What Is An Agile Release Train?
The topic of Agile Release Train (ART) is critical to comprehending and implementing SAFe® principles. Now, what is an Agile Release Train? Could it be a group of teams who collaborate on a similar release schedule and Sprint timetable? Or is it just a group of elements that will be released on a regular basis to fulfill the projected business value? Would there be a task that is critical to the operation of an Agile Release Train? In this post, we shall attempt to address these concerns and take a deeper look at Agile Release Train.
What is Agile Release Train?
In SAFe, the fundamental value delivery component is the Agile Release Train (ART). The Agile Release Train is indeed a long-lived, disciplined group of Agile Teams that acts as a simulated enterprise (5 to 12 teams) that develops, contributes, and performs collaboratively. Agile Release Train is structured all-around firm's major Value Streams and exists only to fulfill the expectations of that value by developing products that increase the satisfaction of the end consumer.
As a result, an Agile Release Train is essentially a band of teams in charge of the frequent delivery of features and commercial advantages. An Agile Release Train's teams are united by a shared Goal, Program Backlog, and Strategy. A standard Agile Release Train consists of 50-125 individuals.
The Agile Release Train Principles
Scrum Masters, Agile Release Train Engineers, Product Owners, System Architects, Product Managers are needed in Agile Release Train in SAFe Agile to link business plans to team-level delivery and guarantee that what is generated has a direct impact on the value chain. The Scaled Agile Framework outlines the following concepts for Agile Release Train:
- Fixed Schedule:
Agile Release Train designs and executes work according to a set timetable established by the Program Increment (PI) cycle. Usually, Program Increments last 8-12 weeks. If a task or function is not scheduled within the existing PI, it does not commence before the next one started.
- New system increment biweekly:
Every 2 weeks, Agile Release Train provides a novel system increment. Agile Release Train function in 2-week cycles termed system increments, analogous to how Scrum and certain Agile teams function in Sprints.
- Fixed PI timebox:
A similar PI length is allocated to all the teams in an Agile Release Train.
- Known velocity:
Using past information, Agile Release Train predict how much activity can be completed in a PI and schedule team assignments.
- Agile Teams:
Agile teams adopt the Agile Manifesto and operate with Agile methodologies such as Scrum and Kanban.
- Hard Working people:
Full-time committed teams with prior expertise working together help Release Train Engineers Agile teams retain stability.
- PI preparation:
In periodic face-to-face or remote planning workshops, Agile Release Train collaborates with PI.
- Innovation and Planning:
SAFe Agile Release Train conducts Innovation and Planning conferences at the conclusion of each PI, which is a designated period for PI planning, infrastructure maintenance, and change management.
- Inspect and Adapt (I&A):
During an Inspect & Adapt session, Agile Release Train approaches are presented, examined, and assessed.
- Cadence Development, Release on Demand:
RTE Agile teams detach delivery from development to reduce the inherent uncertainty in creating new stuff.
- Synchronization is implemented:
To maintain Agile Release Train synced, all teams inside Agile Release Train are synchronized to a similar PI duration and run on a similar timetable (with identical start/finish dates and timeframes).
Roles in Agile Release Train
Running Agile Release Train needs active coaching as well as expertise with Agile. The responsibilities listed below contribute to the effective implementation of the Agile Release Train.
- Scrum Master: Supervises the team throughout meetings, processes, benchmarks, and protocols on a day-to-day basis.
- Product Owner: The person or organization in charge of the value created by the Agile team.
- Team Member: The core of Agile teams is made up of team members. They are cross-functional, cooperative individuals that prioritize incremental delivery.
Release Train Engineers (RTEs), Business Owners, System Architects/Engineers, and Product Managers are some of the other positions that Agile Release Train frequently use.
- Release Train Engineers (RTEs): They are in charge of enabling program execution, removing barriers to circulation, and managing risk and dependencies.
- Product Manager: Responsible for the product's overall strategy; engages with various stakeholders to establish and meet customer needs.
- System Architects and Engineers: Develop and create the overall design of the system, working from a birds-eye approach to ensure that main system pieces and linkages operate smoothly together.
