The Agile Coach: 2026 Edition
07 April 2026
BY SCOTT M. GRAFFIUS | ScottGraffius.com
Graffius, S. M. (2026, April 7). The Agile Coach: 2026 Edition. ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/agile-coach-2026.html
Demand for Agile continues to surge across industries, driven by the need for faster innovation, greater adaptability, and customer-centric delivery in complex and volatile markets. Recent market analyses project strong growth in Agile practices, tools, and transformation services well into the next decade.
"Thriving in today’s marketplace frequently depends on making a transformation to become more Agile." —Scott M. Graffius, Agile Transformation: A Brief Story of How an Entertainment Company Developed New Capabilities and Unlocked Business Agility to Thrive in an Era of Rapid Change
"Shifting customer needs are common in today's marketplace. Businesses must be adaptive and responsive to change while delivering an exceptional customer experience to be competitive. Traditional development and delivery frameworks, such as waterfall, are often ineffective. In contrast, Scrum is a value-driven agile approach that incorporates adjustments based on regular and repeated customer and stakeholder feedback. Scrum’s built-in rapid response to change leads to substantial benefits such as fast time-to-market, higher satisfaction, and continuous improvement—which supports innovation and drives competitive advantage." —Scott M. Graffius, Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions
Traditional waterfall approaches often struggle with rapidly shifting customer expectations and accelerating change. In contrast, Agile frameworks like Scrum emphasize value delivery through short iterative cycles, continuous stakeholder feedback, and built-in adaptability. The results include faster time-to-market, higher satisfaction, continuous improvement, and sustained competitive advantage.
While the benefits of Agile are clear, successful adoption or scaling is rarely straightforward. It demands cultural shifts, mindset changes, and expert guidance. This is where Agile Coaches prove indispensable. Research shows they significantly increase the likelihood of success in Agile transformations by providing skilled facilitation, alignment, and sustainable change support.
Some might describe the Agile Coach role simply as "an individual who coaches agile teams." Such a definition is circular and limiting. A more comprehensive understanding of the role reveals the full breadth and depth of its impact:
"The individual is an agile expert who provides guidance for new agile implementations as well as existing agile teams. The Agile Coach is experienced in employing agile techniques in different environments and has successfully run diverse agile projects. The individual builds and maintains relationships with everyone involved, coaches individuals, trains groups, and facilitates interactive workshops. The Agile Coach is typically from outside the organization, and the role may be temporary or permanent." —Scott M. Graffius, Agile Transformation: A Brief Story of How an Entertainment Company Developed New Capabilities and Unlocked Business Agility to Thrive in an Era of Rapid Change
To encapsulate the full breadth and depth of the role, Scott M. Graffius created "The Agile Coach"—a visual model first introduced in 2019 and regularly updated. The 2026 edition appears at the top of this article. It distills the values, guiding principles, focus areas, tools, and activities that define high-impact Agile coaching today.
This article explores the Agile Coach role further, offering practical examples, strategies, and actionable insights for Agile Coaches and the organizations they serve—now extending into the emerging era of human-AI collaboration.
Graffius' The Agile Coach highlights five interconnected elements:
These five elements work together to drive meaningful, sustainable transformation. Specifics follow.
Values, Guiding Principles, Focus Areas, Tools, and Activities
Values form the essential foundation. Agile Coaches model and instill:
Guiding Principles translate values into action:
Focus Areas ensure balanced impact across the organization:
Tools equip teams to succeed independently:
Activities often overlap in practice:
Agile Coaches serve as catalysts for deeper cultural transformation, bridging legacy structures with Agile’s collaborative, adaptive ethos.
They promote open communication to break down silos, empower self-organizing teams to own decisions and outcomes, address resistance to change with empathy and clear benefits, and cultivate a culture of experimentation and continuous improvement.
That responsibility is now expanding into a new frontier—one defined by human-AI collaboration. The future of work is increasingly defined by human-AI teams, in which advanced artificial intelligence (agentic, autonomous, or autopoietic) serves as a collaborative teammate rather than a simple tool.
When such AI joins the team, novel "exotic team dynamics" emerge: inverse decision logic, superposition roles, entangled decision-making, and emergent protocols. These patterns go beyond traditional human-only teamwork and require new approaches to trust, communication, role clarity, and performance.
The 2026 edition of Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" addresses both human teams and human-AI teams. This update equips leaders and coaches with practical insights for navigating these exotic dynamics while preserving the foundational principles of high-performance collaboration.
Forward-looking Agile Coaches are uniquely positioned to help organizations integrate these realities—ensuring that AI amplifies human strengths, mitigates the risk of misalignment, and unlocks greater collective potential in hybrid environments.
The glossary and bibliography sections of this article provide additional information.
For organizations seeking to adopt Agile, mature their practices, or transform their ways of working, investing in a skilled Agile Coach can be beneficial. These professionals bring deep expertise, objectivity, and momentum—aligning Agile practices with business goals while building resilient, innovative cultures.
What sets exceptional Agile Coaches apart is their adaptability to each organization’s unique context—whether optimizing traditional teams, scaling Agile enterprise-wide, or guiding the shift toward human-AI collaboration. They deliver clarity amid complexity and drive sustained results.
Elite Agile Coaches can play a pivotal role in helping organizations navigate the complexities of exotic team dynamics which emerge when collaborating with advanced AI. By investing in these professional, leaders unlock greater innovation, stronger collaboration, empowered teams, and lasting competitive advantage in an era of rapid technological and organizational change.
If you want your teams and organization to thrive in this new frontier, Scott M. Graffius delivers the insights and actionable strategies to get you there. Complete an engagement request form or email Graffius today.
Glossary of Agile Coach Terms
A
Agile
An iterative, incremental approach to delivering products and services that emphasizes adaptability, collaboration, customer value, and responsiveness to change. Agile contrasts with linear, plan-driven methodologies by prioritizing continuous feedback, rapid delivery cycles, and evolving requirements.
Agile Coach
"The individual is an agile expert who provides guidance for new agile implementations as well as existing agile teams. The Agile Coach is experienced in employing agile techniques in different environments and has successfully run diverse agile projects. The individual builds and maintains relationships with everyone involved, coaches individuals, trains groups, and facilitates interactive workshops. The Agile Coach is typically from outside the organization, and the role may be temporary or permanent." —Scott M. Graffius, Agile Transformation: A Brief Story of How an Entertainment Company Developed New Capabilities and Unlocked Business Agility to Thrive in an Era of Rapid Change
Agile Coaching
A collaborative, developmental process through which an Agile Coach helps others improve performance, adopt Agile mindsets, and achieve organizational outcomes. It blends behavioral coaching, technical guidance, and organizational change practices.
Agile Environment
A working context where Agile values and principles are applied. It typically includes iterative development cycles, cross-functional collaboration, continuous feedback loops, and adaptive planning.
Agile Events (Ceremonies)
Structured, recurring meetings that support Agile processes. Examples include Sprint Planning, Daily Stand-Up, Sprint Review, and Sprint Retrospective. These events promote alignment, transparency, and continuous improvement.
Agile Process Tools
Frameworks and artifacts used to implement Agile practices, such as Scrum boards, Kanban systems, backlogs, and sprint artifacts.
Agile Transformation
The process of transitioning an organization from traditional ways of working to Agile practices. It involves changes to culture, processes, structures, leadership, and mindset.
B
Best Techniques (Agile Techniques)
A collection of proven practices used in Agile environments, such as pair programming, test-driven development (TDD), and user story mapping. Agile Coaches help teams select techniques appropriate to their context.
Burndown Chart
A visual representation showing the amount of work remaining versus time. It is used to track progress within a sprint or project and identify deviations from planned delivery.
C
Change Agent
An individual who drives and facilitates organizational change. Agile Coaches act as change agents by promoting Agile adoption, addressing resistance, and enabling cultural transformation.
Collaboration
A guiding principle emphasizing teamwork, shared responsibility, and collective problem-solving. It involves stakeholders working together toward common goals.
Commitment
A core Agile value reflecting dedication to goals, responsibilities, and team success. It involves accountability and follow-through.
Continuous Improvement
An ongoing effort to enhance processes, products, and performance through incremental changes, experimentation, and learning.
Coaching
A developmental activity focused on helping individuals or teams unlock their potential. It involves asking questions, providing feedback, and guiding self-discovery rather than prescribing solutions.
Courage
An Agile value representing the willingness to challenge norms, speak up, and make difficult decisions in pursuit of better outcomes.
Cycle Time
The total time it takes to complete a unit of work from start to finish. It is a key metric for assessing efficiency in Agile systems.
D
Daily Stand-Up Meeting
A short, time-boxed meeting where team members share progress, plans, and impediments. It supports alignment and transparency.
Data Collection and Analysis
The practice of gathering and interpreting metrics (e.g., velocity, cycle time, defect rates) to inform decision-making and continuous improvement.
Defect Rate
A metric indicating the number of defects in a product. It helps assess quality and identify areas for improvement.
Division/Segment/Department
Organizational units below the company level. Agile Coaches may apply Agile principles across these units to improve performance and collaboration.
E
Empowering Teams
Enabling teams to make decisions, take ownership, and be accountable for outcomes. It is central to developing self-organizing teams.
Exotic Team Dynamics
Coined by Scott M. Graffius, exotic team dynamics describes the novel, emergent patterns arising when humans and advanced AI function as teammates rather than in just a user-tool relationship. It highlights four physics-inspired characteristics: inverse decision logic, superposition roles, entangled decision-making, and emergent protocols. These reflect multidimensional cognitive-computational exchanges, non-linear effects, and the complexities introduced by agentic, autonomous, or autopoietic AI. Graffius integrated it into the 2026 edition of his Phases of Team Development material. Organizations mastering these dynamics gain advantages in adaptability, speed, and complex problem-solving by intentionally shaping trust, roles, and collaboration norms in human-AI environments. See Scott M. Graffius' Phases of Team Development - Applied to Human Teams and Human-AI Teams: 2026 Update to learn more.
F
Facilitating
Guiding groups through structured processes to reach decisions, solve problems, or achieve outcomes. The facilitator remains neutral and focuses on enabling participation.
Fast and Frequent Delivery
An Agile principle emphasizing short development cycles and regular delivery of working products or features.
Feedback
Constructive input used to improve performance and outcomes. Agile emphasizes continuous feedback from team members and stakeholders.
Focus
An Agile value emphasizing prioritization and clarity. It ensures effort is directed toward delivering maximum value.
Focus Areas
The different organizational levels Agile Coaches engage with, including company, department, product, team, and individuals.
H
High Satisfaction
An Agile principle focused on delivering value that meets or exceeds customer expectations while also supporting team satisfaction.
Human-AI Teams
See Exotic Team Dynamics.
I
Information Radiators
Visual displays (e.g., dashboards, boards) that provide real-time information about project status and performance.
