People at work are thirsting for context, yearning to know that what they do contributes to a larger whole.
—Daniel Pink, Drive [1]
Portfolio Vision
Definition: The Portfolio Vision describes the future state of a portfolio’s value streams and solutions.
Details
The portfolio vision sets a longer-term context for near-term decisions in a practical and inspirational way, clearly articulating why the future state of enhanced products and services is worth achieving. Understanding the longer-term view helps Agile Teams, Agile Release Trains, and Solution Trains make more informed choices about the development of functionality in both the short and long run.
Lean Portfolio Management (LPM) is primarily responsible for ensuring the strategic direction of the portfolio maps to the strategic themes and enterprise strategy. This requires a clear understanding and communication of the portfolio vision. In the book Switch [2], authors Dan and Chip Heath liken this future vision to a ‘destination postcard,’ as Figure 1 illustrates.
The portfolio vision should have the following characteristics:
- Aspirational, yet realistic and achievable – It must be compelling and somewhat futuristic, yet practical enough to be feasible over some meaningful timeframe
- Motivational to engage others on the journey – The vision must align with the Strategic Themes, as well as with the individual team’s purpose
Business Owners or senior leaders typically present this longer-term view and business context during the PI Planning event. These leaders can inspire and align the teams, increasing engagement and fostering creativity to achieve the best results.
Introducing the SAFe Portfolio Canvas
The SAFe portfolio canvas (Figure 2) is based on the Business Model Canvas (see this topic in the Enterprise article) developed by Alexander Osterwalder [3].