The best scaled Agile frameworks.

Agile helps businesses improve efficiency, productivity, and collaboration. The right scaled Agile framework expands Lean-Agile practices for large-scale projects involving multiple teams, departments, or globally distributed locations.

This guide will walk you through how to scale your Agile practices and explore the top frameworks your team should consider, including SAFe, LeSS, DA, and S@S.

In this guide:

• What is Agile at scale?
• Most common scaled Agile frameworks.
• Other Agile frameworks.
• What are Agile story points?
• What is a stand-up meeting in Agile?
• How to choose a framework.
• Metrics for measuring success in scaled Agile.
• Agile coaching and training.
• Scale your Agile team today.

Agile at scale extends Agile principles across an entire organization. It ensures that all teams, departments, and stakeholders align under Agile practices for streamlined operations and cohesive collaboration.

Main benefits of Agile at scale.

• Clear hierarchies and processes: Streamlines reporting structures and clarifies expectations, goals, and milestones.
• Enhanced transparency: Tracking tools provide leadership with insights into dependencies, risks, and team progress.
• Improved collaboration: Cross-team dependencies are managed more effectively, reducing delays and fostering collaboration.

Challenges of implementing Agile at scale.

Implementing Agile at scale presents several challenges, but with the right strategies, these obstacles can be overcome. Here are some common hurdles and actionable solutions:

1. Reduced autonomy. Standardized processes in scaled frameworks may reduce the autonomy of individual teams, limiting their ability to make decisions independently.

   Solution: Empower teams by balancing standardized processes with flexibility. Encourage teams to retain ownership of their work within the framework's boundaries. Regularly engage teams in feedback loops to adapt processes and ensure they still feel a sense of autonomy in decision-making. This can include using customized workflows within broader scaled frameworks like SAFe or LeSS.

2. Increased accountability. With greater transparency comes higher accountability, which can be overwhelming for some team members, especially in a larger organization.

   Solution: Foster a culture of shared responsibility rather than singling out individuals. Use tools like Jira and Adobe Workfront to provide clear, manageable tracking of team and individual progress. Break large projects into smaller, more achievable tasks, and ensure that team members have the support and resources they need to meet expectations. Regular retrospectives and continuous feedback can also help alleviate concerns and guide improvements.

3. Initial implementation hurdles. When adopting new tools, processes, and frameworks, the transition period can be slow as teams adjust, potentially causing initial delays in productivity.

   Solution: To minimize disruptions, plan a phased implementation. Start with pilot teams that are open to change and gradually expand the Agile framework across the organization. Use training programs, mentoring, and workshops to equip teams with the knowledge and skills they need. Additionally, provide continuous support during the transition period and adjust workflows based on feedback.

4. Aligning multiple stakeholders. With Agile scaling, it’s crucial to align various stakeholders — executives, product owners, and team members — around common goals and priorities, which can be difficult in large organizations with diverse interests.

   Solution: Establish clear communication channels and set regular touchpoints, such as Program Increment (PI) Planning in SAFe, to ensure all stakeholders are informed and aligned on objectives. Use tools like Adobe Workfront to centralize project updates, track progress, and foster collaboration across departments. Involve stakeholders early in decision-making to create shared ownership of outcomes, ensuring alignment throughout the project lifecycle.

There is no one-size-fits-all solution in Agile. The best framework for your organization will depend on its size, structure, and specific needs. Below, we’ll explore the most common scaled Agile frameworks, arranged by complexity.

Scrum at scale (S@S).

Scrum at scale (S@S) is a simple framework for scaling Agile, making it ideal for organizations new to the process. Building on the familiar Scrum methodology, it offers a clear path to expand Agile across teams.

Scrum at scale extends Scrum principles beyond individual teams to the organizational level.

How it works: Scrum at scale uses a pyramid-like structure with development teams at the base and other teams layered on top to represent contributors and stakeholders. This hierarchy ensures clear roles, processes, and approvals.

Key features:

• Self-organizing teams led by scrum masters.
• Transparent, iterative work cycles with regular sprint reviews.
• A focus on breaking down large goals into manageable tasks.

Best suited for: Smaller organizations or teams looking to scale Agile without adding significant complexity.

Large-Scale Scrum (LeSS).

