“Safe is evolving in small batches now—not just big bangs.” - Nikolaos KaintantzisIntroductionNiko moderates this debrief of the 2024 SAFe Summit in Sorrento—but it quickly becomes more than a recap. While only he and Ali attended in person, Stephan and Mark bring layered reflection from the sidelines. What begins as a highlight reel turns into a conversation about direction: not just where the framework is going, but how change agents are meant to meet it. What does it mean to decouple without dilutin...
“Safe is evolving in small batches now—not just big bangs.” - Nikolaos Kaintantzis
Introduction
Niko moderates this debrief of the 2024 SAFe Summit in Sorrento—but it quickly becomes more than a recap. While only he and Ali attended in person, Stephan and Mark bring layered reflection from the sidelines. What begins as a highlight reel turns into a conversation about direction: not just where the framework is going, but how change agents are meant to meet it. What does it mean to decouple without diluting? How do we contextualize without fragmenting? And how do you lead when the framework’s evolving beneath your feet?
Actionable Insights
Here’s what the Unleashed crew surfaced—explicitly and between the lines—about navigating SAFe's latest shifts:
- Modularity is in. The shift toward continuous delivery and context-driven overlays marks a departure from SAFe’s monolithic past.
- Contextualization is canon. Tailoring is now core guidance, not subtext.
- Disciplines over dimensions. The new structure invites varied learning paths—and sharper competency focus.
Highlights
Configuring SAFe for Continuous Delivery
The crew probes both the mechanics and the implications of breaking the framework into modular, industry-specific parts. While the monolith gave SAFe stability, it also limited adaptability—especially in fast-moving or heavily specialized environments. Now, there's a growing shift toward a leaner, more customizable ecosystem, one where guidance can evolve continuously without requiring a complete re-release.
“How do we decouple it? How do we set ourselves up to get into more of a continuous delivery model with SAFe?” —Mark Richards
The New Discipline and Competency Model
The team reflects on the practical limits of the old competency model and the opportunities created by the new discipline format. The previous structure forced symmetry, even when some dimensions overlapped or felt redundant. With disciplines, SAFe can hold complexity without enforcing uniformity. It also creates clearer on-ramps for learners—and clearer invites for contributors.
Niko shares his own internal tension when offered the chance to contribute to one of the new competencies. At first, he planned to focus tightly—but the new structure made that harder than expected.
“I always had in my mind, I want to specialize... then I realized everything is so interesting.” —Nikolaos Kaintantzis
Insights from the State of SAFe Survey
Ali brings in results from the 2024 State of SAFe report, and the conversation turns toward implementation integrity. From misused titles to rebranded hierarchies, the crew reflects on what makes a transformation feel hollow—and what makes it stick. Rather than avoid hard truths, the report appears to be surfacing them, prompting a more honest community conversation.
Looking Ahead: Between Sorrento and Denver
Instead of closing with conclusions, the crew opens the door to what’s next. They speculate on competency expansions, story-first navigation, and new learning tools—along with risks of fragmentation or fatigue. It’s a hopeful segment, but not a naive one. They’re excited—but they also want to keep the purpose intact.
Conclusion
If SAFe is shifting, so are the questions we ask of it—and of ourselves. This episode doesn’t just explore new structures. It shows what happens when a community chooses curiosity over certainty, and depth over dogma. For the Unleashed crew, the goal isn’t to protect the past. It’s to help shape what’s next—one thoughtful step at a time.
References
- State of SAFe Report
- SAFe Explained PDF