Inspect and Learn
A practice of reviewing outcomes, reflecting on performance, and applying insights to improve future work.
K
Kanban Board
A visual workflow management tool that displays work items and their progress through stages.
M
Mentoring
A developmental activity where experienced individuals share knowledge and guidance to support others’ growth.
Metrics
Quantitative measures (e.g., velocity, cycle time) used to assess performance and guide decision-making.
O
Openness
An Agile value promoting transparency, honesty, and willingness to share information.
Organizational Culture
The shared values, beliefs, and behaviors within an organization. Agile Coaches influence culture to support collaboration and adaptability.
P
Pair Programming
A technique where two developers work together at one workstation, improving code quality and knowledge sharing.
Product/Service
The offering delivered to customers. Agile Coaches help teams align work with product vision and user needs.
Product Roadmap
A strategic plan outlining the direction and evolution of a product over time.
Product Vision
A high-level description of the product’s purpose and goals.
Psychological Safety
An environment where individuals feel safe to express ideas, take risks, and provide feedback without fear of negative consequences.
R
Respect
An Agile value emphasizing appreciation for diverse perspectives and contributions.
Resistance to Change
The natural opposition individuals or groups may have toward new ways of working. Agile Coaches help manage and reduce this resistance.
S
Self-Organizing Teams
Teams that manage their own work, make decisions, and organize tasks without centralized control.
Self-Managing Teams
Teams that take responsibility for both execution and management of their work.
Simplicity
An Agile principle focused on maximizing value by minimizing complexity (as appropriate) and unnecessary work.
Sprint Planning
An event where the team defines the work to be completed in the upcoming sprint.
Sprint Retrospective
A meeting to reflect on the previous sprint and identify improvements.
Sprint Review
A session where completed work is demonstrated to stakeholders for feedback.
Stakeholders
Individuals or groups with an interest in the outcome of a project or product.
T
Teaching
The act of instructing others in knowledge and skills, often in structured formats like workshops or training sessions.
Technical Excellence
A principle emphasizing high-quality, maintainable, and scalable solutions.
Team Building
See Exotic Team Dynamics.
Team Dynamics
The patterns of interaction, communication, and collaboration within a team.
Teams
See Exotic Team Dynamics.
Transparency
An Agile principle promoting open communication and visibility into work and processes.
Tribe / Squad / Team
Different terms for groups of individuals working collaboratively, often used in scaled Agile frameworks.
U
User Needs
The requirements, expectations, and preferences of end users that guide product development.
User Stories
Short, simple descriptions of features from the user’s perspective, used to guide development.
V
Values (Agile Values)
Core beliefs that guide behavior and decision-making in Agile environments: respect, courage, focus, openness, and commitment.
Velocity
A metric representing the amount of work a team completes in a sprint, used for planning and forecasting.
Visualization Tools
Tools that present work and progress visually, improving understanding and communication.
W
Workshops
Interactive sessions designed to teach concepts, solve problems, or align stakeholders through participation.
Y
Yielding Value
Delivering outcomes that provide measurable benefit to customers/users and the organization.
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Scott M. Graffius is a strategic transformation leader who drives AI, Agile, and broader business and technology initiatives to deliver measurable value across projects, programs, portfolios, and PMOs. He is an expert in the teamwork tradecraft of both human and human-AI teams, including the “exotic team dynamics” that emerge. He is also an authority on the temporal patterns of social media, including the half-life of audience engagement.
He’s a practitioner, researcher, thought leader, award-winning author, and keynote speaker who’s taken the stage at 98 conferences and other events across 25 countries.
He’s delivered over $2.51 billion in value for Fortune 500 companies and other leaders in technology, entertainment, financial services, healthcare, and beyond.
Businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities use Graffius and feature his work. Examples include Adobe, Bayer, Boston University, Ford, Gartner, Harvard Medical School, IEEE, Johns Hopkins University, Microsoft, MSN, National Academy of Sciences, Oracle, Pinterest Inc., Project Management Institute, UC San Diego, Verizon, Yale University, and others.
The following sections provide additional information on his experience, contributions, and influence.
Experience
Graffius heads the professional services firm Exceptional PPM and PMO Solutions, along with its subsidiary Exceptional Agility. These consultancies offer strategic and tactical advisory, training, embedded expertise, and consulting services to the public, private, and government sectors. They help organizations enhance their capabilities and results in agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership, supporting innovation and driving competitive advantage. The consultancies confidently back services with a Delighted Client Guarantee™.
Graffius is a former VP of project management with a publicly traded provider of diverse consumer products and services over the Internet. Before that, he ran and supervised the delivery of projects and programs in public and private organizations with businesses ranging from e-commerce to advanced technology products and services, retail, manufacturing, entertainment, and more.
He has experience with consumer, business, reseller, government, and international markets.
Award-Winning Author
Graffius has authored three books.
International Public Speaker
Organizations worldwide engage Graffius to present on tech (including AI), Agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership. He crafts and delivers unique and compelling talks and workshops. Graffius has conducted 98 sessions across 25 countries. Select examples of events include Agile Trends Gov, BSides (Newcastle Upon Tyne), Conf42 Quantum Computing, DevDays Europe, DevOps Institute, DevOpsDays (Geneva), Frug’Agile, IEEE, Microsoft, Scottish Summit, Scrum Alliance RSG (Nepal), Techstars, and W Love Games International Video Game Development Conference (Helsinki), and more.
With an average rating of 4.81 (on a scale of 1-5), sessions are highly valued.
The speaker engagement request form is here.
Thought Leadership and Influence
Prominent businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities have showcased Graffius and his contributions—spanning his books, talks, workshops, and beyond. Select examples include:
Graffius has played a key role in the Project Management Institute (PMI) in developing professional standards. He was a member of multiple teams that authored, reviewed, and produced:
Additional details are here.
He was also a subject matter expert reviewer of content for the PMI’s Congress. Beyond the PMI, Graffius also served as a member of the review team for two of the Scrum Alliance’s Global Scrum Gatherings.
Acclaimed Authority on Teamwork Tradecraft
Graffius is a renowned authority on teamwork tradecraft. Informed by the research of Bruce W. Tuckman and Mary Ann C. Jensen, over 150 subsequent studies, and Graffius' first-hand professional experience with, and analysis of, team leadership and performance, Graffius created his "Phases of Team Development" intellectual property as a unique perspective and visual conveying the five phases of team development. First introduced in 2008 and periodically updated, his work provides a diagnostic and strategic guide for navigating team dynamics. It provides actionable insights for leaders across industries to develop high-performance teams. Its adoption by esteemed organizations such as Yale University, IEEE, Cisco, Microsoft, Ford, Oracle, Broadcom, the U.S. National Park Service, and the Journal of Neurosurgery, among others, highlights its utility and value, solidifying its status as an indispensable resource for elevating team performance and driving organizational excellence. In 2026, Graffius added human-AI teamwork—including the "exotic team dynamics" which emerge when advanced AI collaborates as a teammate—to his "Phases of Team Development."
The 2026 edition of Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" intellectual property is here.
Expert on Temporal Dynamics on Social Media Platforms
Graffius is also an authority on temporal dynamics on social media platforms. His "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts" research—first published in 2018 and updated annually—delivers a precise quantitative analysis of post longevity across digital platforms, utilizing advanced statistical techniques to determine mean half-life with precision. It establishes a solid empirical base, effectively highlighting the ephemeral nature of content within social media ecosystems. Referenced and applied by leading entities—such as Fast Company, GoDaddy, Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume), Ministère de la Culture (French Ministry of Culture), Pinterest Inc., PNAS, and Telecommunications Policy, among others—his research exemplifies methodological rigor and sustained significance in the field of digital informatics.
The 2026 edition of Graffius "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts" research is here.
Education and Professional Certifications
Graffius has a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a focus in Human Factors. He holds eight professional certifications:
He is an active member of the Scrum Alliance, the Project Management Institute (PMI), and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
Advancing AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management
Scott M. Graffius continues to advance the fields of AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management through his leadership, research, writing, and real-world impact. Businesses and other organizations leverage Graffius’ insights to drive their success.
Discover Scott’s Books
Connect with and follow Scott on LinkedIn, X, YouTube, Facebook, Threads, Bluesky, Mastodon, and ResearchGate.
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Top Predictions of 2024, Tested in 2025
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AI in Agile: Benefits, Risks, Outlook
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Waterfall vs. Agile: What’s Fixed, What’s Flexible, and Why It Matters
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The Problem with Heroes in Agile
The 3 Vital Rules of Science: What They Are and Why They Matter
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Scott M. Graffius Recognized as a Top Thought Leader in Digital Disruption by Thinkers360
“Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum” by Scott M. Graffius Crashes the Book Scene with Satirical Firepower
NCKU in Taiwan Integrates Graffius' 'Phases of Team Development' into Its Curriculum
The Art and Science of Aligning Initiatives with Strategic Objectives
RGPV University Adds Scott M. Graffius’ "Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions" to Its Syllabus
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Reporting Errors in a Publication: A Case Study on ‘Frontiers in Public Health’
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U.S. Department of Commerce Partner (IEDC) Features Scott M. Graffius’ Intellectual Property
How Long Do Your Posts Live? AI Critiques Scott M. Graffius’ Research on the Half-Life of Social Media
Agile's Journey Through the Decades
Scott M. Graffius' Role in Advancing Project Management Institute (PMI) Standards Excellence
Most Valuable IT Certifications: Update for 2025
The PMI + Agile Alliance Merger: A Recipe for Success?
When Agile, AI, and Strategic Thinking Converge
Scott M. Graffius’ Phases of Team Development: 2025 Update
Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts: Update for 2025
Verizon Features Scott M. Graffius
Do Not Read This Article! An Exploration of the Streisand Effect and Other Phenomena
Scott M. Graffius' 'Phases of Team Development' was Spotlighted in Journal of Neurosurgery
Pinterest Japan Uses Graffius’ Research on Temporal Dynamics on Social Media Platforms
Hochschule Coburg (Coburg University) Germany Uses Scott M. Graffius’ Phases of Team Development IP in Coursework on Agile Development
Wild World of Team Dynamics [Updated Two-Minute Video]
EU Europass Teacher Academy Features Scott M. Graffius’ ‘Phases of Team Development’ in Leadership Training
Side-by-Side Comparison of Retrospectives and Hot Washes
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SBG Neumark — Europe’s Largest Distribution Transformer Plant — Powers Up with Scott M. Graffius’ Intellectual Property
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Singapore Institute of Technology Features Work of Scott M. Graffius
Tufts University Features Scott M. Graffius 'Phases of Team Development' Intellectual Property
'Cat Herders': Retelling the Massive Success Story
Pennsylvania State Agency Used Scott M. Graffius' Intellectual Property
Copyright Infringement in a Book Published by AuthorHouse / Author Solutions / The Najafi Companies: Publisher Fails to Respond or Take Required Action
Pinterest Inc. References Scott M. Graffius’ Research
Bournemouth University Used Scott M. Graffius’ Intellectual Property
‘Comparative Methodological Guidelines: Handbook for Educators’ Violates Scott M. Graffius’ Copyright
Japan Backlog User Group Event Featured Scott M. Graffius’ ‘Phases of Team Development’
TurningWest's 'Trial'
Radio Silence from the American Association of Neurological Surgeons on Report of Blatant Plagiarism in Their ‘Journal of Neurosurgery’ Publication
Supplement to Graffius' 'Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts' Research: Typical Engagement Distribution Pattern for Social Media Posts
How Algorithms Shape the User Experience on Social Media Platforms
Thinkers360 Named Scott M. Graffius a Top Thought Leader on Agile
More articles are listed here.
