My Experience in the SAFe® for Hardware Expert Enablement

Unlock the Future of Hardware Agility! Insights, strategies, and real-world experiences from the SAFe® for Hardware Workshop await you - let's build success together!

On December 11, 2024, I had the incredible opportunity to attend the SAFe^® for Hardware Expert Enablement Workshop, led by Agile in Hardware thought leaders Harry Koehnemann and Rune Christensen. This immersive workshop was a perfect blend of theory and practice, designed not only to deepen our understanding of business agility in the hardware domain but also to prepare us for the future delivery of SAFe^® for Hardware training.

The workshop brought together a dynamic group of SAFe^® experts and practitioners, each contributing unique perspectives and insights. The discussions and activities emphasized the importance of cross-functional collaboration across different engineering disciplines—mechanical, electrical, systems, and software. This diversity is what makes the hardware environment both challenging and uniquely rewarding to navigate with agile principles.

The enablement format provided a comprehensive learning experience, combining insights into key aspects of hardware agility with hands-on activities and simulations. We explored real-world challenges and practical solutions while gaining clarity on the structure and delivery of SAFe^® for Hardware training.

A Diverse and Engaging Learning Experience

What makes the hardware environment unique is the need to integrate various engineering disciplines. From mechanical and electrical engineering to systems and software, the hardware world exemplifies how essential cross-functional collaboration is for success.

Additionally, the format of the enablement struck a balance between:

• Insights into implementing business agility in hardware
• Engaging simulations and activities to reinforce key concepts
• Practical details about structuring and delivering SAFe^® for Hardware classes

Key Highlights and Takeaways

Roadmap over Specifications

A standout moment was the quote:
“We did not go to space with a detailed specification, but with a good roadmap we did.”
This perfectly encapsulates the agile mindset required for the hardware world—focusing on adaptability and intentionality over rigid details.

Steps to Achieve Hardware Agility

The enablement emphasized three critical steps to implementing agility in hardware development:

1. Establish Intentional Architecture: Lay a solid foundation with clear architectural guidelines.
2. Define the Roadmap: Create a high-level plan to align efforts across teams and systems.
3. Derive Specifications: Let detailed requirements emerge iteratively, guided by the roadmap and architecture.

Interactive Activities and Simulations

• The standardized interfaces activity was not only educational but also great fun, illustrating how consistency can simplify complexity.
• The simulation around aligning roadmaps across multiple ARTs offered a hands-on experience of navigating the intricacies of large-scale hardware development.

Why this Matters?

Hardware development often faces the challenge of integrating various disciplines with differing priorities, timelines, and constraints. The principles of SAFe^® for Hardware provide a structured yet flexible approach to bring alignment and efficiency to these complex environments. 

Through this enablement, I gained a deeper understanding of how to best guide organizations in achieving business agility in the hardware space, making it possible to deliver value faster, adapt to changes, and innovate effectively.

Final Thoughts

Participating in this enablement was an inspiring journey that highlighted the potential of agility in the hardware world. It was a pleasure to engage with such a talented group of experts and learn from the best in the field. I’m excited to apply these insights in my work and continue exploring the transformative impact of agility across all domains. 

If you’re working in hardware or leading agile transformations in multidisciplinary environments, SAFe^® for Hardware is an opportunity you don’t want to miss.

Let's continue building roadmaps to succcess – together!

To learn more about SAFe^® in the hardware world, join me in an already guaranteed training coming up on March 3 - 5, 2025!

Register now!