26.11.2024 | Anna Jäger
Why Structured Onboarding is Crucial for New Employees in SAFe® Organizations
- Agile Organisation
- SAFe
In agile organizations, especially those that use the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe®), onboarding plays a central role. The way in which new employees are introduced to the company can have a significant impact on the success of their work and the efficiency of the entire team.
Well-designed onboarding not only supports personal integration, but also ensures that new employees can quickly understand and implement the agile practices and processes of SAFe®.
The Challenge of Agile Teams
In a SAFe® organization, collaboration between different teams and levels is central. However, it can be a challenge for new employees to get to grips with the structure, as they have to familiarize themselves with new terms, tools, roles and a multitude of parallel tasks. Well-structured onboarding is therefore particularly important: it not only provides the necessary knowledge, but also strengthens the feeling of security and appreciation. In the Lean-Agile environment in particular, well-founded onboarding helps to quickly grasp the principles and methods, clarify expectations and promote motivation and loyalty so that new colleagues can immediately focus on common goals.
The Right Training is the Key to Success
The SAFe® for Teams (SP) training is an excellent example of a structured and targeted induction. This two-day intensive training course is designed to prepare an entire ART specifically for the first PI Planning and is ideal for introducing new employees to their role in the team and the Agile Release Train (ART) in the best possible way. As part of the training, participants not only learn the basics of Scrum and Kanban, but also receive a comprehensive introduction to Lean Thinking and the most important tools and processes of SAFe®.
The practical simulation of the PI Planning Event is particularly valuable. Here, new employees experience first-hand how teams take planning into their own hands and align themselves with common goals. This exercise provides a deep insight into cross-functional collaboration and shows how valuable customer solutions can be created when everyone pulls together.
In-house vs. Public Training: Customized Solutions for Different Needs
Depending on the company structure and requirements, there are different approaches to effectively integrate new employees.
- In-house training: In-house SAFe® for Teams training is ideal for methodically preparing all team members of a new Agile Release Train for the first PI Planning and the associated agile way of working. This training can be conducted directly on the company's premises, enabling a seamless transition to operational planning. All ART team members can thus benefit from intensive preparation that is specifically tailored to the circumstances of their own organization. In addition to the launch of a new ART, this in-house training can be used across all ARTs in large organizations to train new employees in the SAFe® context.
- NEW: Public Training: The public SAFe® for Teams training is ideal for providing a cost-effective solution when there are not enough new employees in the organization to set up in-house training. In public training, employees from different companies come together to learn the basics of SAFe® and close knowledge gaps. This form of training also offers the opportunity to exchange ideas with participants from other companies, which broadens horizons and opens up new perspectives on agile working methods.
Exclusive Bundles for Key Roles
In addition to the general introduction to SAFe®, specific roles such as the Scrum Master, Product Owner or Product Manager are of central importance for the success of an agile team. Onboarding that is specifically tailored to these roles ensures that new employees understand their tasks from the outset and can carry them out effectively. The focus is particularly on deepening the roles in relation to the SAFe® environment.
The new, exclusive bundle offers combine the SAFe® for Teams training with specific courses for key roles to ensure optimal preparation:
- SAFe for Teams & Product Owner / Product Manager: this combination gives new Product Owners and Product Managers the tools they need to understand and successfully implement their role in the scaled agile environment.
- SAFe for Teams & SAFe Scrum Master: This bundle is specially designed for new SAFe® Scrum Masters who, in addition to the SAFe® basics, also want to gain a deep understanding of their specific tasks in an agile scaled team.
With these targeted training packages, new employees start their new role well prepared and can immediately create added value for the team and the company.
Conclusion: Investments in Onboarding Pays Off
Structured onboarding that takes into account the specific requirements of SAFe® organizations is the key to a successful start for new employees. The combination of practical training such as SAFe® for Teams (SP) and targeted induction measures ensures that new colleagues not only become productive quickly, but also remain motivated and committed in the long term.
Companies that invest in sound onboarding benefit from better collaboration, faster success and increased satisfaction among both employees and customers.
Take the opportunity and prepare your team optimally for the next PI Planning Event - with a customized SAFe® for Teams training or the exclusive bundle offers for Scrum Master and Product Owner/Product Manager.