Graffius, S. M. (2026, April 7). The Agile Coach: 2026 Edition. ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/agile-coach-2026.html
Coming soon.
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Graffius, S. M. (2026, April 7). The Agile Coach: 2026 Edition. ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/agile-coach-2026.html
Introduction
Demand for Agile continues to surge across industries, driven by the need for faster innovation, greater adaptability, and customer-centric delivery in complex and volatile markets. Recent market analyses project strong growth in Agile practices, tools, and transformation services well into the next decade.
"Thriving in today’s marketplace frequently depends on making a transformation to become more Agile." —Scott M. Graffius, Agile Transformation: A Brief Story of How an Entertainment Company Developed New Capabilities and Unlocked Business Agility to Thrive in an Era of Rapid Change
"Shifting customer needs are common in today's marketplace. Businesses must be adaptive and responsive to change while delivering an exceptional customer experience to be competitive. Traditional development and delivery frameworks, such as waterfall, are often ineffective. In contrast, Scrum is a value-driven agile approach that incorporates adjustments based on regular and repeated customer and stakeholder feedback. Scrum’s built-in rapid response to change leads to substantial benefits such as fast time-to-market, higher satisfaction, and continuous improvement—which supports innovation and drives competitive advantage." —Scott M. Graffius, Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions
Traditional waterfall approaches often struggle with rapidly shifting customer expectations and accelerating change. In contrast, Agile frameworks like Scrum emphasize value delivery through short iterative cycles, continuous stakeholder feedback, and built-in adaptability. The results include faster time-to-market, higher satisfaction, continuous improvement, and sustained competitive advantage.
While the benefits of Agile are clear, successful adoption or scaling is rarely straightforward. It demands cultural shifts, mindset changes, and expert guidance. This is where Agile Coaches prove indispensable. Research shows they significantly increase the likelihood of success in Agile transformations by providing skilled facilitation, alignment, and sustainable change support.
Some might describe the Agile Coach role simply as "an individual who coaches agile teams." Such a definition is circular and limiting. A more comprehensive understanding of the role reveals the full breadth and depth of its impact:
"The individual is an agile expert who provides guidance for new agile implementations as well as existing agile teams. The Agile Coach is experienced in employing agile techniques in different environments and has successfully run diverse agile projects. The individual builds and maintains relationships with everyone involved, coaches individuals, trains groups, and facilitates interactive workshops. The Agile Coach is typically from outside the organization, and the role may be temporary or permanent." —Scott M. Graffius, Agile Transformation: A Brief Story of How an Entertainment Company Developed New Capabilities and Unlocked Business Agility to Thrive in an Era of Rapid Change
To encapsulate the full breadth and depth of the role, Scott M. Graffius created "The Agile Coach"—a visual model first introduced in 2019 and regularly updated. The 2026 edition appears at the top of this article. It distills the values, guiding principles, focus areas, tools, and activities that define high-impact Agile coaching today.
This article explores the Agile Coach role further, offering practical examples, strategies, and actionable insights for Agile Coaches and the organizations they serve—now extending into the emerging era of human-AI collaboration.
The Agile Coach Infographic (2026 Edition)
Graffius' The Agile Coach highlights five interconnected elements:
- Values: Respect, courage, focus, openness, and commitment.
- Guiding Principles: Collaboration, technical excellence, transparency, continuous improvement, simplicity, fast and frequent delivery, and high satisfaction.
- Focus Areas: Company, divisions or segments, products and services, tribes/squads/teams, and individuals.
- Tools: Data collection and analysis, visualization, context-appropriate best techniques, and feedback mechanisms.
- Activities: Coaching, teaching, facilitating, mentoring, and team-building (human and human-AI teams).
These five elements work together to drive meaningful, sustainable transformation. Specifics follow.
Values, Guiding Principles, Focus Areas, Tools, and Activities
Values form the essential foundation. Agile Coaches model and instill:
- Respect: Valuing diverse perspectives and contributions.
- Courage: Being data-driven, challenging assumptions, and acting with integrity.
- Focus: Prioritizing work that delivers maximum value.
- Openness: Embracing transparency about progress and challenges.
- Commitment: Dedicating effort to shared success.
Guiding Principles translate values into action:
- Collaboration across roles and levels.
- Technical excellence for maintainable, scalable outcomes.
- Transparency to build trust.
- Continuous improvement through reflection and adaptation.
- Simplicity — achieving objectives with minimal waste.
- Fast and frequent delivery of working increments.
- High satisfaction for both customers/users and the people delivering the work.
Focus Areas ensure balanced impact across the organization:
- Company-wide: Aligning initiatives with strategic objectives.
- Division/Segment/Department: Extending Agile practices for greater efficiency and cross-functional collaboration.
- Product/Service: Refining vision, roadmaps, and prioritization to maximize customer value.
- Tribe/Squad/Team: Building self-organizing groups with strong communication and psychological safety.
- Individuals: Supporting the personal and professional growth of individuals.
Tools equip teams to succeed independently:
- Data collection and analysis (velocity, cycle time, quality metrics).
- Visualization aids such as Kanban boards and burndown charts.
- Context-specific best techniques (e.g., user story mapping, test-driven development).
- Structured feedback loops.
Activities often overlap in practice:
- Coaching: Partnering with individuals and teams to unlock personal and professional potential using technical, business, and change management expertise.
- Teaching: Building specific knowledge and skills.
- Facilitating: Guiding groups toward solutions and decisions.
- Mentoring: Sharing experience to accelerate growth.
- Team-Building: Strengthening relationships, trust, and collaboration among members of a group, designed to improve cohesion and overall team performance. Spans human and human-AI teams.
The Agile Coach as a Change Agent
Agile Coaches serve as catalysts for deeper cultural transformation, bridging legacy structures with Agile’s collaborative, adaptive ethos.
They promote open communication to break down silos, empower self-organizing teams to own decisions and outcomes, address resistance to change with empathy and clear benefits, and cultivate a culture of experimentation and continuous improvement.
That responsibility is now expanding into a new frontier—one defined by human-AI collaboration. The future of work is increasingly defined by human-AI teams, in which advanced artificial intelligence (agentic, autonomous, or autopoietic) serves as a collaborative teammate rather than a simple tool.
When such AI joins the team, novel "exotic team dynamics" emerge: inverse decision logic, superposition roles, entangled decision-making, and emergent protocols. These patterns go beyond traditional human-only teamwork and require new approaches to trust, communication, role clarity, and performance.
The 2026 edition of Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" addresses both human teams and human-AI teams. This update equips leaders and coaches with practical insights for navigating these exotic dynamics while preserving the foundational principles of high-performance collaboration.
Forward-looking Agile Coaches are uniquely positioned to help organizations integrate these realities—ensuring that AI amplifies human strengths, mitigates the risk of misalignment, and unlocks greater collective potential in hybrid environments.
The glossary and bibliography sections of this article provide additional information.
Conclusion
For organizations seeking to adopt Agile, mature their practices, or transform their ways of working, investing in a skilled Agile Coach can be beneficial. These professionals bring deep expertise, objectivity, and momentum—aligning Agile practices with business goals while building resilient, innovative cultures.
What sets exceptional Agile Coaches apart is their adaptability to each organization’s unique context—whether optimizing traditional teams, scaling Agile enterprise-wide, or guiding the shift toward human-AI collaboration. They deliver clarity amid complexity and drive sustained results.
Elite Agile Coaches can play a pivotal role in helping organizations navigate the complexities of exotic team dynamics which emerge when collaborating with advanced AI. By investing in these professional, leaders unlock greater innovation, stronger collaboration, empowered teams, and lasting competitive advantage in an era of rapid technological and organizational change.
If you want your teams and organization to thrive in this new frontier, Scott M. Graffius delivers the insights and actionable strategies to get you there. Complete an engagement request form or email Graffius today.
Glossary
Glossary of Agile Coach Terms
A
Agile
An iterative, incremental approach to delivering products and services that emphasizes adaptability, collaboration, customer value, and responsiveness to change. Agile contrasts with linear, plan-driven methodologies by prioritizing continuous feedback, rapid delivery cycles, and evolving requirements.
Agile Coach
"The individual is an agile expert who provides guidance for new agile implementations as well as existing agile teams. The Agile Coach is experienced in employing agile techniques in different environments and has successfully run diverse agile projects. The individual builds and maintains relationships with everyone involved, coaches individuals, trains groups, and facilitates interactive workshops. The Agile Coach is typically from outside the organization, and the role may be temporary or permanent." —Scott M. Graffius, Agile Transformation: A Brief Story of How an Entertainment Company Developed New Capabilities and Unlocked Business Agility to Thrive in an Era of Rapid Change
Agile Coaching
A collaborative, developmental process through which an Agile Coach helps others improve performance, adopt Agile mindsets, and achieve organizational outcomes. It blends behavioral coaching, technical guidance, and organizational change practices.
Agile Environment
A working context where Agile values and principles are applied. It typically includes iterative development cycles, cross-functional collaboration, continuous feedback loops, and adaptive planning.
Agile Events (Ceremonies)
Structured, recurring meetings that support Agile processes. Examples include Sprint Planning, Daily Stand-Up, Sprint Review, and Sprint Retrospective. These events promote alignment, transparency, and continuous improvement.
Agile Process Tools
Frameworks and artifacts used to implement Agile practices, such as Scrum boards, Kanban systems, backlogs, and sprint artifacts.
Agile Transformation
The process of transitioning an organization from traditional ways of working to Agile practices. It involves changes to culture, processes, structures, leadership, and mindset.
B
Best Techniques (Agile Techniques)
A collection of proven practices used in Agile environments, such as pair programming, test-driven development (TDD), and user story mapping. Agile Coaches help teams select techniques appropriate to their context.
Burndown Chart
A visual representation showing the amount of work remaining versus time. It is used to track progress within a sprint or project and identify deviations from planned delivery.
C
Change Agent
An individual who drives and facilitates organizational change. Agile Coaches act as change agents by promoting Agile adoption, addressing resistance, and enabling cultural transformation.
