In this video, I explain what the SAFe for DevOps training is all about. Unlike traditional classroom courses, this training is a hands-on workshop where real teams work on their own value streams and leave with a concrete, prioritized action plan.
More Workshop Than Training#
The SAFe for DevOps training is more like a workshop or an assessment than a traditional course. Teams come in with their real challenges and questions about DevOps. Together, we work through a structured process that produces tangible results the teams can act on immediately after the course.
The training covers the theory behind DevOps, but the real value comes from applying that theory directly to the teams’ own delivery pipelines.
The Four-Step Process#
The workshop follows a clear four-step process:
- SAFe DevOps Health Radar: Teams assess themselves across the different disciplines of DevOps. This self-assessment provides a baseline of where the team currently stands.
- Current Value Stream Mapping: We map out all the process steps needed to bring an idea into production. This is the current state of the delivery pipeline.
- Future Value Stream Mapping: Using the input from the SAFe for DevOps training, we derive a future value stream. This is the target state the team wants to reach.
- Prioritized Action Items: From the gap between current and future state, we create a clear, prioritized set of action items the team can work on right away.
What Teams Learn#
During the workshop, teams get deep theory input on several important topics:
- What DevOps is and why it matters for companies today
- Shift left and its implications for quality and speed
- Continuous testing and why it is so important
- Continuous security and how to integrate it into the pipeline
- Measuring flow through the pipeline and identifying bottlenecks
The SAFe DevOps Health Radar#
The Health Radar covers four key dimensions of the continuous delivery pipeline:
- Continuous Exploration: How well does the team discover and validate what to build?
- Continuous Integration: How effectively does the team integrate and verify their code?
- Continuous Deployment: How smoothly can the team deploy to production environments?
- Release on Demand: How well can the team release value to customers when needed?
By assessing themselves across these dimensions, teams get a clear picture of their strengths and areas for improvement.
Works for Single Teams Too#
A common question I get is whether this training requires a full Agile Release Train (ART) or a large-scale SAFe implementation. The answer is no. Single teams can absolutely take this course. While some SAFe terminology will come up during the workshop, we always explain it in context. The real focus is on improving your continuous delivery pipeline, and that applies to teams of any size.
Key Takeaways#
- Hands-on, not theoretical. The SAFe for DevOps training is a workshop where teams work on their own real value streams, not on textbook examples.
- Self-assessment with the Health Radar. Teams assess themselves across four dimensions: continuous exploration, continuous integration, continuous deployment, and release on demand.
- Value stream mapping reveals bottlenecks. By mapping the current delivery pipeline and designing a future state, teams can see exactly where to improve.
- Teams leave with a concrete action plan. The prioritized action items give teams something they can start working on the very next day.
- No full SAFe implementation required. The training works just as well for single teams as it does for entire Agile Release Trains.
- Certification available. Teams also have the option to get certified after completing the training.