Can AI Replace a Scrum Master? with Zach Stone

Zach Stone joins me to explore how AI is going to impact the work of the Scrum Master and Scrum Team Members. 

• Will the SM be replaced? 
• What parts of the work can be offloaded onto AI? 
• What can a Scrum Team member do to get ready for AI? 
• Once AI fully arrives... what the hell am I going to do all day?

You can listen to the podcast here.

The transcript is here.

What happens when the Agile people leave? w/ Jesse Fewell

In this episode of the podcast, Jesse Fewell joins me to discuss what happens in organizations that decide they no longer need or want the people who are helping them adopt agile? How do they reach this decision? What is the impact?  

The conversation came about as a result of a post that Jesse made on LinkedIn. He’s doing research on the topic and I asked him to join me to talk through some of the ideas. If you have stories to share, he’d love to hear from you. You can find his original LinkedIn post here: https://bit.ly/3EjRUf9

Towards the end of the podcast we also discuss a question that came up in one of my CSM/CSPO Lean Coffees: If you are hired as a Scrum Master into a mostly waterfall organization that still has traditional project managers, and the engineers are trying to treat you like a secretary, how do you establish your role and the value you can provide?

You can find the podcast here.

Cultivating a Soulful Transformation Community w Jardena London

Jardena London joins the podcast to talk about the launch of the Transformational Leader Community that she has created to help foster a more soulful approach to organizational change. If you'd like to read more about Jardena's approach, you can also check out her book Cultivating Transformations: A Leader’s Guide to Connecting the Soulful and the Practical 

The interview is available in video here: https://youtu.be/zOa4IZT_V2c

The interview is available in audio here: https://on.soundcloud.com/VwTsU

Taking a Responsible Approach to AI with Snehal Talati

Snehal Talati joins Drunken PM Radio to talk about how to leverage Artificial Intelligence responsibly as we reimagine how it can help Agile.  Where everyone is in a mad scramble to develop their own AI app, Snehal has founded AIAgile.org to foster a conversation around four main goals:

• Develop principles and practices for human-centric AI
• Learn and share how AI augments Agile methods to serve people
• Pioneer an adaptive, collaborative model for progress
• Ensure diversity and ethics in creating new tech

You can find the interview here: https://bit.ly/3NRfSTi

Agile 2023 - Tuning Your Distributed Team with a Right Environment Exercise

 

At Agile 2023 Mark Kilby, Tim Nolan and I will be leading a session called Tuning Your Distributed Team with a Right Environment Exercise. The workshop is based on things we learned while we were working towards the Lean Agile Visual Management (LAVM) certification with Modus Institute. If you'll be at Agile 2023 and need something to do Tuesday afternoon (7/25/23) we'll be running the workshop from 2 PM to 5 PM in Lafayette 4. Hope to see you there!

You can learn more about the session here: Tuning Your Distributed Team with a Right Environment Exercise (Dave Prior, Mark Kilby)

Successful Independent Consulting with Johanna Rothman

Johanna Rothman is one of my favorite people to interview and in this episode, she’s back to talk about her new book Successful Independent Consulting: Relationships That Focus on Mutual Benefit. The book is full of insights and practical tips not just for consultants but anyone looking to establish themself and make their presence known in their profession. The conversation also covers the book she published last year, Free Your Inner Nonfiction Writer: Educate, Influence, and Entertain Your Readers because a big part of making your presence known is making sure your voice is heard. 

Video: https://bit.ly/3PMRCV6

Audio: https://on.soundcloud.com/7AKm9

Tracking Flow Metrics w Atlassian Analytics

I've done a few podcasts recently on tracking flow metrics instead of velocity and why it is a better (but not perfect) way of estimating what will be done in the future.)

In this episode, Derek Huether and Sam Tsubota from Atlassian demonstrate how to pull that info straight from Atlassian Analytics.

The interview will work best in video

But there is an audio version too

The Art of War with Gary Gagliardi

In the classes I teach and the podcasts I record I talk frequently about how deeply Sun Tzu’s The Art of War has impacted the way I understand the opportunities that show up in my life. Once you get past the title, you can begin to understand how it is really a book about collaboration. I have MANY translations of the Art of War in my apartment but none of them have reshaped my brain as profoundly as the ones by Gary Gagliardi. His book The Amazing Secrets of Sun Tzu's The Art of War: The Mysteries of History's Most Powerful Strategy helped me to understand the work on a completely different level and was the basis for my Five Measures Canvas tool.

