Leading with Obeya and SAFe, a working combination?

When Aegon IT was confronted with various challenges, some Release Train Engineers began to wonder whether Leading with Obeya (facilitated by Obeya Coaching & Training) could offer a solution. However, the question arose as to how well it would fit within the existing SAFe framework.

Reorganization leads to uncertainty

During a major cost-saving program at Aegon IT, team compositions changed while the work largely remained the same. As people tend to do what they’ve always done, there was confusion about roles and responsibilities. Uncertainty arose about who was responsible for what and how problems could be tackled collectively. Product managers and Release Train Engineers got bogged down in firefighting and had little time left to set joint priorities or facilitate improvements.

To bring order to chaos, Aegon IT decided to embrace the Obeya method in combination with their existing SAFe framework. But the implementation was not without hurdles. There was resistance, especially due to concerns about extra meetings and uncertainty about how Obeya would fit with existing SAFe events.

The Obeya Team Kickstart

“Fortunately, Obeya Coaching & Training came into play. Under their guidance, each team built their own Obeya in three days, visualizing joint strategies, objectives, and milestones, and assigning responsibilities. This approach brought us clarity and transparency. The Leading with Obeya method worked as a mirror, helping us reclaim ownership of the work on our plates.”

“In collaboration with other teams at Aegon IT, we determined a common strategic direction and relearned to set our priorities. By aligning the Obeyas, we created a comprehensive overview of our goals and key milestones.”

“The Leading with Obeya method worked as a mirror.”

Ron van Vliet, Release Train Engineer

Obeya ♥ SAFe

By combining the Leading with Obeya method with SAFe, the teams at Aegon IT discovered that both methods complemented each other well. Merging the existing SAFe meetings with the rhythm and routines of Leading with Obeya created a clear structure and significantly reduced the number of meetings.

With filled boards and a sharp focus, the teams began their work. Problems were made visible and addressed promptly through the new meeting rhythms. Centralized communication via a shared physical inbox significantly reduced the flow of emails and ad hoc communication.

Enthusiastic critics, clarity, and collaboration

Open discussions about responsibilities and tasks brought more clarity. Obstacles that were previously hidden came to light and could be addressed immediately. Several teams decided to start using the Leading with Obeya method. As a result, they began to see the interconnectedness of their work and priorities across the chain.

“Not everyone was enthusiastic when we started. We faced understandable resistance. But when even the biggest critic became enthusiastic about Leading with Obeya, I knew we were doing the right things.” – Ron van Vliet, Release Train Engineer.

The biggest gain was the reduction of wasteful work as teams began to collaborate. Less email traffic, fewer calls, fewer ad hoc meetings. The chaos disappeared. There was clarity and an overview of goals, progress, and performance. Tasks, roles, and responsibilities were clearly delineated.