Five Benefits of SAFe Agile Training

In general terms, companies use Agile certification and training to achieve business goals in a more efficient manner. As its name suggests, this certification focuses on helping employees become more ‘agile’ when it comes to handling business challenges.This might involve challenges with software development, customer satisfaction, inter-department collaboration and so on.

Currently, one of the best ways to get Agile training is through Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) certification. SAFe will give you an in-depth understanding of Lean-Agile methodologies, which in turn, will help you improve your decision-making and ability to adapt to industry changes. Looking at the bigger picture, Lean-Agile teams can help a company become more productive and better meet goals.

If this is your first time hearing about SAFe, you probably have a few questions about it. What does being Agile really mean? Is SAFe an internationally recognised certification? How can it benefit my career in the long run?

To help you understand the certification better, here are five benefits of SAFe Agile training.

1. Teaches you the Lean-Agile approach

SAFe certification courses are designed to provide you with a deeper understanding of how to use Lean-Agile methodologies to benefit your business.

One can better understand the Agile methodology by looking at what being ‘agile’ means. In this context, you can argue that agility encompasses attributes like speed, adaptability and precision.

In business, Agile methodologies break up a single project into multiple ‘increments’. Through each increment, the team then cycles between stages of planning, execution and evaluation. Each phase is treated as a short sprint. This approach allows Agile teams to quickly deliver results at the end of each stage.

Additionally, the Agile system takes into account variability and allows for a more innovative approach when it comes to changes in the industry. Agile teams are comfortable dismissing an established plan and quickly coming up with an adapted approach if necessary. This represents the ability to change directions, or pivot, within a short time frame.

Lean methodologies, on the other hand, focus more on optimising workflow and resources. They are focused more on efficiency as opposed to pure speed.

Both methodologies can help you and your company get to an end product as quickly as possible. This quick delivery can help you to obtain feedback from customers, which can be used to improve the next iteration of your product or service.

2. Improves decision-making skills

If you’re in a leadership position, chances are you have to regularly make big decisions for your team. In fact, many business leaders say that the ability to make sound and quick decisions is essential to running a successful organisation.

SAFe training can assist with decision making. Since Lean-Agile systems are focused on continuous improvement and adaptability, you will be faced with many decisions throughout the Lean-Agile cycles. Eventually, you will become a master at quickly evaluating a situation and applying your Lean-Agile knowledge to come to a sound resolution.

Additionally, SAFe training often involves learning various estimation techniques.This includes the bucket system, affinity mapping and dot voting. Estimation techniques can help you get a clearer picture of the months and years ahead and thus, help you make educated decisions

3. It’s a globally recognised certification

SAFe certification is globally recognised. If you’re looking to work for a company overseas, your SAFe certification will let employers know that you have the skills to help their business become a Lean-Agile enterprise.

This is especially true in the IT world, where a Lean-Agile skillset is currently in demand. Plenty of organisations around the world are now looking for IT professionals with valid Lean-Agile credentials.

SAFe is certainly one of the industry standards when it comes to Agile training. Scaled Agile Framework certification also comes with a verifiable digital badge that you can share online via email or digital CVs.

The good thing about SAFe training is that you can choose from a variety of certifications. There’s a SAFe Product Manager/Product Owner certification, a SAFe Agilist certification, a SAFe Architect certification and more. So, regardless of the industry or country that you’re in, a SAFe certification can give your career a boost.

4. An increase in salary

If you gain new skills, you aren’t just going to get a pat on the back from your boss. Many SAFe Agilists have seen a significant increase in their salary. On average, a SAFe Agilist certification can increase one’s pay by around 25%.

Of course, an increase in salary is usually accompanied by a change in responsibilities. With SAFe training, you will be more than capable of handling the pressures of climbing the corporate ladder. Your decision-making will be much improved along with your ability to adapt to major industry changes. Indeed, such skills are necessary to become a confident and effective leader.

5. Access to content

After you’ve finished the program, you will have access to the Scaled Agile content kit. With this kit, you’ll have an abundance of Lean-Agile information at your fingertips. You can review the content, brush-up on your knowledge and gain a deeper understanding of Lean-Agile principles.

Of course, it wouldn’t be Lean-Agile if the content itself didn’t adapt to industry changes. That’s why certified SAFe Agilists will also get content updates depending on how the industry evolves. As a result of this, your knowledge will remain relevant for many years to come.

If you need assistance or help after the program, you can also get help from the closed Scaled Agile community and the professional social channel on LinkedIn.

That was just a few advantages of having a SAFe certification. Depending on the field that you’re in, there will certainly be plenty of industry specific benefits as well. If you have any questions about the certification, there are a lot of Agile professional training organisations across Australia. Their teams should be able to help you find the certification that’s right for you.