Large Solution SAFe is focused on implementing SAFe where multiple Agile teams are involved with bigger and additional roles, responsibilities, events, and practices are adhered to deliver larger applications in solving complex business problems.
The Large Solution SAFe configuration includes Essential SAFe configuration. Enterprise Solution Delivery aims as applying Lean-Agile principles and practices for whole development to deployment of large scale-solution and most sophisticated software applications, networks, and cyber-physical systems. They also connect to a large enterprise or government entity.
Solution Architect/Engineering is a role that is responsible for defining and sharing the technical and architectural vision for Solution Train. The role helps to ensure the system or Solution being developed is aligned with the purpose.
The Solution Train is a large organisational construct that is used to build large and complex solutions. They are referred to as ‘system of systems’. Multiple Agile Release Trains (ARTs) that has hundreds or even thousands of people work together along with contributions of Suppliers. The ARTs align with the shared business and technology goal using the solution Vision, Backlog, and Roadmap, and a Program Increment (PI). The Solution Train provides the required additional roles, events, and artifacts that help in building some of the world’s largest and most important systems such as medical devices, automobiles, banking systems, commercial aircraft, and aerospace and defense systems. These systems are subject to industry and regulatory standards.
Solution Train Engineer (STE) role is much larger than Release Train Engineer (RTE) role where the STE plays as a servant leader of the train at solution level. They help teams to build world class solution by removing any impediments and facilitate events, maintain artifacts, ensuring that the SAFe principles and practices are followed properly.
A Supplier can be an internal or external organisation entity that builds and provides the required components, subsystems, or services to the teams. This helps the Solution Trains and Agile Release Trains build the final product or solution and deliver value to the customers.
The Large Solution SAFe has the following item types:
Solution Epic: Solution Epics are initiatives that are large enough to deserve analysis and a Lean Business Case but are reserved for a single Solution (Value Stream).
Capability: Capabilities are much alike to features, but at a higher-level of the solution. They cover multiple Agile Release Trains (ARTs) with value stream backlog fitting in a Program Increment (PI). With this approach, each PI delivers a solution value.
Learning Milestone: It helps in measuring and monitoring the progress and risk of a program through progress points on the timeline.
PI Objective: It describes the goals and the business value for Capabilities at program, team, or value stream level, Features, or Stories that need to be delivered in a Program Increment or Iteration.
Task: It is a unit of work planned for a program increment. Tasks are usually estimated in hours.
Defect: It could be a bug, error, fault, or flaw in the solution.
Risk: A risk is a potential event that could affect the project’s success. It might be seen as threats or opportunities for improvement to prevent the risk.
Retrospective: A Retrospective event takes place to discuss what went well and what did not go well, and also identify what could be improved in the upcoming iteration.