Uncategorized

Apr
25
2026
By Clarence Galapon

Kanban Maturity Model (KMM) 7 Stages Vis-a-Vis LPM, TBM, and Accounting — continued

Uncategorized
    Coach’s Sidebar: Reading Maturity Signals   Signal Area: Learning / Culture Low maturity (0 to 2): Improvement reactive, localized Mid-maturity (3 to 4): Learning loops present but limited High maturity (5 to 6): Continuous, organization-wide learning; experimentation normalized     Signal Area: Systems Thinking/ Alignment Low maturity (0 to 2): Silos dominate Mid-maturity (3 to 4): Cross-team coordination High maturity (5 to 6): Enterprise acts as a coherent, adaptive system.     LPM is on Amazon
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Apr
22
2026
By Clarence Galapon

Kanban Maturity Model (KMM) 7 Stages Vis-a-Vis LPM, TBM, and Accounting — continued

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Portfolio Maturity Reflection Workshop Example:   Theme: Truth Cue: Challenge Assumptions Focus: What do we believe vs. what’s real?   Theme: Flow Cue: See the system Focus: Where does Value or money get stuck?   Theme: Learning Cue: Convert data into insight Focus: How do we evolve from experience?   Theme: Alignment Cue: Balance maturity alignment Focus: Are KMM, LPM, TBM, and Accounting growing together?   Theme: Purpose Cue: Anchor meaning Focus: How does our evolution serve the customer and society?   LPM is on Amazon
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Mar
28
2026
By Clarence Galapon
Technology Business Management (TBM)

Technology Business Management (TBM)

Uncategorized
This is a key concept inside SAFe Lean Portfolio Management (LPM) that helps align technology investments with business value. It is a framework and discipline for running IT and technology organizations like a business. It provides common language for: Describing technology costs Connecting investments to business outcomes Enabling value-based decisions In short TBM helps you understand where your technology money goes and what value it delivers. LPM is on Amazon
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Feb
16
2026
By Clarence Galapon
An expanded answer on Efficiency, continued…

An expanded answer on Efficiency, continued…

Uncategorized
5) Too much stuff lying around (Inventory) You have 500 cups, 20 bags of sugar, and a mountain of lemons. Result: They take up space, and some lemons go bad before you use them. 6) People doing work wrong (defects) You forget the sugar in some cups – now your customers get sour faces. Result: You have to start over and remake it. 7) Not using people’s ideas (unused talent) Your little sister has a great idea to add a cute sign to get more customers – but you never listen. Result: You miss a chance to sell more lemonade.…
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Mar
16
2024
By Clarence Galapon
Action

Action

Announcement, Uncategorized
Saw this sign at Woodstock … got my attention … because it is true! Hoping for something to unfold in a beautiful way without action on your part is useless! You’ve got to do something! Do the best you can … all the time… and leave the rest to the universe… and then hope and have faith that it will unfold in a beautiful way.
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Mar
15
2024
By Clarence Galapon
Action

Action

Announcement, Uncategorized
Saw this sign at Woodstock … got my attention … because it is true! Hoping for something to unfold in a beautiful way without action on your part is useless! You’ve got to do something! Do the best you can … all the time… and leave the rest to the universe… and then hope and have faith that it will unfold in a beautiful way.
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Mar
14
2024
By Clarence Galapon
Action

Action

Announcement, Uncategorized
Saw this sign at Woodstock … got my attention … because it is true! Hoping for something to unfold in a beautiful way without action on your part is useless! You’ve got to do something! Do the best you can … all the time… and leave the rest to the universe… and then hope and have faith that it will unfold in a beautiful way.
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Aug
19
2023
By Clarence Galapon
Action

Action

Announcement, Uncategorized
Saw this sign at Woodstock … got my attention … because it is true! Hoping for something to unfold in a beautiful way without action on your part is useless! You’ve got to do something! Do the best you can … all the time… and leave the rest to the universe… and then hope and have faith that it will unfold in a beautiful way. There are many other ideas like this — short but sweet ideas — are found in over 60 topics in my new book, ‘SAFe (6.0) Is like …’ … available on Amazon… it has reached…
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Aug
01
2023
By Clarence Galapon
European Classes By The Lean Agile Guru Now Available

European Classes By The Lean Agile Guru Now Available

Announcement, New Book, SAFe 6.0, SAFe Is Like…, Uncategorized
Hello Europe! Greetings! We would like to invite you to our European Classes catered for Europeans -- all classes are in Central Europe Summer Time (CEST)! From 8:00 AM CEST to 6:00 PM CEST. Will be online via Zoom. North America -- please join us. Classes will be from 2:00 PM EST to 12:00 AM EST (Eastern Standard Time). European Classes are: SAFe PO/PM -- August 22 to 23, 2023. From 8:00 AM CEST to 6PM CEST. Please click this link to enroll. SAFe Scrum Master -- August 24 to 25, 2023. From 8:00 AM CEST to 6PM CEST. Please…
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Jul
29
2023
By Clarence Galapon
Release on Demand

