Table of Contents

• What is a Lean Enterprise?

• The Seven Core Competencies of SAFe® 

• How to Use Seven Competencies of SAFe®  in Business

• The Long-Term Benefits of Implementing SAFe®  Competencies

• Conclusion

The Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe® ) offers a structured approach to help organizations become more agile, enabling them to respond swiftly to changes and deliver value more efficiently. At the heart of SAFe®  6.0 are its Seven Core Competencies, each designed to support the Lean Enterprise by fostering business agility. These competencies are essential for any organization aiming to implement SAFe and achieve long-term success.

What is a Lean Enterprise?

A Lean Enterprise is an organization that maximizes value for its customers while minimizing waste. Lean principles focus on continuous improvement, efficient processes, and delivering value as quickly as possible. SAFe®  integrates Agile, Lean, and DevOps into a comprehensive operating system that helps organizations become Lean Enterprises, ensuring they remain competitive in a rapidly changing environment.

The Seven Core Competencies of SAFe

Each of the Seven Core Competencies plays a critical role in achieving business agility. Let’s dive into what they are and how they can be used to transform your organization.

1. Lean-Agile Leadership

Lean-Agile Leadership is the foundation of SAFe® . It involves leaders at all levels of the organization embracing and modeling a Lean-Agile mindset. This competency encourages leaders to drive change by embodying the principles and practices of SAFe® . When leaders lead by example, they inspire their teams to adopt flexible, customer-focused approaches to work, which is crucial for achieving business agility.

Key Benefits:

• Encourages a culture of continuous improvement.

• Enhances employee engagement and satisfaction.

• Drives alignment across the organization.

2. Team and Technical Agility

Team and Technical Agility focus on organizing high-performing, cross-functional Agile teams that can deliver high-quality solutions quickly and efficiently. This competency is about building the skills and capabilities within teams to enhance their Agile practices, ensuring they can meet customer needs effectively.

Key Benefits:

• Faster delivery of high-quality products.

• Improved collaboration and innovation.

• Reduced time-to-market for new features.

3. Agile Product Delivery

Agile Product Delivery is a customer-centric approach to defining, building, and releasing a continuous flow of valuable products and services. This competency ensures that the organization creates the right solutions for the right customers at the right time, balancing execution with customer focus.

Key Benefits:

• Increased customer satisfaction through continuous feedback loops.

• Enhanced ability to respond to market changes.

• Stronger alignment between product development and customer needs.

4. Enterprise Solution Delivery

Enterprise Solution Delivery involves applying Lean-Agile principles to build and evolve large, complex systems. This competency is crucial for organizations that require sophisticated, scalable solutions that must be developed and maintained over time.

Key Benefits:

• Improved coordination across multiple Agile teams.

• Greater flexibility in managing large-scale projects.

• Enhanced ability to deliver innovative, enterprise-level solutions.

5. Lean Portfolio Management

Lean Portfolio Management aligns strategy with execution by applying Lean and systems thinking to portfolio management. This competency ensures that all projects and initiatives are focused on delivering maximum value to the organization and its customers.

Key Benefits:

• Better alignment of business strategy with execution.

• More effective use of resources and funding.

• Improved governance and decision-making processes.

6. Organizational Agility

Organizational Agility enables organizations to quickly adapt to changes in the market, reconfigure processes, and capitalize on new opportunities. This competency is vital for maintaining a competitive edge in today’s rapidly evolving business landscape.

Key Benefits:

• Increased ability to pivot in response to market changes.

• Enhanced capacity for innovation and strategic agility.

• Greater resilience in the face of disruption.

7. Continuous Learning Culture

A Continuous Learning Culture fosters an environment where individuals and the organization are constantly learning, growing, and improving. This competency is about embedding a mindset of relentless improvement and innovation, ensuring that the organization remains competitive in the long run.

Key Benefits:

• Ongoing improvement of processes and products.

• Encouragement of creativity and innovation.

• Sustainable business growth through continuous learning.

How to Use Seven Competencies of SAFe in Business

Incorporating the Seven Core Competencies of SAFe into your business is not just about implementing a new framework; it’s about transforming your organizational culture and practices. Here’s how to effectively apply these competencies:

Lead by Example: Ensure that leadership at all levels embodies the Lean-Agile mindset. This will inspire and motivate teams to adopt Agile practices and contribute to a culture of continuous improvement.

Build Cross-Functional Teams: Invest in training and development to enhance the skills of your teams. Encourage collaboration and knowledge sharing across departments to drive innovation and improve delivery speed.

Focus on Customer Needs: Use Agile Product Delivery to prioritize customer feedback and incorporate it into product development. This will help you deliver solutions that meet market demands and exceed customer expectations.

Coordinate Large-Scale Projects: Apply Enterprise Solution Delivery to manage complex projects with multiple teams. Ensure that all teams are aligned and working towards a common goal, delivering value efficiently.

Align Strategy with Execution: Use Lean Portfolio Management to ensure that all initiatives are aligned with the organization’s strategic objectives. This will help you allocate resources effectively and achieve desired outcomes.

Embrace Agility: Encourage a flexible and adaptable approach to business operations. Be ready to pivot quickly in response to market changes, and use Organizational Agility to turn challenges into opportunities.

Foster a Learning Culture: Promote continuous learning and improvement across the organization. Encourage experimentation and innovation, and support employees in their professional development.

The Long-Term Benefits of Implementing SAFe Competencies

Implementing the Seven Core Competencies of SAFe offers numerous long-term benefits that can transform how your organization operates and delivers value:

• Increased Employee Engagement: A Lean-Agile Leadership approach boosts employee morale and satisfaction, leading to higher productivity and lower turnover rates.

• Improved Product Quality: By focusing on Team and Technical Agility, your organization will see consistent improvements in product quality and a reduction in defects.

• Faster Time-to-Market: Agile Product Delivery and Enterprise Solution Delivery streamline processes, enabling your organization to bring products to market more quickly.

• Higher Customer Satisfaction: A customer-centric approach ensures that your products and services meet and exceed customer expectations, leading to increased loyalty and sales.

• Sustainable Growth: Continuous learning and improvement ensure that your organization remains competitive and adaptable, driving long-term business success.

Conclusion

Mastering the Seven Core Competencies of SAFe is essential for any organization looking to achieve business agility and thrive in today’s competitive landscape. By integrating these competencies into your business, you can enhance product quality, improve time-to-market, and increase customer satisfaction. Moreover, fostering a culture of continuous learning and Agile leadership will ensure that your organization remains resilient and adaptable in the face of change.

If you’re looking to implement SAFe or improve your Agile practices, consider investing in SAFe certification or training. This will equip your team with the tools and knowledge needed to successfully apply these competencies and drive business agility across the organization.