Enablers are a special type of work item in SAFe that support the activities needed to build the digital ecosystem infrastructure and technical foundation.

Types of Enablers

1. Architectural Enablers

   • Define system architecture and design
   • Establish technical standards and patterns
   • Ensure technical coherence across components
   • In hospitals: Interoperability frameworks, security architecture

2. Infrastructure Enablers

   • Build technical platforms and environments
   • Establish DevOps toolchains and automation
   • In hospitals: HIPAA-compliant cloud environments, test environments with synthetic patient data

3. Compliance Enablers

   • Address regulatory requirements explicitly
   • Document evidence for auditors
   • In hospitals: MDR compliance tasks, data privacy controls

Enablers Exist at All Levels

• Enabler Stories (Team Level)

  • Technical tasks for a team
  • Example: "Implement FHIR API for lab results"

• Enabler Features (Program Level)

  • Technical capabilities across teams
  • Example: "Establish single sign-on across clinical applications"

• Enabler Epics (Portfolio Level)

  • Large technical initiatives
  • Example: "Migrate all clinical systems to cloud infrastructure"

"In healthcare IT, enablers are critical for addressing the complex technical and compliance requirements while maintaining the ability to deliver business value incrementally."