In the present situation, the business environment is ever-evolving and fast-paced. In this situation, businesses constantly look for ways to improve their innovation, productivity and efficiency. 

The territory of agile methodologies and project management has turned out to be an important area of attention among businesses that are looking to familiarize and grow in the quickly evolving landscape. In this situation, a couple of popular certifications have emerged as crucial qualifications for professionals, who seek to shine in the domain of Agile project management. They are SAFe Scrum Master or SSM and Leading SAFe or Scaled Agile Framework. 

We are here to carry out an evaluation of Leading SAFe vs SAFe Scrum Master. You can learn about the features of both these certifications. In turn, you can decide which one might help you with your career growth.

The Importance of Agile Certification

Professionals cannot deny the fact that Agile methodologies have gained immense acceptance across industries. With the increased adoption of Agile methodologies, the need for skilled professionals, who can apply Agile principles has improved considerably. With Agile Certifications, individuals can showcase their commitment, skills and knowledge of Agile practices. In turn, they can make them highly valuable to any organization.

The SAFe Scrum Master and the Leading SAFe are the two prominent Agile Certifications. They are designed to meet the requirements of professionals in varied roles within the Agile Framework. You can gain a deeper understanding and comparison of these two certifications from this post that compares SSM vs leading SAFe course and certification:

SAFe Scrum Master

The SAFe Scrum Master Certification or SSM has been designed to help individuals interested in improving their understanding of Scrum. The course that helps candidates prepare for this certification will teach them how to apply Scrum principles. Scrum has gained immense popularity as one of the best Agile Frameworks. Its focus is to deliver value through iterative and incremental work. The SSM certification focuses on Scrum Practices and Principles. Particularly, it pays close attention to how Scrum principles fit into the larger context of the Scaled Agile Framework.

Key Features of SAFe Scrum Master

When learning about the difference between Leading SAFe and SAFe Scrum Master certifications, you should know the features of each of these certifications/courses.

• The Scrum Master Role

With the right SSM course, you can gain the skills and knowledge needed to be an efficient Scrum Master. You can gain knowledge on how to help teams get out of the challenges and achieve their objectives.

• Scrum Framework Integration

With SSM Certification, it is an indication that you already understand how Scrum integrates into a larger Agile Framework. You can contribute effectively to the Agile transformation of an organization with this certification as you have the required knowledge.

• Team Collaboration

A SAFe Scrum Master will pay attention to improving communication and collaboration within Agile Teams. This is something important for Scrum Implementation. So, organizations look for candidates with SSM Certification.

• Scaling Scrum

The course meant to prepare you for SSM Certification will give you a detailed understanding of the application of Scrum at scale. This knowledge will be of great help to organizations that deal with multiple teams and complex projects.

• Fundamentals of Scrum

The feature of the SSM course is to improve your foundation knowledge of the basics of Scrum.  The course will provide you with comprehensive knowledge of Scrum artifacts, events and roles. This knowledge is important for any professional working with or in a Scrum team.

Leading SAFe

In contrast to SSM, the Leading SAFe certification is designed to help professionals interested in playing an important role in enabling and leading the Scaled Agile Framework implementation within an organization. The Scaled Agile Framework is an all-inclusive approach to scaling Agile practices all through large organizations. It is widely accepted and adopted by businesses that look to streamline their collaborations and operations and improve product development.

Key Features of Leading SAFe

The Leading SAFe course or certification carries the following important features:

• Value Stream Mapping

The program encompasses value stream mapping techniques for spotting waste, hindrances and opportunities for improving organizational processes.

• Scalability

The Leading SAFe course is designed to help individuals gain a better edge in organizations that deal with multiple teams and complex projects. Also, it will help organizations that look for cross-team collaborations.

• Leadership Skills

The Leading SAFe course will instill candidates with leadership skills. This skill is important for driving the transformation. Also, it is important for the successful implementation of the Scaled Agile Framework within an organization.

