SAFe or Sorry? A Guide to the Scaled Agile Framework

In this episode of The Product Handbook, we unpack the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) — one of the most widely adopted (and hotly debated) approaches to scaling Agile across large organizations.

You’ll learn:

• The core components of SAFe, including Program Increment (PI) Planning, alignment rituals, and built-in quality practices

• Key values like transparency, predictability, and alignment across teams — and how they play out in practice

• Common critiques: Is SAFe just “Waterfall with standups”? Why do some call it agile theater?

• How SAFe compares to leaner models like LeSS

• A mental map of roles, events, and decision layers that help you remember SAFe without drowning in acronyms

If you’ve ever sat in a PI planning session wondering “Is this Agile?” — or you’re preparing to explain SAFe in an interview or leadership meeting — this episode gives you the clarity and context to speak fluently (and skeptically) about scaled agility.