Why not to use SAFe Agile?

Although many organisations can benefit from SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework), it isn’t always the best option. Here are some explanations for why a company might decide against implementing SAFe Agile:

1. Organizational Fit: Large businesses with intricate product development processes are the main target audience for SAFe. In smaller organisations or with less sophisticated project requirements, SAFe could add needless overhead and complexity.
2. Culture and Mindset: At all organisational levels, there must be a substantial culture shift towards agility and collaboration for SAFe to be implemented successfully. Adoption of SAFe may be difficult if resistance to change exists or if the culture of the organisation is not supportive of this way of thinking.
3. Cost and Resource Investment: A substantial investment in coaching, training, and organisational change management is necessary for an efficient SAFe implementation. SAFe might not be practical if an organisation does not have the funds or resources to support this investment.
4. Bureaucracy and overhead: SAFe is perceived by some organisations as introducing excessive bureaucracy and overhead, especially in smaller or less hierarchical organisations. In some situations, the regimented methodology of SAFe may impede creativity and adaptability.
5. Customization and Flexibility: SAFe offers a defined framework with roles, procedures, and practices already in place. Large organisations may benefit from consistency and alignment in this way, although not all organisations may have the same needs and preferences.
6. Dependency Management: SAFe depends on close collaboration and synchronisation throughout the organisation between teams and dependencies. SAFe’s emphasis on dependency management might not be necessary if teams are very autonomous or if an organization’s projects have few dependents.

Using SAFe Agile ultimately comes down to the particular requirements, objectives, and organisational context. Even though SAFe can help large businesses scale their agile processes, it’s crucial to carefully weigh the potential disadvantages and make sure it suits the goals, resources, and culture of the company.