3 ways product managers can simplify SAFe® with Aha! Roadmaps
January 31, 2025

3 ways product managers can simplify SAFe® with Aha! Roadmaps

by Aha!

The last time we wrote about the Scaled Agile Framework® (SAFe®) on the blog, we referenced its less-than-flattering alias: "Soul-Crushing Agile for Enterprises." Harsh? Sure. Accurate in many enterprise product contexts? Also yes. SAFe’s rigidity can overwhelm teams with processes and make it harder to adapt when priorities change. That said, we talk to many product teams following SAFe who have found ways to navigate its complexity.

For many teams, the key to following SAFe is breaking it down into manageable parts.

Teams that follow SAFe are familiar with its rigor. You have:

  • Prescriptive processes: Detailed steps for planning, coordinating, and delivering across teams and agile release trains (ARTs)

  • Frequent meetings: Program increment (PI) planning, retrospectives, and scrum of scrums to synchronize efforts and adjust priorities

  • Stakeholder alignment: Sessions to prioritize work and define outcomes with business owners, solution managers, and team leads

  • Extensive documentation: Artifacts like program boards and value stream maps to track progress and meet traceability requirements

SAFe purists argue this structure ensures alignment, better resource management, and faster time to market. Critics counter that its reliance on processes and documentation can stifle creativity and shift focus away from delivering customer value.

Whichever side you land on in the SAFe debate, you might have no choice but to follow it. So, how can you make it work better for your team?

Aha! Roadmaps supports SAFe teams with capabilities for PI planning, dependency tracking, and advanced reporting. These provide the structure needed to coordinate work across teams while staying flexible to shifts. We cannot cover all the ways to improve SAFe here (our Product Concierge team is ready to help with personalized guidance), but let's start with three practical approaches:

1. Define SAFe® workflows

Start by creating a shared understanding of how your team works. The SAFe framework templates in Aha! Roadmaps provide a simple way to visualize and align on workflows:

  • Clarify roles and responsibilities: Define who is accountable for what at every level. Use pre-built SAFe shapes to outline roles and decision-making processes.

  • Illustrate workflows: Map out how work flows at the team and ART levels to ensure coordination and get a clear view of dependencies.

  • Link to tangible work: Tie diagrams to work items in Aha! Roadmaps, Aha! Develop, or other dev tools to stay connected to the actual work being done.


A template in Aha! meant to help teams apply agile at scale

Define each step and add information about the step's duration, frequency, and key stakeholders.

2. Simplify PI planning

PI planning can feel overwhelming. But with the right structure, it becomes more manageable. Use these features to stay organized and focused:


SAFe® PI planning large

For even more guidance on how to effectively use this PI planning template collection, watch our tutorial.

3. Deliver insights with tailored reports

Communicating progress and risks is critical in SAFe. Tailored reports and dashboards make it easier to share updates and drive better decisions:

  • Strategy roadmap: Show how epics align at portfolio and program levels to connect strategy with implementation.

  • Dependency report: Highlight risks and dependencies across teams to improve coordination and sequencing.

  • Custom reports: Focus on the data that matters most, like PI progress or program-level objectives. Adjust these views to meet stakeholders' needs.


A product performance dashboard created in Aha! software