academy, we recently remotely trained an organization that produces hardware and advanced technology. This training on SAFe practices presented a new threshold for us, as it brought our training to a scale previously unheard of! Our trainers bringing everything together In preparation for this monumental undertaking, Gladwell Academy’s trainers brought everything they had learned about remote trainings together to make this course they’re... Learn more

19 May

Summer spare time? Get a discount on your training!

Beginning in 2017, Gladwell Academy began offering discounted summer courses in Scrum & SAFe and will continue to do so this year. With summer coming and many organizations slowing down, now is the time to take the initiative on your career path with training that will boost you and your organization in the coming year. Summer sun, same training While most organizations slow down over the summer, Gladwell Academy keeps going as strong as ever. Offering a mixture of both... Learn more

17 May

Remotely happy? Participant feedback

Working remote means following remote trainings, too. Is a remote course worth your time? What’s it like? How does Gladwell Academy enhance the experience? Here’s what Jeroen Frenken has to say. Jeroen Frenken, Product owner business intelligence Jeroen Frenken attended of one of Gladwell Academy’s very first remote Leading SAFe courses, and he was kind enough to share his experience with us. “In terms of content, the course was what I had expected. That didn’t vary... Learn more