SAFe and Obeya

Are you looking for ways to make your SAFe implementation more effective and strengthen the alignment between strategy and execution? Integrating Leading with Obeya (LWO) with SAFe might be the breakthrough you’re looking for. Based on real-world experience at insurance company Aegon, this powerful combination has shown remarkable results in improving agility and strategic execution.

Why add Leading with Obeya (LWO) to your Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) implementation?

Organisations implementing SAFe often struggle with maintaining visibility across multiple ARTs, ensuring strategic alignment and creating effective feedback loops. The Leading with Obeya (LWO) management methodology addresses these challenges by providing a visual management approach that complements the SAFe framework and strengthens the business management side of the organisation.

The key benefits of this integration are:

1. Improved transparency and strategic alignment

  • Visualise the whole system, looking beyond just epics and features
  • Create clear connections between strategic goals and execution
  • Maintain complete overview of all organisational capabilities

2. Better decision-making

  • Accelerate strategic decision-making through real-time visual management
  • Find the right balance between value creation and operations
  • Strengthen the connection between leadership and execution

3. Streamlined communication

  • Reduce e-mail traffic by up to 50%
  • Reduce the need for status reports
  • Minimise escalations through proactive troubleshooting

4. Optimised meeting efficiency

  • Integrate SAFe events with LWO sessions
  • Create more effective feedback loops
  • Improve strategic focus and connection to day-to-day operations

Proven practical results with scaling Agile

At Aegon, the combination of SAFe and LWO led to substantial improvements in organisational effectiveness. The integration helped teams strengthen better strategic alignment, while reducing communication overhead and improving problem-solving capabilities.

Want to know more?

We have published a comprehensive article detailing how to implement this powerful combination in your organisation. The article includes:

  • Detailed implementation guidelines
  • Common challenges and how to overcome them
  • Practical steps to get started
  • Case studies and lessons learned

Download the article here

Ready to take your SAFe implementation to the next level?

Are you interested in implementing Leading with Obeya in your SAFe organisation? We would be happy to put you in touch with the authors to help you achieve similar results in your organisation.

Contact us to discuss opportunities