Scaling is the method of adapting Scrum principles to larger, more intricate projects. When the number of team members becomes too large, or when the project complexity is beyond the scope of a single team, the necessity for scaling Scrum arises. There are several approaches to scaling Scrum, and this article will focus on two main frameworks, LeSS (Large Scale Scrum) and SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework).
1. LeSS (Large Scale Scrum)
LeSS is a framework for scaling agile development to manage multiple teams. It was developed by Craig Larman and Bas Vodde and works on the concept of having as few roles as possible. According to Larman and Vodde, the success of implementing LeSS depends on actualizing the core Scrum principles of transparency, inspection, and adaptation at a larger scale.
LeSS incorporates classic Scrum elements like single product backlog, product owner, scrum master, and development team. Team members perform various roles in every sprint. LeSS emphasizes customer-centricity and the product owner is responsible for prioritizing tasks. A LeSS backlog is a prioritized list of customer-centric features to be delivered.
A distinguishing feature of LeSS is that it encourages decoupling, meaning each team should be able to develop and release their work independently. This allows multiple teams to work on the same product without getting entangled in dependencies.
2. SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework)
The Scaled Agile Framework or SAFe, developed by Dean Leffingwell, is another popular methodology for agile scaling. It accommodates three different levels: Team, Program, and Portfolio. Each level has specific roles, responsibilities, and activities that are synchronized to ensure alignment and execution of the company’s strategy.
In the SAFe framework, a ‘Team’ consists of 5-9 members working together in an agile/scrum setting. A ‘Program’ is a team of agile teams known as an Agile Release Train (ART). It can house up to 50-125 individuals that operate on a common mission. The ‘Portfolio’ level facilitates an aggregation of value streams, which are aligned towards the strategic themes of an organization for producing desired market and financial results.
Moreover, SAFe assigns a significant role to leadership, ensuring that decision-making processes are rapid and efficient and that the work aligns with the broader business goals.
Major Comparison:
| LeSS (Large Scale Scrum) | SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework) | |
| Foundation | Classic Scrum Elements | Three levels: Team, Program, Portfolio |
| Roles | Few | Structure of roles at each level |
| Customer Focus | High; product owner prioritizes tasks | Strategic alignment with business goals |
| Team Independence | High | Synchronized and interconnected |
| Leadership | Roles rotate per sprint | Significant role, rapid decision-making |
To conclude, LeSS and SAFe are two highly effective and distinct methods to scale Scrum methodology for more enormous projects. LeSS stays closer to the original Scrum principles while making few changes for scaling, and its simplicity is its strength. SAFe, on the other hand, adopts a more hierarchical approach that incorporates enterprise-level planning and execution. Therefore, it is necessary to choose based on your organization’s nature, challenges, and specific needs.
Practice Test
True or False: Scrum does not need to be scaled as it is a one-size-fits-all methodology.
- Answer: False
Explanation: The Scrum framework can and should be scaled according to the size and complexity of the project it is being applied to. Several scaling models exist for this purpose.
What are the two of the most common approaches to scaling Scrum?
- a) Nexus
- b) SAFe
- c) Waterfall
- d) PRINCE2
Answer: a) Nexus, b) SAFe
Explanation: Nexus and Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) are two different approaches often used to scale Scrum methodology when working with large scale projects or in large organizations.
True or False: LeSS stands for Large-Scale Scrum and is an approach to scale Scrum.
- Answer: True
Explanation: LeSS indeed stands for Large-Scale Scrum. It’s a product development framework that extends Scrum with scaling rules and guidelines without losing the original purposes of Scrum.
Which of the following is not a recognized format for scaling Scrum?
- a) SAFe
- b) LeSS
- c) Nexus
- d) Agile
Answer: d) Agile
Explanation: Agile is not a format to scale Scrum, but it is a methodology under which Scrum, a type of Agile, falls under.
Which of these statements is true about the Nexus approach?
- a) It can only be applied to smaller projects.
- b) It introduces an integration team to oversee the work of several Scrum teams.
- c) It is not compatible with Scrum principles.
- d) It was not designed to handle complex software development.
Answer: b) It introduces an integration team to oversee the work of several Scrum teams.
Explanation: Nexus is designed for scaling Scrum and it introduces the idea of an integration team, responsible for managing and reducing dependencies among different Scrum teams.
