The role of the RTE in a SAFe environment: Leadership, Facilitation and Optimization

As part of our recent meetup co-hosted by Zenika and Digital Tango, we explored in depth the crucial role of the Release Train Engineer (RTE) within the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe). This article details the highlights of this discussion, highlighting the responsibilities, challenges and skills needed to excel as a RTE.

What is an RTE?

The RTE, often described as a “train-level Scrum Master”, plays a central role in managing and facilitating large-scale agile processes. An Agile Release Train (ART) is a team of several teams working together to deliver an integrated, deployable solution. An Agile Release Train (ART) is a team of several teams working together to deliver an integrated, deployable solution. The RTE is responsible for coordinating this train, ensuring that the teams are aligned and working harmoniously towards common goals.

Leadership and Facilitation: Two Essential Pillars

Leadership :

Leadership is a fundamental component of RTE’s role. It’s not just about leading, but guiding and influencing teams to achieve their goals. At the meetup, Pierre-Luc Harvey from Desjardins emphasized that the leadership of an RTE evolves with the maturity of the train. In the beginning, leadership can be more directive, helping teams to understand the basics of agility. As teams mature, leadership becomes more transformational, aiming to inspire and motivate teams to achieve new levels of performance.

Andréanne Vuillamy from Eaton added that leadership also involves creating an environment of trust where teams feel supported and encouraged to take initiative. She emphasized the importance of teamwork and making tough decisions to achieve common goals.

Facilitation :

Facilitation is also crucial. It’s not just about managing meetings, it’s about creating a framework within which teams can work together effectively. Eric Faugeras from Schneider Electric described how facilitation intervenes at several levels: preparation of PI Planning, management of train events and problem resolution. He stressed the importance of preparation to ensure that PI Planning runs smoothly and productively.

Jérôme Pasquiot from Disneyland Paris shared his experience of facilitation, stressing the importance of making events attractive and engaging. It uses games and activities to keep participants’ attention and foster a collaborative atmosphere.

Value Stream Optimization

Optimizing the flow of value is another key responsibility of RTE. It’s about making sure that teams are working on the most important tasks, and that they’re doing so efficiently. Laetitia Bray from Schneider shared how she works closely with product management and system architects to define and prioritize tasks according to their value.

Metric definition :

Metrics play a crucial role in value stream optimization. They enable us to measure performance and identify areas for improvement. Laetitia mentioned the use of Accelerate metrics (lead time, deployment frequency, recovery time, missed change rate) adapted to the context of her train. Eric added that predictability metrics are also important for assessing team commitment and performance.

Problem solving

Problem solving is an essential skill for an RTE. It involves facilitating Inspect & Adapt sessions, where teams review the results of the latest IP, identify areas for improvement and plan corrective actions. At the meetup, several speakers shared their approaches to making these sessions more effective and engaging.

Innovative techniques :

Pierre-Luc talked about using workshops based on the five dysfunctions of a team and Lego Serious Play to solve communication problems. Andréanne mentioned that simplifying Inspect & Adapt sessions often led to better results, with teams appreciating a more direct and interactive format.

Implementing Corrective Actions:

It’s crucial to ensure that the actions identified during Inspect & Adapt sessions are actually implemented. Andréanne stressed the importance of designating champions for each action and tracking their progress through iteration reviews. Pierre-Luc added that the key is to clearly identify those responsible and the expected results at the end of the Inspect & Adapt.

 

Conclusion

The role of the RTE is complex and demanding, but also crucial to the success of large-scale agile initiatives. By combining skills in leadership, facilitation and value stream optimization, RTEs play a central role in creating efficient and effective agile delivery trains. The discussions and experiences shared at our meetup show that, although the challenges are many, solutions exist and can be adapted to various contexts to continuously improve the performance of agile teams.

  To see the full video of the Meetup : https://vimeo.com/digitaltango/rtemeetup