Collaboration
A guiding principle emphasizing teamwork, shared responsibility, and collective problem-solving. It involves stakeholders working together toward common goals.
Commitment
A core Agile value reflecting dedication to goals, responsibilities, and team success. It involves accountability and follow-through.
Continuous Improvement
An ongoing effort to enhance processes, products, and performance through incremental changes, experimentation, and learning.
Coaching
A developmental activity focused on helping individuals or teams unlock their potential. It involves asking questions, providing feedback, and guiding self-discovery rather than prescribing solutions.
Courage
An Agile value representing the willingness to challenge norms, speak up, and make difficult decisions in pursuit of better outcomes.
Cycle Time
The total time it takes to complete a unit of work from start to finish. It is a key metric for assessing efficiency in Agile systems.
D
Daily Stand-Up Meeting
A short, time-boxed meeting where team members share progress, plans, and impediments. It supports alignment and transparency.
Data Collection and Analysis
The practice of gathering and interpreting metrics (e.g., velocity, cycle time, defect rates) to inform decision-making and continuous improvement.
Defect Rate
A metric indicating the number of defects in a product. It helps assess quality and identify areas for improvement.
Division/Segment/Department
Organizational units below the company level. Agile Coaches may apply Agile principles across these units to improve performance and collaboration.
E
Empowering Teams
Enabling teams to make decisions, take ownership, and be accountable for outcomes. It is central to developing self-organizing teams.
Exotic Team Dynamics
Coined by Scott M. Graffius, exotic team dynamics describes the novel, emergent patterns arising when humans and advanced AI function as teammates rather than in just a user-tool relationship. It highlights four physics-inspired characteristics: inverse decision logic, superposition roles, entangled decision-making, and emergent protocols. These reflect multidimensional cognitive-computational exchanges, non-linear effects, and the complexities introduced by agentic, autonomous, or autopoietic AI. Graffius integrated it into the 2026 edition of his Phases of Team Development material. Organizations mastering these dynamics gain advantages in adaptability, speed, and complex problem-solving by intentionally shaping trust, roles, and collaboration norms in human-AI environments. See Scott M. Graffius' Phases of Team Development - Applied to Human Teams and Human-AI Teams: 2026 Update to learn more.
F
Facilitating
Guiding groups through structured processes to reach decisions, solve problems, or achieve outcomes. The facilitator remains neutral and focuses on enabling participation.
Fast and Frequent Delivery
An Agile principle emphasizing short development cycles and regular delivery of working products or features.
Feedback
Constructive input used to improve performance and outcomes. Agile emphasizes continuous feedback from team members and stakeholders.
Focus
An Agile value emphasizing prioritization and clarity. It ensures effort is directed toward delivering maximum value.
Focus Areas
The different organizational levels Agile Coaches engage with, including company, department, product, team, and individuals.
H
High Satisfaction
An Agile principle focused on delivering value that meets or exceeds customer expectations while also supporting team satisfaction.
Human-AI Teams
See Exotic Team Dynamics.
I
Information Radiators
Visual displays (e.g., dashboards, boards) that provide real-time information about project status and performance.
Inspect and Learn
A practice of reviewing outcomes, reflecting on performance, and applying insights to improve future work.
K
Kanban Board
A visual workflow management tool that displays work items and their progress through stages.
M
Mentoring
A developmental activity where experienced individuals share knowledge and guidance to support others’ growth.
Metrics
Quantitative measures (e.g., velocity, cycle time) used to assess performance and guide decision-making.
O
Openness
An Agile value promoting transparency, honesty, and willingness to share information.
Organizational Culture
The shared values, beliefs, and behaviors within an organization. Agile Coaches influence culture to support collaboration and adaptability.
P
Pair Programming
A technique where two developers work together at one workstation, improving code quality and knowledge sharing.
Product/Service
The offering delivered to customers. Agile Coaches help teams align work with product vision and user needs.
Product Roadmap
A strategic plan outlining the direction and evolution of a product over time.
Product Vision
A high-level description of the product’s purpose and goals.
Psychological Safety
An environment where individuals feel safe to express ideas, take risks, and provide feedback without fear of negative consequences.
R
Respect
An Agile value emphasizing appreciation for diverse perspectives and contributions.
Resistance to Change
The natural opposition individuals or groups may have toward new ways of working. Agile Coaches help manage and reduce this resistance.
S
Self-Organizing Teams
Teams that manage their own work, make decisions, and organize tasks without centralized control.
Self-Managing Teams
Teams that take responsibility for both execution and management of their work.
Simplicity
An Agile principle focused on maximizing value by minimizing complexity (as appropriate) and unnecessary work.
Sprint Planning
An event where the team defines the work to be completed in the upcoming sprint.
Sprint Retrospective
A meeting to reflect on the previous sprint and identify improvements.
Sprint Review
A session where completed work is demonstrated to stakeholders for feedback.
Stakeholders
Individuals or groups with an interest in the outcome of a project or product.
T
Teaching
The act of instructing others in knowledge and skills, often in structured formats like workshops or training sessions.
Technical Excellence
A principle emphasizing high-quality, maintainable, and scalable solutions.
Team Building
See Exotic Team Dynamics.
Team Dynamics
The patterns of interaction, communication, and collaboration within a team.
Teams
See Exotic Team Dynamics.
Transparency
An Agile principle promoting open communication and visibility into work and processes.
Tribe / Squad / Team
Different terms for groups of individuals working collaboratively, often used in scaled Agile frameworks.
U
User Needs
The requirements, expectations, and preferences of end users that guide product development.
User Stories
Short, simple descriptions of features from the user’s perspective, used to guide development.
V
Values (Agile Values)
Core beliefs that guide behavior and decision-making in Agile environments: respect, courage, focus, openness, and commitment.
Velocity
A metric representing the amount of work a team completes in a sprint, used for planning and forecasting.
Visualization Tools
Tools that present work and progress visually, improving understanding and communication.
W
Workshops
Interactive sessions designed to teach concepts, solve problems, or align stakeholders through participation.
Y
Yielding Value
Delivering outcomes that provide measurable benefit to customers/users and the organization.
Bibliography
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Graffius, S. M. (2024, November 18). Side-by-side comparison of retrospectives and hot washes. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/retrospectives-and-hot-washes.html
Graffius, S. M. (2025). Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum. Seattle, WA: Amazon Digital Services.
Graffius, S. M. (2025, January 7). Scott M. Graffius’ phases of team development: 2025 update. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.33705.30564
Graffius, S. M. (2025, January 23). Wild world of team dynamics: Forming, storming, norming, performing and adjourning [Video]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eE1HTarKqEw
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Graffius, S. M. (2025, August 7). Method and System for Facilitating Hybrid Human-Artificial Intelligence Teams via a Protocolized Mediation Layer for Bi-Directional Translation, Interpretation, and Optimization of Natural Language, Paralinguistic, Prosodic, and Nonverbal Cues Across Text, Audio, and Video Modalities, Incorporating Real-Time Analysis of Auditory Tone, Pitch, Affect, Facial Expressions, Gaze, Posture, and Other Body Language Indicators, Generating AI-Compatible Representations for Human Inputs, Generating Human-Accessible Representations for AI Outputs, Conveying Context-Aware Information in Both Directions, Reducing Cognitive Friction, Enhancing Mutual Intelligibility, Supporting Decision-Making, and Maximizing Collective Task Performance. A novel integration of multimodal communication, cognitive alignment, and human-AI interaction. Los Angeles, California, United States: Scott M. Graffius.
Graffius, S. M. (2025, August 8). Exotic team dynamics: The new frontier of human-AI collaboration. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/exotic-team-dynamics.html
Graffius, S. M. (2025, October 29). Definitions of advanced AIs: Agentic, autonomous, and autopoietic. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/advanced-ai-definitions.html
Graffius, S. M. (2025, November 21). Navigating the spectrum of advanced AI – Agentic, autonomous, and autopoietic. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/navigating-the-spectrum-of-advanced-artificial-intelligence.html
Graffius, S. M. (2025, November 21). This is What Happens When Advanced AI Joins Your Team [Presentation; French translation for contextual clarity: Voici ce qui se passe lorsque l’IA avancée rejoint votre équipe]. Talk delivered in English at a corporate event, Paris, France.
Graffius, S. M. (2026, January 3). Scott M. Graffius’ phases of team development—applied to human teams and human-AI teams: 2026 update. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.18184.89601
Graffius, S. M. (2026, March 12). UNSW Aerospace Engineering Course Features Scott M. Graffius' "Phases of Team Development". ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/unsw-features-phases-of-team-development-by-scott-m-graffius.html
Graffius, S. M. (2026, March 23). Human-AI Teamwork: Master the Exotic Team Dynamics That Emerge When Collaborating with Advanced AI -- Or Be Outplayed. ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/human-ai-teamwork-master-the-emergent-exotic-team-dynamics-or-be-outplayed.html
Graffius, S. M. (2026, March 31). Phases of Team Development in Elite Sport. ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/phases-of-team-development-in-elite-sport.html
Kerzner, H. (2022). Innovation project management: Methods, case studies, and tools for managing innovation projects (2nd ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.
Meadows, D. H. (2008). Thinking in systems: A primer. White River Junction, VT: Chelsea Green Publishing.
Nelson, K., Ronka, D., Lang, L., Korabek-Emerson, L., & White, J. (2020). Designing & leading life-changing workshops. Kittery Point, ME: Cliffhouse Press.
Paulise, L. (2021, September 29). Why an agile coach can help your team overcome the great resignation. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/lucianapaulise/2021/09/29/why-an-agile-coach-can-help-your-team-overcome-the-great-resignation/
Project Management Institute. (2025, January 3). Agile Alliance® joins Project Management Institute (PMI) [Press release]. https://www.pmi.org/about/press-media/2025/agile-alliance-joins-project-management-institute
PwC Luxembourg. (2024, October 2). Agile survey 2024. https://www.pwc.lu/en/advisory/digital-tech-impact/digital/agile-transformation/agile-survey-2024.html
Scrum Alliance. (n.d.). The growing impact of agile coaching. https://resources.scrumalliance.org/Article/growing-impact-agile-coaching
Scrum Alliance. (2025). Scrum Alliance 2025 annual report—Advancing agility and resilience. https://www.scrumalliance.org/about/annual-report-2025
Stanier, M. B. (2016). The coaching habit: Say less, ask more & change the way you lead forever. Vancouver, BC: Page Two.
Thompson, S., & Cox, E. (2017). How coaching is used and understood by project managers in organizations. Project Management Journal, 48(5), 64–77.
Yahoo Finance. (2025, October 8). Agile project management software market to hit USD 14,711 million by 2032. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/agile-project-management-software-market-133100700.html
About Scott M. Graffius
Scott M. Graffius is a strategic transformation leader who drives AI, Agile, and broader business and technology initiatives to deliver measurable value across projects, programs, portfolios, and PMOs. He is an expert in the teamwork tradecraft of both human and human-AI teams, including the “exotic team dynamics” that emerge. He is also an authority on the temporal patterns of social media, including the half-life of audience engagement.
