Deployment of a project office using the SAFe methodology using the “Project Management Hexagon” metric, part 2
Team size and maturity
When deploying a project office based on the SAFe methodology, the size and maturity of the teams play a key role. In a large enterprise where there are multiple programs or even portfolios of projects, it is important to consider the balance between the number of teams and their ability to solve problems effectively. In SAFe, the size of teams varies depending on the maturity level of the organization and the volume of projects. Typically a project team consists of 5-9 members, which allows for a high degree of involvement and flexibility.
However, the question arises: how many such teams should there be in a project office and how does the maturity of the teams affect success? Mature teams have a deep understanding of business processes, are able to independently solve problems, make decisions and adapt to changes. SAFe supports the development of teams to this level of maturity through continuous learning and the application of DevOps and Lean principles. More mature teams implement ideas faster, distribute responsibility better, and minimize the need for management intervention.
On the other hand, if the number of teams exceeds reasonable limits, the project office may experience excessive coordination complexity, difficult knowledge sharing, and decreased productivity. This highlights the importance of properly assigning roles, functions, and performance-related metrics. In such a situation, SAFe helps with coordination through the division into Agile Release Trains (ART) – groups of teams that work synchronously according to a single plan and common goals.
Resource shortage
Resource scarcity is one of the most common problems in project management, especially in large organizations. Lack of time, human resources, knowledge or tools can slow down the development and implementation of projects. SAFe helps mitigate the effects of resource shortages through clear roles and transparent management of priorities.
PI Planning System (Program Increment Planning)one of the key practices of SAFe, allows you to develop plans based on available resources, the maturity level of teams and the priorities of the organization. During the planning process, teams and stakeholders discuss which tasks can be completed based on the availability of resources, and which tasks should be delayed or reallocated.
The methodology also helps optimize the use of resources by reusing best practices, automating processes, and integrating DevOps methodologies. In this way, the lack of resources is compensated by structured work flow management and automation, which reduces the burden on staff.
How a project office helps overcome resource shortages
The project office within SAFe becomes an important link between teams and senior management, allowing for the effective allocation and management of resources. There may be several structural units in a project office, such as:
PMO (Project Management Office) — Responsible for monitoring the progress of projects and allocating resources between them.
LACE (Lean-Agile Center of Excellence) — a knowledge center responsible for coordinating training and implementation of Lean and Agile best practices.
Release Train Engineer (RTE) – A key role in SAFe, responsible for coordinating the work of the ART and ensuring the correct allocation of resources.
The project office helps balance work between teams, allowing you to dynamically redistribute tasks depending on their priority and available resources. For example, if one of the teams faces a shortage of specialists, the project office can initiate internal reassignment of employees, the appointment of additional training, or the involvement of external contractors.
The Impact of Maturity and Structure on Success
The maturity of the teams and the structured approach of SAFe ensures the sustainable success of the organization. Mature teams can cope with resource constraints through greater self-organization, predictability, and independence. The project office plays a key role in organizing interactions between teams, allowing you to adapt the methodology to the specifics of the business and support continuous learning and development. Ultimately, this increases productivity and reduces risk.
Bottom line: the project office as a catalyst for efficiency
The SAFe methodology through the project office creates a flexible structure that allows you to manage resources, size and maturity of teams at all levels of the organization. The project office ensures transparency of processes, accurate allocation of resources and monitoring of metrics, which together allows the organization to cope with the challenges of a large number of participants and resource shortages.
Matrix of interactions “Hexagon of management/roles/documents/tools”
Hexagon control:
Management metrics (productivity, timing, quality, cost, risk, customer satisfaction).
Roles:
Documents:
PI Plan.
Regulations for the use of resources.
Risk matrix.
Status reports.
Tools:
JIRA/Confluence (project management).
SAFe Portfolio Management Tools.
DevOps tools (Jenkins, Git, Docker).
This matrix helps you see how key elements interact to ensure management integrity.