Release on Demand

Announcement, New Book, SAFe 6.0, SAFe Is Like…, Uncategorized
Release when it makes sense… to the marketplace. Otherwise, something not cool will happen … just like this traffic jam … occurred May 10, 2023 around 8:30 pm ET… just under a mile from our place. Someone decided to do roadwork during rush hour! The ‘demand’ for such roadwork was not during that time! Hence the heavy traffic due to wrong timing. In SAFe, timing of your release to the marketplace must consider market rhythm and market events… to avoid negative outcome … like that May 10 traffic. So … consider market rhythms and market events aa you plan your…
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Jun
17
2023
By Clarence Galapon
Action

Action

Announcement, Uncategorized
Saw this sign at Woodstock … got my attention … because it is true! Hoping for something to unfold in a beautiful way without action on your part is useless! You’ve got to do something! Do the best you can … all the time… and leave the rest to the universe… and then hope and have faith that it will unfold in a beautiful way. There are many other ideas like this — short but sweet ideas — are found in over 60 topics in my new book, ‘SAFe (6.0) Is like …’ … available on Amazon… it has reached…
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May
27
2023
By Clarence Galapon
One-Time-Offer – Worldwide!!!

One-Time-Offer – Worldwide!!!

Announcement, New Book, SAFe 6.0, SAFe Is Like…, Uncategorized
Greetings! I just want to let you know about this great, world-wide, opportunity for you and your colleagues. I made two of my SAFe classes to have One-Time-Offer (OTO) attached to each: Great Price, Great Gift, Great Value! These select classes with attached OTO -- and both are guaranteed to run -- are below: One-Time Offer (OTO) SAFe Product Owner/Product Manager (POPM)  6.0 -- Jul 1-2, 2023. Click here for more information and registration. One-Time Offer (OTO) SAFe Scrum Master (SSM)  6.0 -- Jul 15-16, 2023. Click here for more information and registration. You may also use ScaledAgile.com's Training Calendar (yes, all my classes - including the two…
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May
12
2023
By Clarence Galapon
Release on Demand

Release on Demand

Announcement, New Book, SAFe 6.0, SAFe Is Like…, Uncategorized
Release when it makes sense… to the marketplace. Otherwise, something not cool will happen … just like this traffic jam … occurred May 10, 2023 around 8:30 pm ET… just under a mile from our place. Someone decided to do roadwork during rush hour! The ‘demand’ for such roadwork was not during that time! Hence the heavy traffic due to wrong timing. In SAFe, timing of your release to the marketplace must consider market rhythm and market events… to avoid negative outcome … like that May 10 traffic. So … consider market rhythms and market events aa you plan your…
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Apr
20
2023
By Clarence Galapon
The Anatomy Of Peace

The Anatomy Of Peace

Announcement, SAFe 6.0, SAFe Is Like…, Uncategorized
A leader should spend far more time helping things go right than dealing with things that are going wrong — The Anatomy Of Peace Avoid ideological / personal conflict! How? One of the many ways is to master proven conflict resolution techniques. One of these is by having a form of a ‘Working Agreement’ that everyone is expected to abide by. Do you have a ‘Working Agreement’ by and for your team? If none, then create one with your team! Can you imagine a gun range without a ‘Working Agreement’ with its members?
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Apr
19
2023
By Clarence Galapon
Misplaced Rule Decelerates Flow… And Creates Waste

Misplaced Rule Decelerates Flow… And Creates Waste

Announcement, SAFe 6.0, SAFe Is Like…, Uncategorized
Every time I am at this intersection, about to turn right, I find myself waiting for nothing… no cars incoming from the other direction. My car is just idling for nothing. This sign — NO TURN ON RED — decelerates flow on my side… and ‘Waiting’ for nothing is a waste. No Turn On Red   This sign is not needed here… from my practical and experiential point of view. SAFe puts ‘Lean Thinking’ on Center Stage so we may start seeing wastes (in this case, 'waiting' is waste) … and start remediating antiquated policies, practices, and rules to accelerate…
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Apr
18
2023
By Clarence Galapon
Capacity Allocation Like Pizza Pie…

Capacity Allocation Like Pizza Pie…

Announcement, SAFe 6.0, SAFe Is Like…, Uncategorized
We always have our pizza pie double sliced… that is our historical and proven apportionment for my family. Small slices yield least waste: you pull the next slice according to need. We employ the buffet rule: ‘Take but eat all you take’. April 15, 2023: Garden Vegetable 17-inch Pizza apportioned in sixteen slices!   In SAFe … apportionment of the Agile Teams’ and ART capacity is also happening… we call this ‘happening’, ‘Capacity Allocation’. Allocate and pull according to need. Prioritized need — doing the right thing at the right time. If you do not need a big slice now,…
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Apr
17
2023
By Clarence Galapon
We Could All Use The Parable Of The Sower