He’s a practitioner, researcher, thought leader, award-winning author, and keynote speaker who’s taken the stage at 98 conferences and other events across 25 countries.
He’s delivered over $2.51 billion in value for Fortune 500 companies and other leaders in technology, entertainment, financial services, healthcare, and beyond.
Businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities use Graffius and feature his work. Examples include Adobe, Bayer, Boston University, Ford, Gartner, Harvard Medical School, IEEE, Johns Hopkins University, Microsoft, MSN, National Academy of Sciences, Oracle, Pinterest Inc., Project Management Institute, UC San Diego, Verizon, Yale University, and others.
The following sections provide additional information on his experience, contributions, and influence.
Experience
Graffius heads the professional services firm Exceptional PPM and PMO Solutions, along with its subsidiary Exceptional Agility. These consultancies offer strategic and tactical advisory, training, embedded expertise, and consulting services to the public, private, and government sectors. They help organizations enhance their capabilities and results in agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership, supporting innovation and driving competitive advantage. The consultancies confidently back services with a Delighted Client Guarantee™.
Graffius is a former VP of project management with a publicly traded provider of diverse consumer products and services over the Internet. Before that, he ran and supervised the delivery of projects and programs in public and private organizations with businesses ranging from e-commerce to advanced technology products and services, retail, manufacturing, entertainment, and more.
He has experience with consumer, business, reseller, government, and international markets.
Award-Winning Author
Graffius has authored three books.
- Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions, his first book, earned 17 awards.
- Agile Transformation: A Brief Story of How an Entertainment Company Developed New Capabilities and Unlocked Business Agility to Thrive in an Era of Rapid Change, his second book, was named one of the best Scrum books of all time by BookAuthority.
- Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum, his third book and his first work of fiction, was released in April 2025. The book trailer is on YouTube.
International Public Speaker
Organizations worldwide engage Graffius to present on tech (including AI), Agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership. He crafts and delivers unique and compelling talks and workshops. Graffius has conducted 98 sessions across 25 countries. Select examples of events include Agile Trends Gov, BSides (Newcastle Upon Tyne), Conf42 Quantum Computing, DevDays Europe, DevOps Institute, DevOpsDays (Geneva), Frug’Agile, IEEE, Microsoft, Scottish Summit, Scrum Alliance RSG (Nepal), Techstars, and W Love Games International Video Game Development Conference (Helsinki), and more.
With an average rating of 4.81 (on a scale of 1-5), sessions are highly valued.
The speaker engagement request form is here.
Thought Leadership and Influence
Prominent businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities have showcased Graffius and his contributions—spanning his books, talks, workshops, and beyond. Select examples include:
- Adobe,
- American Management Association,
- Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute,
- Bayer,
- BMC Software,
- Boston University,
- Broadcom,
- Cisco,
- Coburg University of Applied Sciences and Arts - Germany,
- Computer Weekly,
- Constructor University - Germany,
- Data Governance Success,
- Deimos Aerospace,
- DevOps Institute,
- Dropbox,
- EU's European Commission,
- Ford Motor Company,
- Gartner,
- GoDaddy,
- Harvard Medical School,
- Hasso Plattner Institute - Germany,
- IEEE,
- Innovation Project Management,
- Johns Hopkins University,
- Journal of Neurosurgery,
- Lam Research (Semiconductors),
- Leadership Worthy,
- Life Sciences Trainers and Educators Network,
- London South Bank University,
- Microsoft,
- MSN,
- NASSCOM,
- National Academy of Sciences,
- New Zealand Government,
- Oracle,
- Pinterest Inc.,
- Project Management Institute,
- Mary Raum (Professor of National Security Affairs, United States Naval War College),
- SANS Institute,
- SBG Neumark - Germany,
- Singapore Institute of Technology,
- Torrens University - Australia,
- TBS Switzerland,
- Tufts University,
- UC San Diego,
- UK Sports Institute,
- University of Galway - Ireland,
- US Department of Energy,
- US National Park Service,
- US Soccer,
- US Tennis Association,
- Verizon,
- Wrike,
- Yale University,
- and many others.
Graffius has played a key role in the Project Management Institute (PMI) in developing professional standards. He was a member of multiple teams that authored, reviewed, and produced:
- Practice Standard for Work Breakdown Structures—Second Edition.
- A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge—Sixth Edition.
- The Standard for Program Management—Fourth Edition.
- The Practice Standard for Project Estimating—Second Edition.
Additional details are here.
He was also a subject matter expert reviewer of content for the PMI’s Congress. Beyond the PMI, Graffius also served as a member of the review team for two of the Scrum Alliance’s Global Scrum Gatherings.
Acclaimed Authority on Teamwork Tradecraft
Graffius is a renowned authority on teamwork tradecraft. Informed by the research of Bruce W. Tuckman and Mary Ann C. Jensen, over 150 subsequent studies, and Graffius' first-hand professional experience with, and analysis of, team leadership and performance, Graffius created his "Phases of Team Development" intellectual property as a unique perspective and visual conveying the five phases of team development. First introduced in 2008 and periodically updated, his work provides a diagnostic and strategic guide for navigating team dynamics. It provides actionable insights for leaders across industries to develop high-performance teams. Its adoption by esteemed organizations such as Yale University, IEEE, Cisco, Microsoft, Ford, Oracle, Broadcom, the U.S. National Park Service, and the Journal of Neurosurgery, among others, highlights its utility and value, solidifying its status as an indispensable resource for elevating team performance and driving organizational excellence. In 2026, Graffius added human-AI teamwork—including the "exotic team dynamics" which emerge when advanced AI collaborates as a teammate—to his "Phases of Team Development."
The 2026 edition of Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" intellectual property is here.
Expert on Temporal Dynamics on Social Media Platforms
Graffius is also an authority on temporal dynamics on social media platforms. His "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts" research—first published in 2018 and updated annually—delivers a precise quantitative analysis of post longevity across digital platforms, utilizing advanced statistical techniques to determine mean half-life with precision. It establishes a solid empirical base, effectively highlighting the ephemeral nature of content within social media ecosystems. Referenced and applied by leading entities—such as Fast Company, GoDaddy, Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume), Ministère de la Culture (French Ministry of Culture), Pinterest Inc., PNAS, and Telecommunications Policy, among others—his research exemplifies methodological rigor and sustained significance in the field of digital informatics.
The 2026 edition of Graffius "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts" research is here.
Education and Professional Certifications
Graffius has a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a focus in Human Factors. He holds eight professional certifications:
- Certified SAFe 6 Agilist (SA),
- Certified Scrum Professional - ScrumMaster (CSP-SM),
- Certified Scrum Professional - Product Owner (CSP-PO),
- Certified ScrumMaster (CSM),
- Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO),
- Project Management Professional (PMP),
- Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (LSSGB), and
- IT Service Management Foundation (ITIL).
He is an active member of the Scrum Alliance, the Project Management Institute (PMI), and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
Advancing AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management
Scott M. Graffius continues to advance the fields of AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management through his leadership, research, writing, and real-world impact. Businesses and other organizations leverage Graffius’ insights to drive their success.
Discover Scott’s Books
- Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions — Deliver Products in Short Cycles with Rapid Adaptation to Change, Fast Time-to-Market, and Continuous Improvement
- Agile Transformation: A Brief Story of How an Entertainment Company Developed New Capabilities and Unlocked Business Agility to Thrive in an Era of Rapid Change
- Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum
Connect with and follow Scott on LinkedIn, X, YouTube, Facebook, Threads, Bluesky, Mastodon, and ResearchGate.
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List of Additional Articles
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More articles are listed here.
How to Cite This Article
Graffius, S. M. (2026, April 7). The Agile Coach: 2026 Edition. ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/agile-coach-2026.html
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Coming soon.
Content Acknowledgements
All names, marks, and content are the property of their respective owners.
Tags and Hashtags
- Agile Coach
- Agile Coaching
- Agile Transformation
- Human-AI Collaboration
- Exotic Team Dynamics
- Future of Work
- Team Development
- Agile Leadership
- #AgileCoach
- #AgileCoaching
- #HumanAI
- #HumanAICollaboration
- #FutureOfWork
- #ExoticTeamDynamics
- #AgileTransformation
- #Teamwork
Post-Publication Notes
If there are any supplements or updates to this article after the date of publication, they will appear here.
Copyright
Copyright © Scott M. Graffius. All rights reserved.
Content on this site—including text, images, videos, and data—may not be used for training or input into any artificial intelligence, machine learning, or automatized learning systems, or published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the express written permission of Scott M. Graffius.
Scott M. Graffius’ Work Cited in International Peer-Reviewed Journal on Digital Transformation
06 April 2026
BY SCOTT M. GRAFFIUS | ScottGraffius.com
Scott M. Graffius’ article, "How Algorithms Shape the User Experience on Social Media Platforms," has been cited in a peer-reviewed research paper. Published in the scientific journal Digital Transformation (Цифровая трансформация), the citing work is titled "Key Factors of Social Networks Algorithms: Classification and Practical Significance for SMM." This recognition highlights the ongoing global interest in understanding how algorithmic systems influence digital ecosystems and social media marketing practices. Excerpts are shown below.
Details including links to Graffius' article and the scientific paper are in the bibliography.
In "How Algorithms Shape the User Experience on Social Media Platforms," Graffius examines how algorithms on social media platforms, those invisible mathematical architects and gatekeepers, quietly determine what over five billion people see, think about, and react to every single day. What began as the humble chronological feed evolved, once engagement exploded, into something far more powerful and opaque: sophisticated, engagement-driven systems that promote not necessarily the most truthful or enriching content, but the most engaging content. That distinction matters enormously. Five fundamental forces drive these systems: user engagement, content prioritization, content relevance, freshness, and network effects. None of them were explicitly designed to make users miserable, yet the outcomes can sometimes lean that way. The upsides are real, including personalization, content discovery, and reduced information overload, but so are the downsides: echo chambers, the amplification of misinformation, and a creeping user fatigue born of the realization that one’s experience is being engineered by an entity whose priorities may differ from one’s own. Graffius urges marketers to lean into quality, authenticity, and video, while posing important ethical questions about transparency and whose well-being the platforms are actually optimizing for. He suggests that the future will bring more AI refinement, greater user control, ethical algorithm design, and possibly even augmented and virtual reality woven into the feed, at which point the gap between "what the algorithm wants" and "what is good for you" will become either negligibly small or spectacularly large.
The journal Digital Transformation, based in Belarus and published by the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Belarus, focuses on the technical and economic aspects of digital technologies, information and communication systems, and their real-world applications. It features peer-reviewed articles, primarily in Russian. Being referenced in this context is especially meaningful, as it places Graffius’ work alongside research that classifies social network algorithms and examines their tangible value for social media marketing (SMM) professionals.
