If you want Agile transformation to stick, you need a real feedback loop. That’s where SAFe’s Measure and Grow comes in. It’s not a side activity. It’s the backbone for improving how teams deliver value, quarter after quarter.

What Is Measure and Grow in SAFe?

Measure and Grow is SAFe’s built-in approach to assessing where you stand with Lean-Agile practices—and then using that data to push your organization forward. It’s more than metrics for the sake of metrics. It’s a mindset: stop guessing, start measuring, and use what you learn to get better.

• Measure: Collect evidence on how well teams and ARTs (Agile Release Trains) are using Lean-Agile practices.

• Grow: Use those insights to prioritize improvements, run experiments, and raise the bar.

Why Does Continuous Improvement Matter in SAFe?

Let’s be honest. No transformation is ever “done.” If you’re running on autopilot, you’re falling behind. Continuous improvement is about closing the gap between where you are and where you could be. SAFe’s Measure and Grow keeps you honest—it exposes the real friction points so you can actually do something about them.

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The Three Dimensions of Measure and Grow

SAFe breaks down organizational health into three big areas. Each one comes with a set of assessments, questions, and benchmarks:

1. Team and Technical Agility

2. Agile Product Delivery

3. Organizational Agility

Let’s walk through how to use each area in a practical way.

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1. Team and Technical Agility

You can’t build high-performing teams by accident. The Measure and Grow assessment asks:

• How well do your teams collaborate?

• Are they applying built-in quality practices?

• How good is your technical agility—think test automation, CI/CD, and refactoring?

Example:
If you notice that most teams struggle with automated testing, you don’t just document it. You prioritize it as a growth item. Maybe this is a good time to upskill Scrum Masters. SAFe Scrum Master certification can help here.

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2. Agile Product Delivery

It’s not enough to deliver “something.” Are you delivering the right thing, at the right pace, with feedback loops that matter?

Measure and Grow checks if you:

• Understand customer needs and validate hypotheses

• Deliver incrementally and frequently

• Optimize flow across the value stream

Example:
If your teams deliver features, but stakeholders complain about delays, your bottleneck might be in product management. Sharpening your skills with a SAFe Product Owner/Product Manager certification can bring structure to the way you prioritize and deliver work.

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3. Organizational Agility

You can’t run an Agile transformation in silos. The organization itself needs to adapt, align strategy with execution, and foster Lean thinking at every level.

• Do business leaders really support Lean-Agile values?

• Are people empowered to fix broken processes?

• How well do you adapt to change?

Example:
Let’s say leadership isn’t engaged. That’s a red flag. Consider a session on Lean Portfolio Management, or get key players into Leading SAFe Agilist certification training to anchor their understanding.

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Running the Assessment: Step by Step

Let’s make this actionable. Here’s how to actually use Measure and Grow, not just talk about it.

1. Schedule Regular Assessments

Don’t wait for things to go off the rails. Make Measure and Grow part of your quarterly or PI (Program Increment) cycle. Use SAFe’s assessment tools (like the SAFe Business Agility Assessment) to gather data across the three dimensions.

2. Involve the Right People

Get everyone in the room—team members, Scrum Masters, Product Owners, Release Train Engineers. This isn’t just for leaders, it’s a whole-team activity.

3. Collect Data Honestly

Use a mix of surveys, direct observation, and data from your tools (Jira, VersionOne, etc.). Don’t fudge the numbers. If something isn’t working, admit it.

4. Analyze the Results

Look for patterns. Where are you consistently strong? Where are you weak? Where’s the gap between teams? This helps you focus improvement efforts where they’ll actually make a difference.

5. Prioritize Improvement Items

You can’t fix everything at once. Use WSJF (Weighted Shortest Job First) or a simple impact-effort matrix to decide what to tackle first. For big, cross-team challenges, get a SAFe Release Train Engineer involved to help coordinate.

6. Experiment and Adapt

Pick one or two high-impact improvements. Run experiments. Inspect the results in your next PI. Did things actually get better? If not, tweak and try again.

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Making Continuous Improvement a Habit

This isn’t about checking a box. If you want real results, you need to make improvement part of your team’s DNA.

• Build in time for reflection every PI (during Inspect & Adapt workshops)

• Celebrate progress, even the small wins

• Share learnings across teams

• Keep leaders in the loop and ask for support when big blockers come up

If you need help coaching teams through these cycles, leveling up with SAFe Advanced Scrum Master certification training is a solid move.

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Tying It Back to the Big Picture

SAFe’s Measure and Grow isn’t just about numbers on a dashboard. It’s about creating a learning organization—one that doesn’t settle for “good enough.” The organizations that do this well aren’t afraid of tough conversations, real data, or taking action when the evidence says it’s time for change.

• Product Owners: Get closer to customers, validate work, and keep the backlog healthy.

• Scrum Masters: Coach the team, clear blockers, and keep everyone focused on improvement.

• Release Train Engineers: Spot patterns across teams and scale good ideas.

• Leaders: Model Lean-Agile thinking, sponsor improvements, and empower teams.

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Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for a magic bullet, you won’t find one. But if you use Measure and Grow with discipline, transparency, and a willingness to act, you’ll build a culture of improvement that compounds over time.

Want to anchor your knowledge? Check out Leading SAFe Agilist certification training, or go deeper with SAFe Scrum Master certification. Invest in your people, and Measure and Grow will do the rest.

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That’s how you turn data into action and build real momentum for continuous improvement using SAFe. If you want help or more resources, connect with us.

 

Also see - How to Align Business Goals with Innovation and Planning Iteration

Also read - Key Metrics Every Agile Team Should Track with Measure and Grow