Exploring the Scaled Agile Framework in a Virtual Team Setting

Sammanfattning: The Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) is an agile methodology that aligns collaboration between multiple teams in agile software development. SAFe is commonly being applied to global environments where team members are sitting distributed, through so-called virtual teams. The aim of this study is to investigate how the Scaled Agile Framework is perceived by employees working within a virtual team setting in terms of benefits, challenges and shortcomings. Semi-structured interviews with employees working at IKEA are conducted and analysed. The study is based on a research model that is developed from a literature review on agility and virtual teams. Perceived benefits of SAFe are increasing customer satisfaction, as well as giving structure that provides a shared goal and helps to deal with dependencies. Perceived challenges are interacting with other functions, management not working agile, coordinating between trains, not having technology that supports agility, and communicating with dispersed members. SAFe’s identified shortcomings are providing too little guidance on the later stages of development, being costly, as well as rigid. Results from this study give further insights into the Scaled Agile Framework in a virtual team setting.