And, he is the guest on this episode of the podcast!!!!

You can listen to the interview here.

Investing in Business Strategy NOT IT Strategy with Ross Beurmann

Ross Beurmann, is back! This time he takes us on an exploration into how the way we fund IT projects impacts how we work and the outcome that work delivers. Drawing inspiration from his thought-provoking LinkedIn post, Ross advocates for making intentional decisions about how we fund IT projects and products,  ensuring their separation between operations IT projects and strategic IT projects. Discover how this distinction can impact the outcomes of our work, shaping priorities, staffing decisions, and resource allocation. 

You can find the podcast here.

Decision Sprints with Atif Rafiq

Atif Rafiq joins me for an interview to discuss how Decision Sprints can help you break through the cycle of endless meetings, indecision,  and stalled progress by leveraging his problem-solving technique for upstream work where innovation is driven through the power of collaborative teams.

You can find the podcast here.

Agile and AI with Marty Bradley

 "🚨 Ready to unlock the full potential of #AI? 🤖💥 Listen in as Marty Bradley joins Dave Prior for an eye-opening conversation on how AI is already transforming the way we work and lead! From new job opportunities to game-changing skills, this podcast is a must-listen! 🎧 #FutureOfWork" 
(Description generated by ChatGPT)

The podcast can be found here.

When Your Leadership Can't Agree - Featuring Mike Vizdos

Mike Vizdos joins me for this conversation that focuses on what to do when you are competing for resources with other Product Owners in your organization and management will not (or can not) create clarity on what the company's strategic priorities are.

Mike and I also discuss his work coaching senior leadership, how Patrick Lencioni's First Team concept has become such a vital part of his approach, and the work Mike has been doing with ImplementingScrum.ai.

You can find the podcast here.

Agile Coaching Skills - Certified Facilitator with Anu Smalley

In this episode, I am joined by Anu Smalley who is here to talk about the new Scrum Alliance certification: Agile Coaching Skills - Certified Facilitator (ACS-CF). During the interview Anu and I discuss who the certification is for, the skills you develop while earning the certification, and what to expect from someone who has this certification. 

Anu also offers a discount on her upcoming classes for anyone who is interested. 

You can find the podcast here.

Building Trust and Connection In Your Team with Cozy Juicy Real

Looking for a great way to help your distributed/remote team members connect on a deeper level? Cozy Juicy Real may be just what you are looking for. This interview is with Jed and Sophia Lazar, creators of the game Cozy Juicy Real. During the interview, you'll see how the game works as the three of us play a few rounds and discuss why and how it can be such an effective way to build connections.

You can find the video version of the interview here: https://bit.ly/3JJOynW

You can find the audio version of the interview here: https://on.soundcloud.com/KXkdk

(I recommend the video version so you can see us play the game.)

PMI Board Chair Jennifer Tharp - Staying Relevant and Finding Joy

PMI Chair Jennifer Tharp joins this episode to talk about how to stay relevant, find joy, and design ways to stay excited about work.

During the conversation we talk about:

• What is the best movie about project management
• What fictional character best represents your inner project manager
• Has the profession of Project Management at an inflection point
• What you need to do in order to stay current and relevant as our profession evolves
• How to find ways to keep finding things to keep yourself excited and interested about working in this field
• The importance of play in work
• How to come up with ideas for a presentation to give at a conference
• Why you might not want to work in the field you are most passionate about
• How to make the most of being a remote worker
• Finding joy in the work you do

You can find the podcast here: https://bit.ly/42wcHqT

The Future of Project Management with Howard Sublett

This week I am joined by Howard Sublett. Howard is the former CEO of the Scrum Alliance, a good friend,  and someone who has been working in the Agile space for a very long time. During our interview, we talk about where Agile and project management are headed and exactly how dystopian is the future going to be?

You can check out the podcast here.

(Re)Start Your Team Using Modus REE with Erich Hahn

Erich Hahn joins me to talk through the experience he and his team had in working through the Modus Right Environment Exercises (REE).  If your team is struggling and can't seem to get beyond simply working together and  becoming a high-performing team with a shared understanding of how they work, why they work, and how they can show up and support one another every day, this podcast offers a case study of how they can begin to develop the type of connection they need to rise and thrive together.

