What does "Cross-Team Collaboration" refer to in SAFe?

"Cross-Team Collaboration" in the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) emphasizes the importance of coordination and alignment among multiple teams that are working towards a shared objective. In an Agile environment, particularly at scale, different teams often need to collaborate closely to deliver a cohesive product. This collaboration ensures that teams are synchronized in their efforts, share information effectively, and are aware of each other's progress and challenges.

By fostering this collaboration, SAFe enhances the likelihood of achieving a common goal, as it enables teams to leverage each other's expertise and resources efficiently, minimizing the risk of miscommunication and redundant work. Effective cross-team collaboration also helps integrate different components or features developed by various teams, ensuring that they fit together seamlessly in the final product.

This concept is distinct from merely working independently on team goals or sharing resources, which might not necessarily involve the same level of coordination or communication required for achieving a comprehensive product vision. Documentation of team processes is also important but does not capture the essence of what cross-team collaboration entails in a dynamic, integrated development environment.