A decade ago, many organizations adopted Scrum development methodologies. However, by 2023, those overseeing these processes were often the first to lose their jobs.
Why it matters: What many do not realize is that companies like Google, Amazon, and Meta never fully embraced Scrum or Agile principles.
- Instead, they operate with more fluid and less process-heavy approaches, focusing on outcomes and impact rather than strictly adhering to a methodology.
The intrigue: After 2023, the same organizations that had abandoned Scrum were among the first to adopt internal AI solutions.
- As companies began to examine workflows for AI integration, they scrutinized the direct contributions of every role.
- If a Scrum Master's primary function was to facilitate meetings and enforce adherence to a framework—rather than directly accelerating product development—their perceived value quickly diminished.
Between the lines: Many executives are surprised to discover that the process of examining workflows for AI adoption often leads to optimizations that do not require technology.
- This is frequently observed when companies attempt to automate tasks; they usually find that existing processes are riddled with inefficiencies.
- For example, what was intended to be a simple task may have expanded into a series of criteria that must be followed due to poorly informed middle management.
Zoom in: Although Scrum methodologies have faced challenges from big tech, they are currently experiencing a resurgence, driven by advancements in AI.
- Instead of relying solely on human Scrum Masters, AI is taking on many tasks involved in facilitating Agile development.
- This includes organizing meetings, monitoring progress, and removing obstacles that hinder the workflow.
What's next: Eric Naiburg of Scrum.org explains that the future will involve AI prioritizing tasks, refining user stories, predicting outcomes, and even designing products.
- He envisions AI taking on the role of a Scrum Master, actively managing the backlog, prototyping development, and performing quality assurance testing.
- This is similar to trends observed in many knowledge worker domains.
Go deeper: Want to learn more about how AI is shaping development? Ask Todd Moses & Co. for a free book.
