There are certainly issues with SAFE:

💣 The acronym itself is misleading. "SAFE" might sound like a comforting methodology, but it's not always the safest bet for every project.

🚂 It can be slow to get rolling. With its heavy emphasis on planning and documentation, getting started with SAFE can feel like trying to push a boulder uphill.

⌛️ Time-consuming ceremonies abound. From PI Planning sessions that take days to endless meetings and checkpoints, there's no shortage of time-draining activities in the world of SAFE.

☁️ Flexibility sometimes goes out the window. While agile methodologies are known for their adaptability, SAFE locks teams into rigid processes that can hinder creativity and innovation.

Circumstances Under Which SAFE Shines:

✅ Complex projects demand structure: When dealing with large-scale initiatives involving multiple teams or organizations, such as enterprise software development or infrastructure upgrades, having a structured framework like SAFE can help keep everyone aligned.

✅ Regulatory compliance is crucial: In industries where adherence to strict regulations (e.g., healthcare or finance) is non-negotiable, utilizing SAFEs predefined practices and artifacts ensures transparency and accountability throughout the process.

✅ Distributed teams need coordination: If your team members are spread across different locations or time zones—making communication challenging—SAFE provides guidelines for synchronization through regular cadence events and clear roles/responsibilities assignment.

💡 Remember! Agile approaches should never be one-size-fits-all solutions. Each project requires careful consideration of its unique characteristics before settling on an approach like SAFEx