How to Manage Unplanned Work in SAFe

Agile Scrum Methodolgy

As of this writing, the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) is still the most widely used framework for scaling Agile teams. Despite its widespread use, SAFe is not flawless and no framework is ideal in every circumstance. One of the SAFe framework’s missing elements is a prescribed method for addressing unexpected work. Incredible work is typical for any organization adjusting to a more dynamic business environment. There are a few components of the SAFe framework that you may use to lessen the effects of surprises, even if the framework does not offer detailed advice on how to handle such circumstances. You can have several job opportunities after getting the Agile project management certification. Below mentioned are the tips for managing unplanned work in SAFe:

What is unplanned work?

Defining unplanned work up front before exploring solutions for managing incidental work using SAFe is critical. For this discussion, let’s assume that unexpected result refers to new requirements that have emerged during the execution of a Programme Increment (PI), either because they were identified by stakeholders or were prompted by unforeseen business situations. In this context, unplanned work excludes discovered work or particular tasks that the team finds along the PI that must be completed to complete a previously planned feature or capability. For the sake of simplicity, you should concentrate on the first definition, even if the methods used to address either case may be comparable.

Observe the amount of change:

Establishing and maintaining a statistic known as requirements volatility is one of the cornerstones to managing changing requirements. This metric, comparable to predictability but a leading indicator, allows your Agile Release Train to monitor the degree of change inside your needs. With the portfolio backlog at the top of the hierarchy, SAFe provides several backlogs for maintaining and managing work at various levels. Most teams utilizing portfolio-level SAFe will use this backlog to handle high-level business requirements, often formulated as business cases or initiatives.

Applying capacity allocation to handle unexpected change:

Capacity Allocation of your backlogs is a different method you might consider using to manage requirements. This enables you to provide immediate value and the fundamental framework necessary to set up the longer-term capabilities you will require in the future.If your stakeholders tend to change priorities frequently or unexpectedly, having the extra capacity to handle these situations can improve your teams’ ability to continue delivering valuable services. One strategy is to encourage your teams to only plan up to 80% of maximum capacity to provide a buffer for expected changes in requirements.

One suggestion in this circumstance is to keep teaching your stakeholders and consumers about needs management and assist them in seeing that continuous change is unwise and might even be harmful. 

Access and prioritize:

When deciding how to order unscheduled work, it is often simple to use one of the popular product roadmap prioritization frameworks. It is better to have an Agile scrum master certification for a bright future. When deciding whether unplanned work is urgent, these frameworks can assist in direct talks with stakeholders and the rest of your team. The warning is that these frameworks are just the beginning.

Rapidly shifting business priorities:

Chaos could result when businesses and executive stakeholders fail to reach a consensus on quantifiable corporate goals. Focusing on anything is only possible with agreement on plans, intended results, and a shared product vision. When you must deal with sideways feature requests and overnight shifting priorities, your priority should be to get alignment on these crucial strategic building blocks if you still need them.

Bottom line:

There are better systems for handling unforeseen work, even though you all recognize that change is inevitable and should be welcomed. Relationships play a big part in how you experience change, and ultimately, the success of any project depends on how well you collaborate with consumers, stakeholders, and teams. You should complete the online course to know well about the program.