Addressing the Challenges of Remote Work in Scaled Agile Frameworks: Organisational and Change Management Solutions
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Joy, Twinkle
Thorpe, Stephen
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Conference Contribution
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Project Management Research Office, AUT
Abstract
Agile methodologies have become central to contemporary software development, promoting iterative delivery, continuous feedback, and cross-functional collaboration. As organisations scale Agile adoption, the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) provides structured guidance for aligning multiple teams, coordinating program-level work, and maintaining portfolio oversight. Concurrently, the shift to hybrid and remote work environments introduces complexities in communication, collaboration, leadership visibility, and technological integration. This research report presents a systematic review of 32 peer-reviewed studies published between 2017 and 2024, aiming to investigate the challenges of implementing SAFe in distributed contexts and explore the application of Kotter’s 8-Step Change Model to support organizational transformation. Using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis, five key themes emerged: communication and collaboration, scaling framework challenges, change management and resistance, technological dependencies, and leadership and governance. Findings indicate that remote SAFe adoption requires balancing structured change management with Agile’s iterative principles, integrating digital tools effectively, and fostering leadership presence and psychological safety across distributed teams. By mapping Kotter’s model onto remote Agile practices, the presented research report provides both conceptual insights and practical guidance for practitioners navigating large-scale distributed Agile transformations. The research highlighted the relevance of combining structured change frameworks with adaptive Agile practices while suggesting avenues for future empirical validation to strengthen understanding of remote SAFe implementation.Description
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Proceedings of the First New Zealand IT Project Management Research Symposium: Advancing IT and Engineering Project Management. 27th November 2025, AUT, Auckland. https://pmconference.aut.ac.nz/
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