Program Portfolio Management
Introduction on what the SAFe framework says about it.
Fredrik Wiik
Roots of the Scaled Agile Framework

Core values
- Code Quality
- Program Execution
- Alignment
- Transperancy

2
In SAFe - the train is the thing!

3
Portfolio level in SAFe.
Value
streams

Business

Drivers

Investment
Themes

Business

Kanban

Portfolio
Vision
Drivers

Portfolio
Backlog

Agile Release Trains
Typical 50-125 pers/train

5
Business Epic Portfolio Kanban System
1. Funnel

2. Backlog

3. Analysis

4. Implementation

-Product roadmap
-New business opp
-Cost savings
-Problems needs
solution

-Refine understanding
-Est CoD
-Refine effort est
-Relative ranking

-Solution alternatives
-Collaboration
-Weighted rank
-Business case

-Ownership transitions
-Teams begin implementing at
release planning boundaries
-Teams break Epics into features
-Analyst support on pull basis

- Effort size estimate
- Value size estimate
- Investment theme
alignment

Authority
approves
Epic

Business analyst
pulls Epic

Portfolio Management
Team/ Product Council
Approval
6
Weighted Shortest Job First
User/Business Value + Time Criticality + RR/OE Value

WSJF = ------------------------------------------------------------------------Job Size

7
Centralized Strategy and localized execution
-Investment Themes drive strategy.
-Portfolio backlog stitches the themes
Together.

Portfolio
Backlog
Investment Theme
Driven Strategy

Portfolio Epics
Architectural
Features

Customer / Value Stream Feedback

Product
Management

Team Inputs

Program
Backlog

Local program content
decision-making based
on domain knowledge,
customer and team feedback.
8
Program Portfolio Management
has the highest level decision-making responsibility in the framework
Program
Portfolio
Management

Typical roles
-Senior executives
-Senior solution
managers
-Line-of-Business

owners
-CTO
-Senior Development
Managers
-Program Management
Director

• Executives who bring necessary knowledge around
–
–
–
–

market knowledge
technology awareness
understanding of financial constrains
understanding of market conditions

• Stewards of Portfolio Vision.
• Drive product and solution strategy; manage
investments.
• Operational assistance may be delegated to PMO.

9
Program Portfolio Management
responsibilities

Strategy &
Investment Funding

Close the loop on
funding and program
execution; measures
and reporting
compliance.

Governance

Allocate and assure funding
to strategy

Program
Management

Drive, assist or support
program execution.

10
Program Portfolio Management
SAFe provides transformational patterns to ”agilean” PPM
From traditional approach

to ”agilean” approach

Centralized control

Decentralized decision-making

Project overload

Demand management, continuous value flow

Detailed project plans

Light-weight Epic only business cases

Centralized annual planning

Decentralized, rolling wave planning

Work Breakdown Structure

Agile estimating and planning
Self organizing/managing Agile Release Trains

Project-controlled funding and control

Objective, fact-based measures and MS`s.
Waterfall milestones
11
Agile Program Portfolio Management
enabling and fostering lean and agile practices for business results.

- Dencentralized decision-making

- Objective, fact-based
measures and milestones
Strategy &
Investment Funding

Governance

Program
Management

- Demand management; continuous
value flow
- Light Weight Epic Business Cases

- Decentralized, rolling-wave
planning
- Agile Estimating and
planning
- Self-managing Agile Release
Trains
12

SAFe portfolio management @ Knowit nov 28

  • 1.
    Program Portfolio Management Introductionon what the SAFe framework says about it. Fredrik Wiik
  • 2.
    Roots of theScaled Agile Framework Core values - Code Quality - Program Execution - Alignment - Transperancy 2
  • 3.
    In SAFe -the train is the thing! 3
  • 5.
    Portfolio level inSAFe. Value streams Business Drivers Investment Themes Business Kanban Portfolio Vision Drivers Portfolio Backlog Agile Release Trains Typical 50-125 pers/train 5
  • 6.
    Business Epic PortfolioKanban System 1. Funnel 2. Backlog 3. Analysis 4. Implementation -Product roadmap -New business opp -Cost savings -Problems needs solution -Refine understanding -Est CoD -Refine effort est -Relative ranking -Solution alternatives -Collaboration -Weighted rank -Business case -Ownership transitions -Teams begin implementing at release planning boundaries -Teams break Epics into features -Analyst support on pull basis - Effort size estimate - Value size estimate - Investment theme alignment Authority approves Epic Business analyst pulls Epic Portfolio Management Team/ Product Council Approval 6
  • 7.
    Weighted Shortest JobFirst User/Business Value + Time Criticality + RR/OE Value WSJF = ------------------------------------------------------------------------Job Size 7
  • 8.
    Centralized Strategy andlocalized execution -Investment Themes drive strategy. -Portfolio backlog stitches the themes Together. Portfolio Backlog Investment Theme Driven Strategy Portfolio Epics Architectural Features Customer / Value Stream Feedback Product Management Team Inputs Program Backlog Local program content decision-making based on domain knowledge, customer and team feedback. 8
  • 9.
    Program Portfolio Management hasthe highest level decision-making responsibility in the framework Program Portfolio Management Typical roles -Senior executives -Senior solution managers -Line-of-Business owners -CTO -Senior Development Managers -Program Management Director • Executives who bring necessary knowledge around – – – – market knowledge technology awareness understanding of financial constrains understanding of market conditions • Stewards of Portfolio Vision. • Drive product and solution strategy; manage investments. • Operational assistance may be delegated to PMO. 9
  • 10.
    Program Portfolio Management responsibilities Strategy& Investment Funding Close the loop on funding and program execution; measures and reporting compliance. Governance Allocate and assure funding to strategy Program Management Drive, assist or support program execution. 10
  • 11.
    Program Portfolio Management SAFeprovides transformational patterns to ”agilean” PPM From traditional approach to ”agilean” approach Centralized control Decentralized decision-making Project overload Demand management, continuous value flow Detailed project plans Light-weight Epic only business cases Centralized annual planning Decentralized, rolling wave planning Work Breakdown Structure Agile estimating and planning Self organizing/managing Agile Release Trains Project-controlled funding and control Objective, fact-based measures and MS`s. Waterfall milestones 11
  • 12.
    Agile Program PortfolioManagement enabling and fostering lean and agile practices for business results. - Dencentralized decision-making - Objective, fact-based measures and milestones Strategy & Investment Funding Governance Program Management - Demand management; continuous value flow - Light Weight Epic Business Cases - Decentralized, rolling-wave planning - Agile Estimating and planning - Self-managing Agile Release Trains 12