- Business Owners: The Agile Release Train's main organizational stakeholders who are accountable for delivering the Agile Release Train's targeted business results.
Factors for Managing Agile Release Train in Technology
Enterprise Kanban
Enterprise Kanban solutions are useful for demonstrating workflow, progress, and perspective by assisting in the visualization of processes, increasing velocity, and uniting teams for constant improvement and on-time delivery. Teams can comprehend the task that remains to be done and interact with one another about the task in a unified, shared vision by prioritizing, organizing, and monitoring tasks on digital Kanban boards.
Scaling Agile effectively entails not pressuring teams to modify the routines, work methods, and technologies that allow them to execute even at a high level. This is yet another area where the correct corporate Kanban application may assist firms in implementing Agile at scale. Even if teams use a variety of Agile techniques and setups, they may collaborate their activities using a unified Kanban board, enabling cross-team scheduling and discussion.
Dependency Management
With several interlinked boards that match epics to features as well as other significant milestones, teams could strategize and collaborate throughout the Agile Release Train. This assists Agile Release Train in visualizing, communicating, and managing interdependence among teams and teams of teams. Enterprise Kanban boards may also be utilized to simply do Agile Release Train, Planning, or Program Increment (PI). Agile Release Train top management can create custom boards that look like the whiteboards and sticky notes used during in-person PI Planning, allowing teams to prioritize features on the basis of customer value metrics, velocity, capacity, and size in a single forum, without any duplication of work efforts or wasting time re-writing functionalities and features. Everyone utilizing the board may prioritize the best value epics firstly and feed those epics to the Agile Release Train and teams by simply moving cards across lanes or boards.
Optional Work tools and Agile Techniques
It is critical to allow teams to keep using Agile implementation tools that they are acquainted with or which are already customized to suit their procedures. Regardless of whether teams use Microsoft Azure DevOps, Atlassian Jira, Digital.ai (previously CollabNet VersionOne), or Rally Software by Broadcom, the optimum enterprise Agile instrument will enable Agile teams to seamlessly connect their tool of preference with an Agile Release Train Kanban board, allowing them to continue providing value without interruption.
Enable teams to adopt any methodology (Kanban, Scrum, Scrumban, etc.) throughout Agile Release Train to accomplish constant value delivery. Interconnects with existing development tools and see all activities at the Agile Release Train stage to provide a holistic picture throughout your teams.
Data Analytics and Reporting
When selecting technologies to support the Scaled Agile endeavor, determine what indicators will be beneficial for monitoring the efficacy of the Agile Release Train.
By offering insights and data into delivery patterns across teams of teams and individual team divisions, the correct technologies will drive constant improvement. Check that the technologies you chose to manage and implement the Agile Release Train allow you to gather the Lean indicators your business requires to track progress, quantify success, and grow Agile throughout the organization.
Executions
Utilizing complete execution and coaching solutions can assist you in getting your teams of teams or Agile Release Train fully operational quickly. Lean-Agile trainers may teach teams via Kanban concepts and benchmarks, along with Kanban board installation, virtually and/or onsite. Maintain momentum and value by providing continuing, cadence-based training and follow-ups.
Conclusion
Organizations that arrange their Agile teams around Agile Release Train get a better rate of return both in their digital as well as Agile transitions because:
- Integrating organizational strategies to team-level execution, making sure that what is brought to market has a direct influence on the end result.
- Lowering team expenses through limiting rework, putting high-value work upfront, and shifting forward into improved decision making.
- Increasing and speeding up Agile team delivery by visualizing various work approaches and procedures for Kanban, Scrum, and Scrumban in a singular viewpoint.
- Fostering communication and team-of-teams planning throughout all Agile teams, with a clear perspective of development and cross-team interdependence.
Agile Release Train embraces the organization's top objectives and acts on them in a timely and consistent pattern. But delivering value like this takes experience, as well as advanced technology solutions that keep teams linked and integrated from planning to execution. The teams will be able to provide a fully working release train by utilizing the correct technology and procedures, as well as having the insight to make decisions.
References
- https://www.scaledagileframework.com/agile-release-train/
- https://www.plutora.com/blog/agile-release-train
- https://www.easyagile.com/blog/agile-release-train/