SAFe focuses on aligning:
- a) Marketing and sales goals.
- b) Organizational structure changes.
- c) The work of multiple Agile teams.
- d) The Agile manifesto and Scrum.
Answer: c) The work of multiple Agile teams.
Explanation: Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) aims to align the collaboration and outcomes of several Agile teams, which helps large businesses to deliver a cohesive product.
True or False: The LeSS framework requires fewer roles and fewer organizational changes compared to SAFe.
- Answer: True
Explanation: One of the significant differences between Large Scale Scrum (LeSS) and Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) is that LeSS doesn’t require as many additional roles and doesn’t inherently require dramatic changes in organizational structure like SAFe does.
Scrum at Scale (S@S) implies:
- a) Using Scrum to run the entire organization.
- b) Abandoning the Scrum methodology.
- c) Focusing only on product development.
- d) Using Scrum only in large projects.
Answer: a) Using Scrum to run the entire organization.
Explanation: Scrum at Scale (S@S), an approach designed by Scum co-creator Jeff Sutherland, is all about applying Scrum across the board to effectively coordinate the entire organization.
True or False: The Nexus and SAFe approaches can be combined for a hybrid Scaling approach.
- Answer: True
Explanation: While both Nexus and SAFe are distinct models to scale Scrum, they can be combined or even complement other approaches in complex scenarios where a hybrid methodology needs to be crafted.
LeSS stands for:
- a) Least Scrum Scale
- b) Larger Scrum Scale
- c) Large-Scale Scrum
- d) Least Scale Scrum
Answer: c) Large-Scale Scrum
Explanation: LeSS is an abbreviation for Large-Scale Scrum. It provides a framework for scaling Scrum principles across larger organizations and projects.
Interview Questions
What is the purpose of scaling Scrum?
Scaling Scrum is the process of taking Scrum beyond small, single-team projects to larger and more complicated projects usually involving multiple teams.
Name two popular frameworks for scaling Scrum.
Two popular frameworks for scaling Scrum are the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) and Large Scale Scrum (LeSS).
What is the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe)?
The Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) is a set of organization and workflow patterns intended to guide enterprises in scaling lean and agile practices.
What does Large Scale Scrum (LeSS) framework entail?
LeSS is a Scrum-based framework that focuses on applying Scrum at large, with up to eight teams collaborating on a single product.
How does the SAFe approach scale Scrum?
SAFe scales Scrum by introducing coordination and synchronization across different Scrum teams and aligning them with business objectives.
How does LeSS approach scale Scrum?
LeSS scales Scrum by having multiple teams working together on the same product and coordinating their work in a single shared backlog.
What is a major benefit of the SAFe approach?
A major benefit of the SAFe approach is that it provides a detailed and prescriptive scaling model, making it easier for organizations to follow an established path toward scaling.
What is one of the core principles of the LeSS approach?
One of the core principles of the LeSS approach is simplicity — the idea that unnecessary complexity should be avoided when scaling Scrum.
What role does the Product Owner play in SAFe?
In SAFe, the Product Owner is a member of the Agile Team, responsible for defining and prioritizing the team backlog, and ensuring the team is working on the most valuable features.
How does the role of the Product Owner differ in LeSS?
In LeSS, a single Product Owner is responsible for prioritizing the shared product backlog for multiple teams.
How does communication take place in SAFe scaling?
In SAFe, communication is facilitated at various levels through various meetings such as the Program Increment (PI) Planning, Scrum of Scrums, and the Inspect and Adapt Workshop.
How does LeSS handle communication between multiple teams?
In LeSS, communication between teams happens informally, with the promotion of direct and open communication, and formally, during meetings like the Overall Product Backlog Refinement and the Overall Retrospective.
Can Scrum be scaled for any size of the organization with SAFe?
Yes, SAFe can be applied at team, program, and portfolio levels, thus making it suitable for any size of the organization.
Can LeSS be used for very large projects involving more than eight teams?
For projects larger than what is recommended for LeSS, an approach called LeSS Huge can be used, which incorporates additional scaling layers and coordination mechanisms.
Is every organization recommended to scale Scrum using a specific framework?
No, it ultimately depends on the organization’s needs, capabilities, and context. Both SAFe and LeSS, while offering structured approaches, should be adapted based on the specific context of the organization.
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