Making your DAD's Nexus SAFe for LeSS - does your scaling framework matter?

About this Case Study

Scaling agile is always difficult. Craig Larman, the co-creator of Large Scale Scrum (LeSS) typically advises that you don't do it, and if you do, don't do it across multiple locations, and not using offshore teams.

Wantonly ignoring all of this advice, Gez Smith has been scaling agile in HSBC for the last year or so, across the UK, Poland, India and Hong Kong, using LeSS, Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) and Disciplined Agile Delivery (DAD). This session explores whether he was mad to scale across so many locations using so many frameworks, or whether there's actually more in common between the frameworks than people often assume. Along the way you'll learn:

• what the different scaling frameworks are, including their main similarities and differences
• which frameworks work better in which circumstances and why
• how scaling frameworks can be used to drive broader organisation change and agile transformation, from descaling organisation hierarchies to creating cross-functional feature teams in a world wedded to components
• how to spot when big is actually too big, and what to do about it
• the importance of the softer skills around scaling, bringing people together and understanding the limitations of technology, one phone pause at a time
• why the biggest limitation to scaling is probably the human mind

About the Speaker

Gez has been working with agile for over 12 years, for clients including 10 Downing Street, the BBC Trust, Lloyds Banking Group and Glastonbury Festival. Currently the Global Head of Agile for HSBC, responsible for scaling agile across multiple countries and business areas, he writes, vlogs and podcasts extensively about agile leadership, recruitment, HR, transformation and communications.

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