You can find the video version here: https://bit.ly/3JhN5Xg

You can find the audio version here: https://on.soundcloud.com/vCBCm

Artificial Intelligence and Project Management with Ricardo Vargas

PMI Fellow Ricardo Vargas and Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez recently had an article published in Harvard Business Review called: How AI Will Transform Project Management. It is a very interesting read and you can find it here: https://hbr.org/2023/02/how-ai-will-transform-project-management

After reading it I had a lot of questions so I reached out to Ricardo and asked if he would be willing to do an interview. He was kind enough to share some time to answer my questions and dig a little deeper into how prioject management is changing as a result of Artificial Intelligence, and how AI is going to completely redefine the role of the PM in the very near future. 

You can find a video version of the interview here

You can find an audio version of the interview here

Sprint Goals and Sprint Planning with Chris Li

Chris Li is back for a conversation about Sprint Goals. While Chris and I both agree they are critical, we approach creating them very differently. If you are trying to get your head around when and how to create a Sprint Goal that can work for your team, you'll get plenty of ideas from this conversation.

Video Version

Audio Version

Lead Without Blame with Tricia Broderick

Tricia Broderick joins me to discuss Lead Without Blame, the book she co-wrote with Diana Larsen. If you are looking for ways to help your team raise their game, there is a lot the book, and this interview has to offer. 

You can find the video version of the interview here: https://bit.ly/3GwO2rg 

You can find the audio version of the interview here: https://sbit.ly/3YdZbFl

In Defense of Frederick Taylor with Christine Li

In this episode, I am joined by a very special guest, Christine Li, for a conversation I have been waiting to record for quite a while now. 

I am closing in on 30 years of work in Project Management and for most of that time, I, like many of you, have been talking smack about Frederick Taylor. My opinions were based on the things I learned from others along the way and were (obviously) deeply informed by moving from traditional PM over to Agile. As far as I was concerned, this guy was the birth of work misery. But, I had never actually taken the time to read The Principles of Scientific Management... so I did. I was amazed at how completely off the mark I was. Yes, there are some obvious glaring issues with how he separates the workers from the thinkers, but there is also a ton of really good stuff in there and a lot that comes pretty close to an agile mindset.

After reading it, I was at a lunch and happened to mention my newfound Taylor Fanboy-ness and Christine Li showed up like Yoda, deep with the PM history geek. She took me to school and that is where this conversation starts. 

FLY EAGLES FLY!

My hope is that even if you think Frederick Taylor is the Sauron of Project Management, you’ll give this a listen. Maybe it will challenge your understanding of him and his work. Maybe it will (I hope) entice you to read his work. And even if you’ve read his work and can see the good in it, the things Christine shares will level up your understanding as well. 

You can find the podcast here.

Story Points are Good AND Evil with Ryan Ripley

 A few weeks ago Ryan Ripley posted a tweet about Story Points...

And as soon as I saw it I reached out to him to ask if we could do a podcast discussing his post. I come to this topic as someone for fought against Story Points for about four years when I started working on Agile teams. Now, I can't imagine not using them.  I  teach Story Points in my CSM classes because I think that when used effectively they can be incredibly valuable to a Scrum Team. I also agree with Ryan's views on this topic

This podcast is the two of us debating the value of Story Points, when and how they can be used for good, and when, as Ryan often says, Story Points are trash.

Video version

Audio version

Value Stream Management with Derek Huether

Derek Huether is back for this episode and we’re focusing on Value Stream Management. Value Stream Mapping is about understanding all the steps from the inception of an idea to putting something valuable in a customer's hands, and using that information to optimize the flow of value through the system. But, within a business, you will have many value streams and we need to understand how best to coordinate those streams to optimize the overall value generated by the company across multiple value streams. If your brain is wired for traditional project management, you could think of this as creating a system that optimizes a portfolio management level view of all the value streams in the org.

• Video version: https://youtu.be/nxGvpnWgoIM
• Audio version: https://on.soundcloud.com/dAVHR

Improving Value Delivery In Your Organization with Gil Broza

Gil Broza joins me to provide a walkthru of Square, a new tool he has developed that will help you assess product development in your organization and determine what improvements will have the biggest impact on your ability to deliver value. 

You can find the interview here.