Agile and Project Management - DrunkenPM Radio

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.

Key Topics

- Challenges in system thinking and organizational agility
- The importance of visualizing work and using impact maps
- Strategies for removing waste and reducing cognitive overload
- The role of leadership in fostering a culture of continuous improvement
- Techniques for effective prioritization and backlog management

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to 'Sanity at Scale' and Guest Background
04:21 The Power of Removing Waste and Deleting Unnecessary Items
08:52 The Limitations of Math in Estimation and Prioritization
13:01 Fostering Team Estimation and Shared Understanding
15:45 The Importance of Triangulating Data and Multiple Measures
17:41 Building Cross-Functional Teams and Knowledge Sharing
19:58 Visualizing Work with Whiteboards and Digital Tools
22:30 Engaging Senses and Human Connection in Daily Standups
24:57 Mapping Value Streams and Identifying System Bottlenecks
27:56 Dealing with Systemic Resistance and Cultural Change
29:36 Challenging Processes and Experimenting Safely
32:14 Leadership as a Servant and the Boundary Layer Role
35:00 Reward Systems and Incentivizing Collaboration
37:16 Changing the Mindset: From Hero to System Thinker
39:18 Transitioning from Firefighter to Strategic Pilot
41:36 Aligning Work with Organizational Outcomes
43:33 The Power of Purpose and Clear Vision
45:20 Addressing Cultural and Leadership Barriers
48:12 Encouraging Deletion and Simplification in Work Processes
49:10 Upcoming Event and Book Giveaway

Links from the Podcast

Dave’s Book Sanity at Scale - https://tinyurl.com/2txmmhft
Better Ways of Working: https://betterwaysofworking.com/
Better Ways of Working Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/4nabc9sr

2026 PMI WDC Conference: https://www.pmiwdc.org/conference-2026-pmi-wdc
PMI SWVA 2026 Fall Symposium: https://pmi-swva.org/2026-symposium
Digital PM Summit: https://thebureau.community/2026-digital-pm-summit

Connect with Dave Borzillo
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daveborzillo/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@betterwaysofworking
Better Ways fo Working: https://betterwaysofworking.com/

Connect with Dave Prior
drunkenPM Radio: https://soundcloud.com/drunkenpmradio
LInkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrsungo/

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.

You can find a video version of this interview here: https://youtu.be/H9LXedwxP2U

Takeaways

- Most crises are a culmination of ignored small issues.
- A systematic process helps organizations respond thoughtfully, not react impulsively.
- Building a resilient organization involves learning from issues and creating a culture of psychological safety.
- The 9-6 framework includes steps like describe, impact assess, contain, root cause, and communicate.
- Transparency and consistent communication are crucial during crises.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Crisis Management

02:53 Understanding Risks vs. Issues

06:02 Defining Critical Issues

08:59 The Impact of Critical Issues

10:58 What is Critical Issue Management?

14:04 The Importance of Systematic Approaches

17:01 The Role of Leadership in Crisis Prevention

20:00 Cultural Aspects of Issue Management

21:58 The Process of Managing Issues

24:59 The Six Steps of Crisis Management

36:05 Understanding Crisis Response Dynamics

39:21 Building Organizational Resilience

43:58 Quality vs. Crisis Management

48:05 The Importance of Transparency in Crisis

54:06 Discipline Over Drama in Crisis Management

56:31 Leveraging AI for Crisis Management

The Book:
Don't Panic Pivot: Managing Critical Issues to Prevent Crises
https://tinyurl.com/4ps5jpxf

Learn More about QuRIuS
Web: www.quriusllc.com
Promo Video: https://tinyurl.com/yyk6wjaj

Contacting Shubhada and Shalabh:
Shubhada – https://www.linkedin.com/in/shubhada-sahasrabudhe/
Shalabh - https://www.linkedin.com/in/shalabh-tandon/

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.

If you’d like to learn a little more about the session and you are curious about John’s PMO as Code work, check out this video and then come see us at Agile 2026!

When AI Starts Doing Your Job: Surviving the PM Identity Crisis
PMI Agile 2026
Monday, Jul 2715:15 - 17:00 EDT
https://events.pmi.org/flow/pmi/pmiagile26/sessioncatalog/page/sessions/session/1778861942411001eyOh

Contacting John
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tannerjs/
C4G Enterprises: https://c4genterprises.com

Contacting Dave
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrsungo/
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/mrsungo

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.

Key Themes

- How Dave and Mattias met at a PMI chapter event in Malta back in 2008, and how that network led to real client work together
- Mattias's path from engineering physics PhD to "accidental" project manager
- The early days of Agile inside PMI circles, and the influence of conferences like Øredev
- What Half Double actually is: a hybrid method built on impact, flow, and leadership
- The origin story — Danish practitioners, an industrial fund, and Aarhus University research
- Why Half Double performs best on complex projects, not predictable, fully-plannable ones
- Co-location, the 50% staffing rule, and designing cadence into distributed teams
- Why Mattias treats Half Double as a set of lenses layered on top of an existing framework (PMI, PRINCE2, Scrum) rather than a replacement for one
- The "chasing tasks vs. chasing impact" trap that both traditional and Agile PMs fall into
- Where project managers fit in an AI-driven future — and why Mattias isn't worried

Chapters

00:00 The Value of Networking in Project Management
02:47 Mattias Petrén's Journey into Project Management
05:11 The Evolution of Agile in Project Management
07:47 Introduction to Half Double Methodology
10:47 Understanding the Half Double Framework
13:15 Hybrid Approaches in Project Management
16:03 Leadership and Co-location in Half Double
18:47 Embracing Chaos in Project Management
19:51 The Role of Project Owners
21:41 Understanding Project Impact and Stakeholder Management
23:44 Integrating Agile with Traditional Project Management
26:01 The Half Double Methodology Explained
29:23 The Future of Project Management in an AI-Driven World

Links from the Podcast

Half Double Institute - https://halfdoubleinstitute.org
PMI Agile 2026 https://agilealliance.org/pmi-agile-2026/
Dave and John Tanner’s session at Agile 2026 - "When AI Starts Doing Your Job: Surviving the PM Identity Crisis" https://tinyurl.com/23jc8uhs

Contact Mattias

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattiasgeorgsonpetren/
Email - mattias@georgson.com

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.