Algorithms quietly shape billions of daily interactions, often in ways users rarely see but deeply feel. The fact that independent, peer-reviewed research is building on these ideas is both affirming and encouraging, underscoring the value of clear, thoughtful examination of these systems. As platforms evolve with increasingly sophisticated AI, the stakes continue to rise—bringing questions of personalization, fairness, transparency, and user well-being into sharper focus. Yet, with greater awareness and informed contributions from researchers, practitioners, and users alike, there is a meaningful opportunity to guide these systems toward more ethical, human-centered outcomes. In that sense, this growing body of work is part of shaping a better digital future.
Batura M., Маrakhina I., & Parkhimenko U. (2026, April). Key Factors of Social Networks Algorithms: Classification and Practical Significance for SMM. Digital Transformation, 32(1), 12-18. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.35596/1729-7648-2026-32-1-12-18
Graffius, S. M. (2024, September 26). How Algorithms Shape the User Experience on Social Media Platforms. ScottGraffius.com. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.29149.01767
Scott M. Graffius is a strategic transformation leader who drives AI, Agile, and broader business and technology initiatives to deliver measurable value across projects, programs, portfolios, and PMOs. He is an expert in the teamwork tradecraft of both human and human-AI teams, including the “exotic team dynamics” that emerge. He is also an authority on the temporal patterns of social media, including the half-life of audience engagement.
He’s a practitioner, researcher, thought leader, award-winning author, and keynote speaker who’s taken the stage at 98 conferences and other events across 25 countries.
He’s delivered over $2.51 billion in value for Fortune 500 companies and other leaders in technology, entertainment, financial services, healthcare, and beyond.
Businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities use Graffius and feature his work. Examples include Adobe, Bayer, Boston University, Ford, Gartner, Harvard Medical School, IEEE, Johns Hopkins University, Microsoft, MSN, National Academy of Sciences, Oracle, Pinterest Inc., Project Management Institute, UC San Diego, Verizon, Yale University, and others.
The following sections provide additional information on his experience, contributions, and influence.
Experience
Graffius heads the professional services firm Exceptional PPM and PMO Solutions, along with its subsidiary Exceptional Agility. These consultancies offer strategic and tactical advisory, training, embedded expertise, and consulting services to the public, private, and government sectors. They help organizations enhance their capabilities and results in agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership, supporting innovation and driving competitive advantage. The consultancies confidently back services with a Delighted Client Guarantee™.
Graffius is a former VP of project management with a publicly traded provider of diverse consumer products and services over the Internet. Before that, he ran and supervised the delivery of projects and programs in public and private organizations with businesses ranging from e-commerce to advanced technology products and services, retail, manufacturing, entertainment, and more.
He has experience with consumer, business, reseller, government, and international markets.
Award-Winning Author
Graffius has authored three books.
International Public Speaker
Organizations worldwide engage Graffius to present on tech (including AI), Agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership. He crafts and delivers unique and compelling talks and workshops. Graffius has conducted 98 sessions across 25 countries. Select examples of events include Agile Trends Gov, BSides (Newcastle Upon Tyne), Conf42 Quantum Computing, DevDays Europe, DevOps Institute, DevOpsDays (Geneva), Frug’Agile, IEEE, Microsoft, Scottish Summit, Scrum Alliance RSG (Nepal), Techstars, and W Love Games International Video Game Development Conference (Helsinki), and more.
With an average rating of 4.81 (on a scale of 1-5), sessions are highly valued.
The speaker engagement request form is here.
Thought Leadership and Influence
Prominent businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities have showcased Graffius and his contributions—spanning his books, talks, workshops, and beyond. Select examples include:
Graffius has played a key role in the Project Management Institute (PMI) in developing professional standards. He was a member of multiple teams that authored, reviewed, and produced:
Additional details are here.
He was also a subject matter expert reviewer of content for the PMI’s Congress. Beyond the PMI, Graffius also served as a member of the review team for two of the Scrum Alliance’s Global Scrum Gatherings.
Acclaimed Authority on Teamwork Tradecraft
Graffius is a renowned authority on teamwork tradecraft. Informed by the research of Bruce W. Tuckman and Mary Ann C. Jensen, over 150 subsequent studies, and Graffius' first-hand professional experience with, and analysis of, team leadership and performance, Graffius created his "Phases of Team Development" intellectual property as a unique perspective and visual conveying the five phases of team development. First introduced in 2008 and periodically updated, his work provides a diagnostic and strategic guide for navigating team dynamics. It provides actionable insights for leaders across industries to develop high-performance teams. Its adoption by esteemed organizations such as Yale University, IEEE, Cisco, Microsoft, Ford, Oracle, Broadcom, the U.S. National Park Service, and the Journal of Neurosurgery, among others, highlights its utility and value, solidifying its status as an indispensable resource for elevating team performance and driving organizational excellence. In 2026, Graffius added human-AI teamwork—including the "exotic team dynamics" which emerge when advanced AI collaborates as a teammate—to his "Phases of Team Development."
The 2026 edition of Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" intellectual property is here.
Expert on Temporal Dynamics on Social Media Platforms
Graffius is also an authority on temporal dynamics on social media platforms. His "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts" research—first published in 2018 and updated annually—delivers a precise quantitative analysis of post longevity across digital platforms, utilizing advanced statistical techniques to determine mean half-life with precision. It establishes a solid empirical base, effectively highlighting the ephemeral nature of content within social media ecosystems. Referenced and applied by leading entities—such as Fast Company, GoDaddy, Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume), Ministère de la Culture (French Ministry of Culture), Pinterest Inc., PNAS, and Telecommunications Policy, among others—his research exemplifies methodological rigor and sustained significance in the field of digital informatics.
The 2026 edition of Graffius "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts" research is here.
Education and Professional Certifications
Graffius has a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a focus in Human Factors. He holds eight professional certifications:
He is an active member of the Scrum Alliance, the Project Management Institute (PMI), and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
Advancing AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management
Scott M. Graffius continues to advance the fields of AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management through his leadership, research, writing, and real-world impact. Businesses and other organizations leverage Graffius’ insights to drive their success.
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More articles are listed here.
Graffius, S. M. (2026, April 6). Scott M. Graffius' Work Cited in International Peer-Reviewed Journal on Digital Transformation. ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/scott-m-graffius-work-cited-in-digital-transformation-journal.html
Coming soon.
Scott M. Graffius' work was cited in an international peer-reviewed journal on digital transformation. The paper, "Key Factors of Social Networks Algorithms: Classification and Practical Significance for SMM," published in the journal Digital Transformation, cites Graffius' article, "How Algorithms Shape the User Experience on Social Media Platforms."
Digital Transformation (a Belarus-based, Russian-language journal) and its content are the property of their respective publisher and contributors.
"Key Factors of Social Networks Algorithms: Classification and Practical Significance for SMM" is the property of its authors and publisher.
This article includes limited excerpts, attributed and used under fair use doctrine for purposes of news reporting, commentary, and analysis.
"How Algorithms Shape the User Experience on Social Media Platforms" is copyright © Scott M. Graffius. All rights reserved.
If there are any supplements or updates to this article after the date of publication, they will appear here.
Copyright © Scott M. Graffius. All rights reserved.
Content on this site—including text, images, videos, and data—may not be used for training or input into any artificial intelligence, machine learning, or automatized learning systems, or published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the express written permission of Scott M. Graffius.
Introduction
Scott M. Graffius’ article, "How Algorithms Shape the User Experience on Social Media Platforms," has been cited in a peer-reviewed research paper. Published in the scientific journal Digital Transformation (Цифровая трансформация), the citing work is titled "Key Factors of Social Networks Algorithms: Classification and Practical Significance for SMM." This recognition highlights the ongoing global interest in understanding how algorithmic systems influence digital ecosystems and social media marketing practices. Excerpts are shown below.
Details including links to Graffius' article and the scientific paper are in the bibliography.
About the Article, How Algorithms Shape the User Experience on Social Media Platforms
In "How Algorithms Shape the User Experience on Social Media Platforms," Graffius examines how algorithms on social media platforms, those invisible mathematical architects and gatekeepers, quietly determine what over five billion people see, think about, and react to every single day. What began as the humble chronological feed evolved, once engagement exploded, into something far more powerful and opaque: sophisticated, engagement-driven systems that promote not necessarily the most truthful or enriching content, but the most engaging content. That distinction matters enormously. Five fundamental forces drive these systems: user engagement, content prioritization, content relevance, freshness, and network effects. None of them were explicitly designed to make users miserable, yet the outcomes can sometimes lean that way. The upsides are real, including personalization, content discovery, and reduced information overload, but so are the downsides: echo chambers, the amplification of misinformation, and a creeping user fatigue born of the realization that one’s experience is being engineered by an entity whose priorities may differ from one’s own. Graffius urges marketers to lean into quality, authenticity, and video, while posing important ethical questions about transparency and whose well-being the platforms are actually optimizing for. He suggests that the future will bring more AI refinement, greater user control, ethical algorithm design, and possibly even augmented and virtual reality woven into the feed, at which point the gap between "what the algorithm wants" and "what is good for you" will become either negligibly small or spectacularly large.
About the Journal, Digital Transformation
The journal Digital Transformation, based in Belarus and published by the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Belarus, focuses on the technical and economic aspects of digital technologies, information and communication systems, and their real-world applications. It features peer-reviewed articles, primarily in Russian. Being referenced in this context is especially meaningful, as it places Graffius’ work alongside research that classifies social network algorithms and examines their tangible value for social media marketing (SMM) professionals.
Conclusion
Algorithms quietly shape billions of daily interactions, often in ways users rarely see but deeply feel. The fact that independent, peer-reviewed research is building on these ideas is both affirming and encouraging, underscoring the value of clear, thoughtful examination of these systems. As platforms evolve with increasingly sophisticated AI, the stakes continue to rise—bringing questions of personalization, fairness, transparency, and user well-being into sharper focus. Yet, with greater awareness and informed contributions from researchers, practitioners, and users alike, there is a meaningful opportunity to guide these systems toward more ethical, human-centered outcomes. In that sense, this growing body of work is part of shaping a better digital future.
Bibliography
Batura M., Маrakhina I., & Parkhimenko U. (2026, April). Key Factors of Social Networks Algorithms: Classification and Practical Significance for SMM. Digital Transformation, 32(1), 12-18. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.35596/1729-7648-2026-32-1-12-18
Graffius, S. M. (2024, September 26). How Algorithms Shape the User Experience on Social Media Platforms. ScottGraffius.com. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.29149.01767
About Scott M. Graffius
Scott M. Graffius is a strategic transformation leader who drives AI, Agile, and broader business and technology initiatives to deliver measurable value across projects, programs, portfolios, and PMOs. He is an expert in the teamwork tradecraft of both human and human-AI teams, including the “exotic team dynamics” that emerge. He is also an authority on the temporal patterns of social media, including the half-life of audience engagement.