We Could All Use The Parable Of The Sower

Announcement, SAFe 6.0, SAFe Is Like…, Uncategorized
As coaches, teachers, and trainers, we could all use the parable of the Sower. We are like the Sower... we have good seeds to scatter... these seeds will fall on various types of soil. Where: Seed is the Training we provide (i.e., SAFe PO/PM) Scatter is when we provide the Training Types of soil are the various types of mindsets (the set) and environments (the setting) our students have. Some will be receptive to the Lean and Agile Way of Working -- these are the students who will grow to give; the rest will not be as receptive -- they…
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Apr
09
2023
By Clarence Galapon
Accelerate Flow — Reduce Queue Length

Accelerate Flow — Reduce Queue Length

Announcement, SAFe 6.0, SAFe Is Like…, Uncategorized
Suppose you are in line to order a cup of coffee at Starbucks. Suppose someone ahead of you placed an order for 10 cups of Cafe' Mocha. Suppose there is only one barista, and can only do one cup of Cafe' Mocha per minute. What do you think will happen overtime? Two things will happen. A long wait time will happen for the in-line customers.  10 cups divided by 1 cup per minute = 10 minutes wait time for the next immediate customer! This is Little's Law. A long queue could also ensue if one customer per minute enters the…
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Apr
03
2023
By Clarence Galapon
Accelerate Flow–Reduce Handoff

Accelerate Flow–Reduce Handoff

Announcement, SAFe 6.0, Uncategorized
Tarzan swings alone from one vine to another. He is fast going from point a to point b. Michael Phelps swims alone...he is also fast! He is fast going from point a to point b. What if there were a relay race? Suppose, Tarzan will hand off the baton to a less experienced person... collectively, Tarzan and the other person in relay (baton passing), going from point a to point b ... this will take longer...compared to Tarzan doing this alone (individual race). Likewise for Michael Phelps if he were in a relay race. Likewise for 'The Factory'... the fewer…
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Apr
02
2023
By Clarence Galapon
Flow Thinking

Flow Thinking

Announcement, SAFe 6.0, Uncategorized
Flow Thinking is a mindset…just like Lean Thinking is a mindset. Flow is specially important to Business Agility. Therefore, always measure flow, otherwise it cannot be improved. Continuous improvement of flow is also a mindset. Business Agility is determined by three measures: flow, outcome and competency. Lackluster results on these three measures means that the organization’s Business Agility is lackluster. These three measures also apply to Teams, ARTs, Solution Trains. Example, for Team Agility: measure the team’s Flow, Team’s Outcome, Team’s ‘Team and Technical Agility’ competency.  There are four competencies that critical to establishing flow: Team and Technical Agility, for…
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Jan
29
2023
By Clarence Galapon
Vision: All About Being Efficient and Effective

Vision: All About Being Efficient and Effective

Uncategorized
Every day, I read the Vision of this blog space, Lean Agile Guru (LeanAgileGuru.com). I have this Vision posted on my office wall. Every day, I get reminded of our Vision as we continue to deliver value to our readers. The “Vision” is our first blog post. It is apropos to be the first blog post because it lays out what this blog space is all about… and it is a guiding light (a North Star if you will) for us as we embark on this wonderful journey … into the world of efficiency and effectiveness. Tip for you, dear…
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Oct
17
2022
By Clarence Galapon
SAFe Is Like …

SAFe Is Like …

Uncategorized
October 15, 2022 Greetings! Great news! My new book, "SAFe Is Like … ", is now published, and the Paperback Version is now available for purchase on Amazon.com. Kindle Version is also now available for purchase on Amazon.com What's inside? Check it out for yourself: please get the "Sampler eBook Version"  of this book; it has a lot of ideas from the full version of the book -- and it is a FREE download!    I wrote this book to help narrow down the gap between knowing and understanding SAFe®. Do you want to understand SAFe by looking at it from…
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Mar
24
2020
By Clarence Galapon

PI Objective — Demystified Part II

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PI Objectives are found at the team level and at the program level. Of course, these cascade up to fulfill objectives at the portfolio level and enterprise level. Here, we focus on PI Objectives at the team and program levels. Simply put, team PI Objectives are key outputs of the PI Planning session. These are brief summaries — expressed in business terms — of what the team is prepared to commit to in the upcoming PI (i.e. the next three months of work). Many of the objectives will be features from the backlog (the ones brought forth to PI planning)…
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Apr
27
2019
By Clarence Galapon
SAFe Release Train Engineer (RTE) 4.6 June 8-9, 2019

SAFe Release Train Engineer (RTE) 4.6 June 8-9, 2019

Uncategorized
Lean Agile Guru will be teaching a weekend Private class on SAFe Release Train Engineer (RTE) 4.6 on June 8 to 9, 2019, in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA. Learn more about this event... SAFe Release Train Engineer 4.6Download Register Now Experience high-energy, fun, engaging, and insightful training, PLUS the following two bonus items: free post-training workshop and consulting -- a unique and priceless value-add set only from the Lean Agile Guru. Let's have a great "weekend retreat" full of learning and meaningful conversations together! Enrolment starts April 27, 2019 at 11:30 PM EST. Super Early bird pricing (save $300) ends…
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