Large-Scale Scrum (LeSS) is a streamlined framework for scaling Agile, ideal for organizations seeking simplicity and focus. Built on core Scrum principles, it emphasizes team collaboration and minimizing complexity, offering a practical approach to scaling Agile across multiple teams.

How it works: LeSS consolidates multiple Scrum teams under a single scrum master and product backlog, enabling all contributors to work together on the same timeline.

Key features:

• All contributors focus on the same deliverables within synchronized sprints.
• Encourages Lean principles to minimize waste and increase efficiency.
• Emphasizes collaborative sprint reviews to break down communication silos.

Best suited for: Organizations needing slightly more structure than S@S while retaining simplicity.

Disciplined Agile (DA).

Disciplined Agile (DA) is a flexible framework for scaling Agile, designed to adapt to the unique needs of each organization. By integrating a wide range of Agile and Lean practices, it provides a comprehensive toolkit for teams to navigate complexity, improve processes, and achieve business agility.

How it works: DA provides a toolkit to tailor Agile practices to an organization’s unique workflows, focusing on mindset, people, flow, and practices.

Key features:

• Combines Scrum principles with flexibility for leadership to customize workflows.
• Addresses the needs of the entire organization, not just development teams.
• Ideal for organizations requiring adaptable, scalable solutions.

Best suited for: Enterprises looking for a structured yet flexible Agile framework.

Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe).

The Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) is a comprehensive methodology for scaling Agile across large organizations. It provides structured guidance for aligning teams, improving collaboration, and managing complex initiatives. By integrating Lean, Agile, and DevOps principles, SAFe enables organizations to deliver value at scale while maintaining agility and responsiveness.

How it works: SAFe organizes teams into Agile Release Trains (ARTs), each focused on specific deliverables. Portfolio-level activities define the vision, which trickles down into tasks for teams.

Key features:

• Iterative, incremental progress with Lean principles.
• Emphasis on collaboration across multiple teams.
• Offers extensive training and certification options.

Best suited for: Large organizations with multiple teams working on complex, interdependent projects.

While the above scaled Agile frameworks are among the most commonly used, here are a few others worth exploring:

Nexus: Nexus is similar to S@S but involves greater stakeholder input and unified sprint planning for all teams.

Spotify Model: This model structures organizations into autonomous teams, or “squads,” aligned with corporate goals.

Enterprise Kanban: This framework applies Kanban principles organization-wide to establish clear workflows, though it lacks prescriptive guidelines for team structures.

Story points are a unit of measure in Agile used to estimate the effort required to complete tasks. Unlike time-based estimation, story points assess complexity, resource needs, and task scope.

Commonly, teams use a Fibonacci sequence (0, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, and so on) to assign story points, reflecting the relative effort of tasks.

Daily stand-up meetings are short, 15-minute gatherings where team members discuss:

• What they accomplished since the last meeting.
• What they plan to do next.
• Any obstacles they face.

This helps teams stay aligned, resolve blockers quickly, and maintain transparency.

Choosing the right framework depends on factors like team size, organizational structure, and agility goals. Here’s how to align your needs with the best fit.

• Smaller teams: Consider S@S or LeSS for simplicity.
• Larger organizations: Frameworks like SAFe or the Spotify Model provide scalability and structure.
• Adaptability needs: DA offers flexibility and customization options.

Here are three key factors that are often part of the scaled Agile framework selection process:

1. Size. Larger organizations can usually benefit from more structure, such as that of the SAFe or Spotify models. Smaller teams might find S@S or LeSS a better fit since they build off existing Scrum processes.
2. Structure. More rigid frameworks like SAFe are often preferred for top-down organizations that want to control output. More flexible frameworks, like DA, could be more appealing to smaller companies that are still growing and proving needs.
3. Agility. Companies that want their development teams to be Agile and able to shift depending on demand or iterative production will likely want a framework that allows for flexibility.

Other considerations when choosing a framework.

When selecting an Agile framework, it’s essential to evaluate factors beyond team size and agility goals. Here are additional considerations to guide your decision:

• Budget. Frameworks like SAFe often involve significant costs for certifications, training, and tools. Organizations should weigh these against the expected ROI and strategic priorities.
• Geographic distribution. Distributed teams across time zones benefit from frameworks like Enterprise Kanban, which emphasize visual workflows and asynchronous communication for better collaboration.
• Culture fit. Organizational culture is key. Hierarchical organizations may align with SAFe’s structured governance, while flatter ones might prefer Spotify or LeSS for their emphasis on team autonomy.