He’s a practitioner, researcher, thought leader, award-winning author, and keynote speaker who’s taken the stage at 98 conferences and other events across 25 countries.
He’s delivered over $2.51 billion in value for Fortune 500 companies and other leaders in technology, entertainment, financial services, healthcare, and beyond.
Businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities use Graffius and feature his work. Examples include Adobe, Bayer, Boston University, Ford, Gartner, Harvard Medical School, IEEE, Johns Hopkins University, Microsoft, MSN, National Academy of Sciences, Oracle, Pinterest Inc., Project Management Institute, UC San Diego, Verizon, Yale University, and others.
The following sections provide additional information on his experience, contributions, and influence.
Experience
Graffius heads the professional services firm Exceptional PPM and PMO Solutions, along with its subsidiary Exceptional Agility. These consultancies offer strategic and tactical advisory, training, embedded expertise, and consulting services to the public, private, and government sectors. They help organizations enhance their capabilities and results in agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership, supporting innovation and driving competitive advantage. The consultancies confidently back services with a Delighted Client Guarantee™.
Graffius is a former VP of project management with a publicly traded provider of diverse consumer products and services over the Internet. Before that, he ran and supervised the delivery of projects and programs in public and private organizations with businesses ranging from e-commerce to advanced technology products and services, retail, manufacturing, entertainment, and more.
He has experience with consumer, business, reseller, government, and international markets.
Award-Winning Author
Graffius has authored three books.
- Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions, his first book, earned 17 awards.
- Agile Transformation: A Brief Story of How an Entertainment Company Developed New Capabilities and Unlocked Business Agility to Thrive in an Era of Rapid Change, his second book, was named one of the best Scrum books of all time by BookAuthority.
- Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum, his third book and his first work of fiction, was released in April 2025. The book trailer is on YouTube.
International Public Speaker
Organizations worldwide engage Graffius to present on tech (including AI), Agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership. He crafts and delivers unique and compelling talks and workshops. Graffius has conducted 98 sessions across 25 countries. Select examples of events include Agile Trends Gov, BSides (Newcastle Upon Tyne), Conf42 Quantum Computing, DevDays Europe, DevOps Institute, DevOpsDays (Geneva), Frug’Agile, IEEE, Microsoft, Scottish Summit, Scrum Alliance RSG (Nepal), Techstars, and W Love Games International Video Game Development Conference (Helsinki), and more.
With an average rating of 4.81 (on a scale of 1-5), sessions are highly valued.
The speaker engagement request form is here.
Thought Leadership and Influence
Prominent businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities have showcased Graffius and his contributions—spanning his books, talks, workshops, and beyond. Select examples include:
- Adobe,
- American Management Association,
- Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute,
- Bayer,
- BMC Software,
- Boston University,
- Broadcom,
- Cisco,
- Coburg University of Applied Sciences and Arts - Germany,
- Computer Weekly,
- Constructor University - Germany,
- Data Governance Success,
- Deimos Aerospace,
- DevOps Institute,
- Dropbox,
- EU's European Commission,
- Ford Motor Company,
- Gartner,
- GoDaddy,
- Harvard Medical School,
- Hasso Plattner Institute - Germany,
- IEEE,
- Innovation Project Management,
- Johns Hopkins University,
- Journal of Neurosurgery,
- Lam Research (Semiconductors),
- Leadership Worthy,
- Life Sciences Trainers and Educators Network,
- London South Bank University,
- Microsoft,
- MSN,
- NASSCOM,
- National Academy of Sciences,
- New Zealand Government,
- Oracle,
- Pinterest Inc.,
- Project Management Institute,
- Mary Raum (Professor of National Security Affairs, United States Naval War College),
- SANS Institute,
- SBG Neumark - Germany,
- Singapore Institute of Technology,
- Torrens University - Australia,
- TBS Switzerland,
- Tufts University,
- UC San Diego,
- UK Sports Institute,
- University of Galway - Ireland,
- US Department of Energy,
- US National Park Service,
- US Soccer,
- US Tennis Association,
- Verizon,
- Wrike,
- Yale University,
- and many others.
Graffius has played a key role in the Project Management Institute (PMI) in developing professional standards. He was a member of multiple teams that authored, reviewed, and produced:
- Practice Standard for Work Breakdown Structures—Second Edition.
- A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge—Sixth Edition.
- The Standard for Program Management—Fourth Edition.
- The Practice Standard for Project Estimating—Second Edition.
Additional details are here.
He was also a subject matter expert reviewer of content for the PMI’s Congress. Beyond the PMI, Graffius also served as a member of the review team for two of the Scrum Alliance’s Global Scrum Gatherings.
Acclaimed Authority on Teamwork Tradecraft
Graffius is a renowned authority on teamwork tradecraft. Informed by the research of Bruce W. Tuckman and Mary Ann C. Jensen, over 150 subsequent studies, and Graffius' first-hand professional experience with, and analysis of, team leadership and performance, Graffius created his "Phases of Team Development" intellectual property as a unique perspective and visual conveying the five phases of team development. First introduced in 2008 and periodically updated, his work provides a diagnostic and strategic guide for navigating team dynamics. It provides actionable insights for leaders across industries to develop high-performance teams. Its adoption by esteemed organizations such as Yale University, IEEE, Cisco, Microsoft, Ford, Oracle, Broadcom, the U.S. National Park Service, and the Journal of Neurosurgery, among others, highlights its utility and value, solidifying its status as an indispensable resource for elevating team performance and driving organizational excellence. In 2026, Graffius added human-AI teamwork—including the "exotic team dynamics" which emerge when advanced AI collaborates as a teammate—to his "Phases of Team Development."
The 2026 edition of Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" intellectual property is here.
Expert on Temporal Dynamics on Social Media Platforms
Graffius is also an authority on temporal dynamics on social media platforms. His "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts" research—first published in 2018 and updated annually—delivers a precise quantitative analysis of post longevity across digital platforms, utilizing advanced statistical techniques to determine mean half-life with precision. It establishes a solid empirical base, effectively highlighting the ephemeral nature of content within social media ecosystems. Referenced and applied by leading entities—such as Fast Company, GoDaddy, Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume), Ministère de la Culture (French Ministry of Culture), Pinterest Inc., PNAS, and Telecommunications Policy, among others—his research exemplifies methodological rigor and sustained significance in the field of digital informatics.
The 2026 edition of Graffius "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts" research is here.
Education and Professional Certifications
Graffius has a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a focus in Human Factors. He holds eight professional certifications:
- Certified SAFe 6 Agilist (SA),
- Certified Scrum Professional - ScrumMaster (CSP-SM),
- Certified Scrum Professional - Product Owner (CSP-PO),
- Certified ScrumMaster (CSM),
- Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO),
- Project Management Professional (PMP),
- Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (LSSGB), and
- IT Service Management Foundation (ITIL).
He is an active member of the Scrum Alliance, the Project Management Institute (PMI), and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
Advancing AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management
Scott M. Graffius continues to advance the fields of AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management through his leadership, research, writing, and real-world impact. Businesses and other organizations leverage Graffius’ insights to drive their success.
Discover Scott’s Books
- Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions — Deliver Products in Short Cycles with Rapid Adaptation to Change, Fast Time-to-Market, and Continuous Improvement
- Agile Transformation: A Brief Story of How an Entertainment Company Developed New Capabilities and Unlocked Business Agility to Thrive in an Era of Rapid Change
- Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum
Connect with and follow Scott on LinkedIn, X, YouTube, Facebook, Threads, Bluesky, Mastodon, and ResearchGate.
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More articles are listed here.
How to Cite This Article
Graffius, S. M. (2026, April 6). Scott M. Graffius' Work Cited in International Peer-Reviewed Journal on Digital Transformation. ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/scott-m-graffius-work-cited-in-digital-transformation-journal.html
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Coming soon.
Content Acknowledgements
Scott M. Graffius' work was cited in an international peer-reviewed journal on digital transformation. The paper, "Key Factors of Social Networks Algorithms: Classification and Practical Significance for SMM," published in the journal Digital Transformation, cites Graffius' article, "How Algorithms Shape the User Experience on Social Media Platforms."
Digital Transformation (a Belarus-based, Russian-language journal) and its content are the property of their respective publisher and contributors.
"Key Factors of Social Networks Algorithms: Classification and Practical Significance for SMM" is the property of its authors and publisher.
This article includes limited excerpts, attributed and used under fair use doctrine for purposes of news reporting, commentary, and analysis.
"How Algorithms Shape the User Experience on Social Media Platforms" is copyright © Scott M. Graffius. All rights reserved.
Tags and Hashtags
- Digital Transformation
- Social Media Research
- Algorithms
- User Experience (UX)
- Social Media Marketing (SMM)
- Scott M. Graffius
- #DigitalTransformation
- #SocialMedia
- #SocialMediaResearch
- #Algorithms
- #UX
- #SMM
Post-Publication Notes
If there are any supplements or updates to this article after the date of publication, they will appear here.
Copyright
Copyright © Scott M. Graffius. All rights reserved.
Content on this site—including text, images, videos, and data—may not be used for training or input into any artificial intelligence, machine learning, or automatized learning systems, or published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the express written permission of Scott M. Graffius.
Phases of Team Development in Elite Sport
31 March 2026
BY SCOTT M. GRAFFIUS | ScottGraffius.com
Graffius, S. M. (2026, March 31). Phases of Team Development in Elite Sport. ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/phases-of-team-development-in-elite-sport.html
Teamwork is everything. It's the indispensable multiplier that amplifies individual talents, drives exceptional performance, and creates a competitive edge.
Scott M. Graffius is a leading authority on teamwork tradecraft. Informed by the research of Bruce W. Tuckman and Mary Ann C. Jensen, over 150 subsequent studies, and Graffius' first-hand professional experience with and analysis of team leadership and performance, Graffius created his "Phases of Team Development" intellectual property. It's a unique perspective and visual that serves as a diagnostic and strategic guide for navigating team dynamics. Leaders apply the actionable insights to help advance the effectiveness and success of teams.
Businesses, professional associations, government agencies, universities, researchers, journalists, and others worldwide have featured and utilized Graffius' "Phases of Team Development." Examples include Adobe, American Management Association, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Bayer, Boston University, Broadcom, Cisco, DevOps Institute, Finland Government, Hasso-Plattner-Institut für Digital Engineering GmbH, IEEE, Johns Hopkins University, Journal of Neurosurgery, Microsoft, Oracle, Technical University of Munich, Tufts University, U.S. National Park Service, U.S. Soccer, U.S. Tennis Association, UC San Diego, UK Sports Institute, Warsaw University of Technology, Yale University, and many others.
