
Role Overload and New Responsibilities
Managing the transition to new ways of working
Role Strain During Transition
- Existing staff take on new responsibilities
- Dual roles during implementation phase
- Learning curve for new practices
- Example: Chief physician as Business Owner while maintaining clinical duties
Scope Expansion
- Project managers becoming RTEs with broader scope
- IT specialists now part of cross-functional teams
- Clinical staff adding digital transformation responsibilities
- Middle managers transitioning to servant leadership
Staffing Implications
- Need to staff roles sustainably
- Potential need for additional capacity
- Correct role definition critical for success
- Inadequate staffing leads to relapse into old patterns
Transition Strategies
- External agile coaches to temporarily fill gaps
- Mentoring for internal role holders
- Gradual transition of responsibilities
- Clear role expectations and time allocations
Long-term Solutions
- Firm organizational anchoring of SAFe roles
- Sufficient time allocation in role descriptions
- Organizational restructuring where necessary
- Skills development pathways
- Communities of practice for role-based learning
"Role transitions require careful planning and support. Organizations must recognize that new ways of working demand changes to job descriptions, responsibilities, and organizational structures."