Hybrid frameworks.

Organizations often find value in combining elements from multiple frameworks to create a hybrid approach. By integrating aspects of Scrum at scale, SAFe, or LeSS, teams can tailor processes to better align with their unique culture, goals, and challenges.

This flexibility allows businesses to adapt to varying team sizes, project scopes, and organizational structures while maintaining efficient scaling and effective Agile practices. A hybrid framework fosters both customization and agility, enhancing outcomes in dynamic environments.

Here are some examples of combined or hybrid Agile frameworks:

1. Scrum at Scale + SAFe. Combines Scrum at Scale’s flexibility for team-level Scrum processes with SAFe’s structure for larger-scale alignment and program management.
2. LeSS + Kanban. Merges the simplicity and principles of Large-Scale Scrum (LeSS) with Kanban’s visual process management and flow optimization for better transparency and efficiency.
3. SAFe + Lean. Integrates SAFe’s scaling capabilities with Lean principles, focusing on value stream optimization, waste reduction, and continuous improvement across teams and portfolios.
4. Spotify Model + Scrum. Adapting the Spotify model’s team autonomy and alignment approach with Scrum’s framework for improved collaboration and team accountability.
5. Scrum + Kanban (Scrumban). Combines Scrum’s structured sprint-based approach with Kanban’s focus on continuous flow and flexibility, ideal for teams balancing delivery speed and predictability.
6. Agile + Waterfall. A hybrid approach often referred to as “Wagile,” combining Agile’s flexibility and iterative development with Waterfall’s structured, stage-gate processes, particularly useful for regulated industries or large projects with fixed deadlines.

Agile framework tools.

When scaling Agile frameworks across an organization, selecting the right tools is critical for managing dependencies, tracking progress, and ensuring transparency. These tools help streamline collaboration, facilitate real-time communication, and provide visibility into the work being done across teams. Here’s a breakdown of key tools and their role in scaling Agile:

• Managing dependencies. Tools like Jira Align and Adobe Workfront allow organizations to track dependencies between teams and manage complex inter-team work. These tools offer visual mapping of dependencies, ensuring that teams are aligned and blockers are identified early.
• Tracking progress. For tracking sprints, user stories, and overall project status, Jira Software and Trello are widely used. These tools provide detailed reporting dashboards, burndown charts, and progress tracking features to keep teams on track.
• Ensuring transparency. Transparency is essential for successful scaling. Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) and Monday.com support collaboration by providing centralized content management and document-sharing capabilities. Teams can work together on projects, share knowledge, and document decisions that help improve transparency across departments.
• Cross-team collaboration. Communication platforms such as Slack or Microsoft Teams enhance collaboration by providing channels for cross-team discussions, quick updates, and problem-solving in real time, ensuring alignment across the organization.
• Continuous integration and delivery. Tools like GitLab and Jenkins are used for automating code integration and deployment. These tools ensure that teams work in sync, reducing bottlenecks and speeding up the delivery process.

To gauge the effectiveness of scaled Agile practices, organizations must track specific metrics. These include:

• Velocity: Measures the amount of work completed during a sprint.
• Cycle time: Tracks how long it takes to complete a task from start to finish.
• Team satisfaction: Measures team morale and engagement through surveys and feedback. Release predictability: Evaluates whether teams deliver value as planned within the given timeline.
• Customer satisfaction: Uses metrics like Net Promoter Score (NPS) to assess the impact of delivered solutions.

Agile coaching and training play a critical role in scaling Agile practices effectively. Key aspects include:

• Role of Agile coaches: Coaches guide teams and leaders in adopting Agile mindsets and frameworks while addressing challenges during the transition.
• Training programs: Certification courses and workshops, such as those offered for SAFe or Scrum, equip teams with the necessary knowledge and skills.
• Continuous improvement: Ongoing training ensures teams stay updated with evolving best practices and tools.

With a clearer understanding of scaled Agile frameworks, you can now evaluate your organization’s needs and choose the right approach. Once selected, complement your framework with robust project management tools like Adobe Workfront to ensure seamless execution.

Explore how Adobe Workfront can support your Agile journey with features designed for planning, collaboration, and scaling.

Workfront is equipped with features that help teams plan, manage, and complete work at scale.

Take a product tour or watch the overview video to learn more.