• Lean-Agile Principles

The Leading SAFe certification course pays attention to Lean-Agile principles. You will learn how these principles are applied in large businesses. The course will help you gain complete knowledge of a wide range of tools and practices used in the Scaled Agile Framework.

• Understanding SAFe

Indeed, from the Leading SAFe course, you will gain a complete understanding of the Scaled Agile Framework. You will know about the responsibilities, roles, practices and principles of this framework completely. 

In this comparison of Leading SAFe and SSM Certification, you now know what the course for each of these certifications offers. Now, you are questioning, which course to choose. Here are some factors you will have to consider when you wish to decide on the Leading SAFe vs SAFe Scrum Master certification course.

Factors To Consider When Deciding SSM or Leading SAFe

Indeed, you know that your decision between these two courses should go in line with your career goals. Also, you will have to consider your present role and the needs of your organization as well. Read on to learn more about the factors to consider when deciding between SSM vs Leading SAFe course:

• Your Personal Interests

Now, you have a broader idea of the difference between Leading SAFe and SAFe Scrum Master certifications. When deciding, which of these courses to take, your personal interests should be the key consideration. 

Which course resonates more with your long-term career goals and interests? More than anything else, your enthusiasm and motivation can play a considerable role in your job satisfaction and success after you get this certification. 

• Industry Trends

Also, when deciding between these two courses, you will have to stay informed about job market demands and present industry trends. You can network with industry professionals, research networks and job postings to understand which certification is in more demand in your domain of operation. This information can be a valuable input in deciding which course can go in line with your career objectives.

• Your Present Role

You should consider the role that you are presently playing in your organization. Do you work as a product owner, a Scrum Master or a related Scrum Role? If so, you can consider pursuing the SAFe Scrum Master Certification. The reason is that it will improve your expertise in your area of operation. In case, you are in a leadership or management role, you will have a broader scope of responsibilities. In this case, Leading SAFe might be the right choice for you.

• Team Complexity and Size

The complexity of the team and its size can act as a factor in deciding between these two courses. Also, the projects you work on can help you decide. For instance, the SAFe Scrum Master course is more Scrum-centric. So, this course might suit you if you handle less complex projects and smaller teams. On the other hand, the Leading SAFe course is designed to help you Scale Agile practices. Particularly, this certification will help if you work on complex projects and larger organizations. Also, it will help if your job involves working with multiple teams and value streams.

• Organizational Requirements

In this comparison of Leading SAFe and SSM certification, you should consider the particular objectives of your organization. Does your organization plan or already implement the Scaled Agile Framework? In this case, the leading SAFe certification will align with the goals of your organization. Nevertheless, if your organization pays attention to Scrum, the SAFe Scrum Master Certification is the best choice.

• Your Career Objectives

Where do you see yourself in the Agile landscape and your career aspirations are important in deciding which certification to pursue. In case, you are passionate about Scrum and wish to become a Scrum Master or you work closely with Scrum Teams, the best thing you can do is to take the SAFe Scrum Master Certification. It will meet your career goals. On the other hand, if your objective is to facilitate and lead the Agile transformation of your organization, the leading SAFe certification will suit you well.

Conclusion

In the dynamic world of Agile methodologies, the comparison of Leading SAFe and SSM Certification for selecting one among them is a decision that relies on your career objectives. Also, it relies on your present job role and the objectives of your organization. Both these certifications carry their unique strength. They meet the varied aspects of the Agile framework.

SSM is the best choice for those passionate about Scrum and looking to excel in roles closely related to Scrum like Scrum Master, Scrum Team Member or Product Owner. It offers an in-depth understanding of Scrum practices and principles. So, it is a valuable certification for professionals, who work in smaller teams or those preferring a Scrum-Centric focus.

On the other hand, Leading SAFe is designed for individuals interested in leading and enabling the implementation of the Scaled Agile Framework within their organization. It equips you with a comprehensive knowledge of SAFe practice and principles focusing on scalability and leadership. This certification suits professionals, who aspire to play a crucial role in the Agile transformation of an organization, particularly in larger organizations with multiple and complex projects.