In this special episode of No BS Scaling w/ Agility, Yuval shares an AI-generated highlight of the Breaking the SAFe video series created with Ryan Ripley. As a SAFe Fellow, SPCT, and Professional Scrum Trainer, Yuval brings a unique inside-out perspective—able to both defend and critique SAFe based on real-world intent and outcomes.
This episode explores some of the most hotly debated elements of SAFe: why it’s so popular, where it goes off the rails, and how leadership, structure, and context shape whether SAFe is a recipe for real agility or just another case of process theater.
“Are we putting agile lipstick on a waterfall pig?”
“The question isn’t whether SAFe is good or bad, it’s how it is used—and to what end.”
“Structure helps at scale, but only if it doesn’t choke the principles you’re trying to scale.”
“If you’re not living and breathing agile principles, the framework doesn’t matter.”
“You have to actually do the work. The mindset. The principles. Otherwise, it’s just theater.”
“SAFe is a tool. Like any tool, it can be misused—or used in context to create real value.”
“It’s supposed to be evolution, not revolution. But sometimes that evolution just reinforces old habits.”
Chapters
(00:00) Introduction to Scaling with Agility and SAFe
(01:06) Why SAFe Is So Popular (and Why That’s Not Always a Good Thing)
(02:02) Critiques and the Waterfall Rebrand Debate
(03:54) PI Planning: Powerful Tool or Planning Trap?
(06:58) Leadership’s Role: Are You Chasing Cheaper or Embracing Change?
(07:59) Scrum Master Controversies: Servant Leader or Project Manager 2.0?
(09:41) SAFe's Response to the Command-and-Control Critique
(11:55) The Product Owner Fracture: Customer Focus or Confused Ownership?
(14:33) When SAFe Helps—And When It Hurts
(15:09) Final Thoughts: Agility Is a Mindset, Not a Framework
Want more than the highlights? Check out the Breaking the SAFe video series
🔥 Are you looking for a way to safely scale with SAFe?
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Yuval Yeret helps leaders maximize outcomes through strategic, nuanced agility. As a product/scaling/agility-focused management consultant, he guides organizations beyond agile theater and feature factories toward product-oriented agility—drawing on deep expertise as a SAFe Fellow, SPCT, and Professional Scrum Trainer.
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