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In the world of Agile, particularly within the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe), there are several roles that help organizations scale Agile practices across multiple teams and levels. Among the most commonly discussed are the SAFe Practitioner and SAFe Agilist. While both roles share a focus on implementing Agile principles, they have distinct responsibilities, skill sets, and certifications. Understanding the differences between these two roles is crucial for organizations looking to adopt SAFe and for professionals aiming to pursue a career in Agile at scale.

In this blog, we’ll dive into the key differences between a SAFe Practitioner and a SAFe Agilist, outlining their roles, responsibilities, certifications, and the skills required for each.

What is a SAFe Practitioner?

A SAFe Practitioner is typically someone who has gained knowledge of the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) and works within Agile teams to execute SAFe practices in daily operations. The SAFe Practitioner has hands-on experience with Agile methodologies and is responsible for helping Agile teams apply SAFe principles and practices to deliver value in a structured and efficient manner.

Key Responsibilities of a SAFe Practitioner:

1. Implementing SAFe Practices: The SAFe Practitioner is responsible for ensuring that the team adheres to SAFe guidelines and Agile principles during daily work, including Iteration Planning, daily stand-ups, reviews, and retrospectives.
2. Collaborating with Teams: They work closely with other team members, including the SAFe Scrum Master and Product Owner, to ensure that team goals align with the broader objectives of the Agile Release Train (ART) or Program Increment (PI).
3. Fostering Continuous Improvement: SAFe Practitioners help to create an environment of continuous improvement by gathering feedback during retrospectives and ensuring that improvements are made at the team level.
4. Executing Agile at Scale: They ensure the successful execution of SAFe principles at the team level, contributing to delivering incrementally valuable features while maintaining quality.

Skills and Competencies:

• Solid understanding of SAFe principles: Knowledge of SAFe practices such as iterative development, Agile Release Trains (ARTs), Program Increments (PIs), and the role of Scrum and Kanban.
• Team collaboration skills: Ability to work in a cross-functional, collaborative environment.
• Problem-solving skills: Ability to remove obstacles and encourage efficient workflows.
• Knowledge of Agile tools: Familiarity with tools like Jira, Trello, or other Agile project management tools to track progress.

SAFe Practitioner Certification:

The SAFe Practitioner (SP) certification is typically awarded after completing the SAFe for Teams course, which provides an understanding of the SAFe framework at the team level. The course covers key SAFe practices and tools that help Agile teams work effectively within the framework.

What is a SAFe Agilist?

A SAFe Agilist is a professional with a broader and more strategic role within the SAFe framework. The SAFe Agilist is typically responsible for driving the organization’s adoption of SAFe principles at an enterprise level, helping leadership and teams implement Agile at scale, and ensuring alignment across various levels of the organization. Unlike a SAFe Practitioner, who focuses on the execution of Agile practices at the team level, a SAFe Agilist’s role extends to aligning teams, programs, and portfolios with the organization’s strategic goals.

Key Responsibilities of a SAFe Agilist:

1. Leading Agile Transformations: The SAFe Agilist is instrumental in leading the adoption of SAFe within an organization. They act as change agents, guiding leaders and teams in transforming traditional approaches to Agile methodologies.
2. Coaching Leadership: A SAFe Agilist coaches senior leaders on SAFe practices, helping them understand how to create a Lean-Agile mindset and how to lead through the transformation process. This includes focusing on organizational change, Lean thinking, and delivering value at scale.
3. Aligning Teams to Business Goals: SAFe Agilists help ensure that all Agile teams and programs are aligned with the organization’s broader strategic goals. They play a key role in Program Increment (PI) planning, ensuring that the work of various teams aligns with business objectives.
4. Improving Processes at Scale: The SAFe Agilist works at the program and portfolio levels, implementing practices that help scale Agile to larger teams or entire departments. They identify and resolve bottlenecks and inefficiencies, improving the organization’s ability to deliver value consistently.
5. Driving Continuous Improvement Across the Enterprise: They foster a culture of continuous improvement by helping the organization evaluate current practices, define new objectives, and adjust workflows to become more efficient and responsive to change.

Skills and Competencies:

• Deep understanding of SAFe principles and practices: Knowledge of SAFe’s framework at both the team and enterprise level, including ARTs, PIs, Lean-Agile principles, and the relationship between business goals and delivery.
• Leadership and coaching skills: Ability to coach both leadership and teams in adopting SAFe and fostering a culture of agility.
• Change management expertise: Skills in managing and leading organizational change and understanding the psychology of change.
• Strategic thinking: Ability to connect Agile work to the larger business strategy and objectives.

SAFe Agilist Certification:

The SAFe Agilist (SA) certification is awarded after completing the Leading SAFe course, which focuses on guiding organizations through SAFe adoption and ensuring alignment between strategic business goals and the execution of Agile principles across the enterprise.

When to Choose SAFe Practitioner vs. SAFe Agilist?

• SAFe Practitioner: This role is ideal for those working directly within Agile teams, such as Scrum Masters, Agile team members, or other roles focused on the day-to-day implementation of Agile practices. If you’re looking to understand and apply SAFe principles at the team level and contribute to Agile delivery, the SAFe Practitioner role is the right choice.
• SAFe Agilist: If you’re a senior leader or consultant who aims to drive Agile transformations across the organization, aligning teams and programs with strategic business goals, becoming a SAFe Agilist would be a natural progression. This role is suitable for individuals involved in coaching leadership and leading enterprise-level change initiatives.

Conclusion

While both the SAFe Practitioner and SAFe Agilist play crucial roles in the implementation of the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe), they serve different purposes within an organization. The SAFe Practitioner focuses on the execution of Agile practices at the team level, ensuring that day-to-day work is done according to SAFe principles. On the other hand, the SAFe Agilist has a broader responsibility, leading and supporting the Agile transformation at the enterprise level, aligning teams with business goals, and coaching leadership.

Choosing between the two roles depends on where you want to contribute—whether you’re more focused on the tactical, team-level implementation of Agile, or if you want to drive change and transformation at a strategic, organizational level. Both roles are vital to the success of Agile adoption, and understanding their distinctions will help you decide which path is best suited to your career and organizational goals.