Energy flows where intention goes.
—Widely attributed to Rhonda Byrne, Australian author, and TV producer
Portfolio Flow
Definition: Portfolio Flow describes a state where Lean Portfolio Management provides a continuous flow of new epics to Solution Trains and ARTs to achieve the portfolio’s vision and strategic themes.
The LPM competency aligns strategy and execution by applying Lean and systems thinking approaches to strategy and investment funding, Agile portfolio operations, and governance. This competency has proven to improve business outcomes for SAFe enterprises building the world’s most important solutions. But as with any system, flow can always be improved. Improving the flow of customer value through the portfolio is a key economic driver for the enterprise. That is the subject of this article.
Note: About the Flow Article Series
SAFe is a flow-based system. As such, any interruptions to flow must be identified and addressed systematically to enable continuous value delivery. While flow-based guidance is embedded throughout SAFe, a special collection of eight articles directly addresses impediments to flow. These are Value Stream Management, Principle #6- Make value flow without interruptions, Team Flow, ART Flow, Solution Train Flow, Portfolio Flow, the extended Guidance articles Accelerating Flow with SAFe, and Coaching Flow.
Details
SAFe defines a set of eight flow accelerators (see Principle #6, Make Value Flow without Interruptions) that can address, optimize, and debug issues with achieving continuous value flow. Portfolio flow describes accelerating the flow of the significant initiatives (Epics) needed to accomplish the Portfolio Vision and advance the Enterprise strategy.