Metrics in SAFe 6.0: An Opportunity for Improvement or a Slippery Slope to Agile Taylorism?

The SAFe 6.0 update, a methodology for managing and coordinating large-scale development projects, introduced a new theme focused on Reliable Delivery. This theme emphasizes the importance of improving the reliability and consistency of product delivery in large-scale development environments and includes elements such as Measure and Grow and OKRs (Objectives and Key Results)^[1].

The sixth theme, however, is not just about operationalizing metrics to improve efficiency. It also carries a potential danger-the risk of Agile Taylorism. Taylorism, a management philosophy developed by Frederick Winslow Taylor in the early 20th century, emphasized the use of data-driven optimization to maximize productivity and efficiency, often at the expense of employee well-being^[2]. The danger with an agile version of Taylorism is that it can lead to an over-reliance on metrics and a loss of focus on the human aspect of an organization.

While the Measure and Grow component encourages teams to regularly measure and analyze metrics such as cycle time, defect rates, and customer satisfaction to identify areas for improvement and take action to address them, it is important to ensure that these metrics are evaluated with scale and intelligence. Over-reliance on metrics can lead to an unbalanced focus on efficiency. From a psychological point of view, efficiency should be measured not only on the basis of performance criteria or cost-benefit analyses that can be defined in business terms (cost-benefit calculation), but also on the basis of individual expenditures, such as the required stress on people^[3].

The OKR framework helps teams set clear and measurable goals and identify key results that indicate progress toward those goals. However, the success of the OKR framework depends on its implementation. If the framework is used simply as a top-down management tool, with goals imposed on teams without input or feedback, it can create a sense of micromanagement and reduce team motivation.

To avoid the danger of Agile Taylorism, it is essential to maintain a focus on people and ensure that collaboration and communication are at the heart of every development project. The SAFe 6.0 update emphasizes the importance of collaboration and continuous improvement to achieve better results while maintaining a focus on people.

In conclusion, the sixth theme in the SAFe 6.0 update is an important step toward improving the reliability and consistency of product delivery in large-scale development environments. However, the potential danger of Agile Taylorism must be considered and avoided by ensuring that metrics are evaluated with scale and intelligence, and that the OKR framework is implemented in a way that fosters collaboration and communication rather than top-down micromanagement. By balancing metrics with a focus on people, organizations can achieve better results while maintaining a healthy and sustainable work environment.