Agile and Project Management - DrunkenPM Radio

Navigating the Future of Agile and Scrum with Alex Sloley

Agile and Project Management - DrunkenPM Radio

Show Notes

In this episode, Dave Prior chats with Alex Sloley, an agile coach and Scrum Alliance Board candidate, about the evolving landscape of Agile, Scrum, and the impact of AI on teamwork and project management. They explore how community involvement, technological innovation, and leadership can shape the future of Agile practices.

Key Topics • The significance of community engagement and serving through roles like the Scrum Alliance board • The accelerating pace of iteration in Agile driven by AI and technological advancements • How AI is transforming Scrum practices, from sprint durations to team collaboration • The importance of adopting AI-guided discipline without losing human judgment • The evolving skills required for future developers and project managers • Vision for Scrum’s evolution to keep pace with rapid technological change • The role of the Scrum Alliance in fostering innovation and listening to its members • Strategies for balancing Agile principles with modern remote, digital work environments • The necessity of healthy conflict within governance and leadership to drive progress • The importance of positivity and realism in navigating industry change

Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction to Alex Sloley and his background in Agile and Scrum 01:00 - The importance of community service and board participation in the Agile world 02:00 - Personal motivations for running for the Scrum Alliance Board 04:40 - Current state of the Agile community amid industry transformations 05:50 - Embracing change and the role of AI in agility and operations 09:55 - Integrating AI into Agile processes for discipline and efficiency 12:52 - AI as pair programmer and thinking partner for developers 17:40 - Rethinking Scrum practices in an AI-driven environment 20:26 - The potential for AI agents as part of Scrum teams and digital team members 24:56 - Revitalizing the Scrum Alliance: Listening to members and fostering innovation 28:08 - What members should expect from a visionary Scrum Alliance Board 32:25 - How to connect with Alex for insights into AI and Agile 33:01 - Closing remarks and encouragement to participate in the Scrum Alliance elections

Contacting Alex • Web: https://alexsloley.com/ • LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexsloley/ • Alex’s book The Agile Community https://alexsloley.com/books

Vote in the Scrum Alliance Board Election! Remember, voting ends June 24. Make your voice heard to shape the future of Agile leadership and community.

More from Agile and Project Management - DrunkenPM Radio

Oct 8, 2026

Good Teams, Bad Outcomes with Martina Ziegenfuss and Jim Elvidge

Oct 2, 2026

In this episode, Dave Borzillo shares insights from his book 'Sanity at Scale' on how engineering leaders can shift from heroics to systemic excellence, emphasizing removing waste, visualizing work, and fostering team collaboration.

Sep 9, 2026

In this episode, Shalabh Tandon and Shubhada Sahasrabudhe join me to discuss their new book, 'Don't Panic Pivot: Managing Critical Issues to Prevent Crises.' We explore the differences between risks and issues, what makes an issue critical, and why they emphasize a systematic approach to managing crises. The authors introduce their nine-six framework, which includes three whys, nine ingredients, and six steps to effectively address critical issues. They highlight the role of leadership and organizational culture in fostering a proactive environment for issue management. We also dig into the intricacies of crisis management and the importance of building resilience within organizations, maintaining quality, and ensuring transparent communication during crises. You'll hear their tips on how to find balance between discipline and drama in crisis response and how AI can enhance crisis management strategies. The conversation highlights actionable insights for leaders and organizations to navigate crises effectively.

Jul 20, 2026

Agile 2026 is almost here! And John Tanner and I will be presenting on Monday, July 27th, at 3:15 PM. Our session is called When AI Starts Doing Your Job: Surviving the PM Identity Crisis. If you are someone who has been struggling with getting out of the gate with AI. If your hesitating because you don’t know how to start, you don’t know what to do with it, it's just too overwhelming, or you can see how it impacts the other roles, but not your own, you are the reason John and I put this session together beause that was me, 8 months ago, moaning about how I didn’t want to be the prompt guy.

Jun 30, 2026

I sat down with longtime friend and fellow PMI volunteer Mattias Georgson Petrén to get schooled on Half Double, the Danish hybrid framework that has been around for over ten years but I only just learned about. Mattias walks through where it came from (a frustrated group of practitioners, industrial funding, and research backing from Aarhus University), what it promises — half the time double the impact — and how it blends Agile cadence with the discipline of traditional, stage-based product management. We get into co-location, the 50% staffing rule, and why he treats Half Double as a lens layered on top of existing frameworks rather than a replacement for any of them. We close out with a conversation about where project managers fit into an AI-driven future that left me probably less worried than I've been about this in months.

See all episodes →