This article spotlights its powerful application in elite sport, where the margin between good and great often comes down to how well teams evolve and perform under intense pressure.
UK Sports Institute
The UK Sports Institute features Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" in its materials on teamwork and leadership. The Institute supports Olympic and Paralympic athletes through multidisciplinary teams that integrate coaches, medics, data experts, physiologists, and logistics professionals. In these high-stakes environments, where coordination and trust can determine medals, a structured approach to team evolution is essential for building podium-ready performance.
U.S. Soccer
U.S. Soccer has also adopted Graffius' "Phases of Team Development." Soccer demands constant motion, quick decisions, and seamless interdependence. Players must read one another instinctively, adapt on the fly, and function as a single, fluid unit even when the game turns chaotic. The framework helps navigate the dynamics of team development—from early forming jitters to high-performing match-day cohesion and on-pitch fluidity that turns talent into trophies.
U.S. Tennis Association
The U.S. Tennis Association brings yet another angle. Tennis may appear to be an individual pursuit, but elite success relies on an extensive support ecosystem. There are coaches, trainers, strength staff, mental performance specialists, and more. The Player Development section of the U.S. Tennis Association leverages Graffius' "Phases of Team Development." It works just as effectively when the “team” operates behind a single athlete—helping synchronize the support staff pod for peak performance—as it does in traditional squad sports.
NHL
The preceding examples illustrate three elite sport organizations that have leveraged Graffius' work. But its relevance extends beyond them. Here's one example. Consider ice hockey, where physicality, blistering speed, and split-second adjustments define success. National Hockey League (NHL) teams operate in a pressure-cooker environment where line chemistry, defensive pairings, goaltender communication, and on-ice adaptability can shift in an instant. While this is not (yet) a documented public adoption by a league or franchise, "Phases of Team Development" offers coaches, captains, and leaders a valuable resource for building that cohesion—and ultimately the synchronized, high-output execution required for Stanley Cup contention.
Conclusion
No team starts on the podium. They evolve through distinct phases, and Graffius gives leaders actionable insights that they can leverage to help advance the effectiveness and success of teams. Its adoption by leading sport bodies reinforces its value in high-stakes, high-pressure environments.
A visual from the now-current (2026) edition of Scott M. Graffius’ "Phases of Team Development" is shown below and details are here. It covers both human-only teams and human-AI teams (including handling the exotic team dynamics which emerge when collaborating with advanced AI).
Agile Scrum Guide [@AgileScrumGuide]. (2024, August 21). The U.S. Tennis Association used and referenced our content by Scott M. Graffius (@ScottGraffius). X. https://x.com/AgileScrumGuide/status/1826366633444868294?s=20
Graffius, S. M. (2025, March 16). U.S. Soccer Scores with Scott M. Graffius' Intellectual Property on Teamwork. ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/u-s-soccer-scores-with-scott-m-graffius-intellectual-property-on-teamwork.html
Graffius, S. M. (2023, July 25). The UK Sports Institute Features My Content! [LinkedIn post]. LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/scottgraffius_scott-m-graffius-content-featured-by-uk-activity-7089813136551149568-VWiY
Graffius, S. M. (2024, April 10). U.S. Tennis Association Features Scott M. Graffius' "Phases of Team Development." ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/usta-features-work-of-scott-m-graffius.html
Graffius, S. M. (2025, August 8). Exotic Team Dynamics: The New Frontier of Human-AI Collaboration. ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/exotic-team-dynamics.html
Graffius, S. M. (2025, August 22). Scott M. Graffius Premieres His New "Exotic Team Dynamics: Human-AI Collaboration" Talk at Corporate Event in Las Vegas. ScottGraffius.com. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.34380.07047
Graffius, S. M. (2025, October 29). Definitions of Advanced AIs: Agentic, Autonomous, and Autopoietic. ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/advanced-ai-definitions.html
Graffius, S. M. (2025, November 3). UK Sports Institute Features Teamwork and Leadership Work of Scott M. Graffius. ScottGraffius.com. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.23408.11520
Graffius, S. M. (2025, November 21). Navigating the Spectrum of Advanced AI – Agentic, Autonomous, and Autopoietic. ScottGraffius.com. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.21284.74882
Graffius, S. M. (2025, November 21). This is What Happens When Advanced AI Joins Your Team [Presentation; French translation for contextual clarity: Voici ce qui se passe lorsque l’IA avancée rejoint votre équipe]. Talk delivered in English at a corporate event, Paris, France.
Graffius, S. M. (2026, January 3). Scott M. Graffius' Phases of Team Development - Applied to Human Teams and Human-AI Teams: 2026 Update. ScottGraffius.com. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.18184.89601
National Hockey League. (n.d.). National Hockey League (NHL). https://www.nhl.com/
Olympics. (n.d.). The Olympics. https://www.olympics.com
Patterson, C. (2021, September 29). Post on X. X. https://x.com/physiocolinp/status/1443292171252154377
UK Sports Institute. (n.d.). UK Sports Institute. https://uksportsinstitute.co.uk/
UK Sports Institute (2023, April 25). English Institute of Sport Celebrates the Start of a New Era as the UK Sports Institute. UK Sports Institute. https://www.uksport.gov.uk/news/2023/04/25/english-institute-of-sport-celebrates-the-start-of-a-new-era-as-the-uk-sports-institute
US Soccer. (n.d.). US Soccer. https://www.ussoccer.com/
US Tennis Association. (n.d.). US Tennis Association (USTA). https://www.usta.com/en/home.html
Scott M. Graffius is a strategic transformation leader who drives AI, Agile, and broader business and technology initiatives to deliver measurable value across projects, programs, portfolios, and PMOs. He is an expert in the teamwork tradecraft of both human and human-AI teams, including the “exotic team dynamics” that emerge. He is also an authority on the temporal patterns of social media, including the half-life of audience engagement.
He’s a practitioner, researcher, thought leader, award-winning author, and keynote speaker who’s taken the stage at 98 conferences and other events across 25 countries.
He’s delivered over $2.51 billion in value for Fortune 500 companies and other leaders in technology, entertainment, financial services, healthcare, and beyond.
Businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities use Graffius and feature his work. Examples include Adobe, Bayer, Boston University, Ford, Gartner, Harvard Medical School, IEEE, Johns Hopkins University, Microsoft, MSN, National Academy of Sciences, Oracle, Pinterest Inc., Project Management Institute, UC San Diego, Verizon, Yale University, and others.
The following sections provide additional information on his experience, contributions, and influence.
Experience
Graffius heads the professional services firm Exceptional PPM and PMO Solutions, along with its subsidiary Exceptional Agility. These consultancies offer strategic and tactical advisory, training, embedded expertise, and consulting services to the public, private, and government sectors. They help organizations enhance their capabilities and results in agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership, supporting innovation and driving competitive advantage. The consultancies confidently back services with a Delighted Client Guarantee™.
Graffius is a former VP of project management with a publicly traded provider of diverse consumer products and services over the Internet. Before that, he ran and supervised the delivery of projects and programs in public and private organizations with businesses ranging from e-commerce to advanced technology products and services, retail, manufacturing, entertainment, and more.
He has experience with consumer, business, reseller, government, and international markets.
Award-Winning Author
Graffius has authored three books.
International Public Speaker
Organizations worldwide engage Graffius to present on tech (including AI), Agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership. He crafts and delivers unique and compelling talks and workshops. Graffius has conducted 98 sessions across 25 countries. Select examples of events include Agile Trends Gov, BSides (Newcastle Upon Tyne), Conf42 Quantum Computing, DevDays Europe, DevOps Institute, DevOpsDays (Geneva), Frug’Agile, IEEE, Microsoft, Scottish Summit, Scrum Alliance RSG (Nepal), Techstars, and W Love Games International Video Game Development Conference (Helsinki), and more.
With an average rating of 4.81 (on a scale of 1-5), sessions are highly valued.
The speaker engagement request form is here.
Thought Leadership and Influence
Prominent businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities have showcased Graffius and his contributions—spanning his books, talks, workshops, and beyond. Select examples include:
Graffius has played a key role in the Project Management Institute (PMI) in developing professional standards. He was a member of multiple teams that authored, reviewed, and produced:
Additional details are here.
He was also a subject matter expert reviewer of content for the PMI’s Congress. Beyond the PMI, Graffius also served as a member of the review team for two of the Scrum Alliance’s Global Scrum Gatherings.
Acclaimed Authority on Teamwork Tradecraft
Graffius is a renowned authority on teamwork tradecraft. Informed by the research of Bruce W. Tuckman and Mary Ann C. Jensen, over 150 subsequent studies, and Graffius' first-hand professional experience with, and analysis of, team leadership and performance, Graffius created his "Phases of Team Development" intellectual property as a unique perspective and visual conveying the five phases of team development. First introduced in 2008 and periodically updated, his work provides a diagnostic and strategic guide for navigating team dynamics. It provides actionable insights for leaders across industries to develop high-performance teams. Its adoption by esteemed organizations such as Yale University, IEEE, Cisco, Microsoft, Ford, Oracle, Broadcom, the U.S. National Park Service, and the Journal of Neurosurgery, among others, highlights its utility and value, solidifying its status as an indispensable resource for elevating team performance and driving organizational excellence. In 2026, Graffius added human-AI teamwork—including the "exotic team dynamics" which emerge when advanced AI collaborates as a teammate—to his "Phases of Team Development."
The 2026 edition of Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" intellectual property is here.
Expert on Temporal Dynamics on Social Media Platforms
Graffius is also an authority on temporal dynamics on social media platforms. His "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts" research—first published in 2018 and updated annually—delivers a precise quantitative analysis of post longevity across digital platforms, utilizing advanced statistical techniques to determine mean half-life with precision. It establishes a solid empirical base, effectively highlighting the ephemeral nature of content within social media ecosystems. Referenced and applied by leading entities—such as Fast Company, GoDaddy, Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume), Ministère de la Culture (French Ministry of Culture), Pinterest Inc., PNAS, and Telecommunications Policy, among others—his research exemplifies methodological rigor and sustained significance in the field of digital informatics.
The 2026 edition of Graffius "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts" research is here.
Education and Professional Certifications
Graffius has a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a focus in Human Factors. He holds eight professional certifications:
He is an active member of the Scrum Alliance, the Project Management Institute (PMI), and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
Advancing AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management
Scott M. Graffius continues to advance the fields of AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management through his leadership, research, writing, and real-world impact. Businesses and other organizations leverage Graffius’ insights to drive their success.
Discover Scott’s Books
Connect with and follow Scott on LinkedIn, X, YouTube, Facebook, Threads, Bluesky, Mastodon, and ResearchGate.
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Graffius, S. M. (2026, March 31). Phases of Team Development in Elite Sport. ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/phases-of-team-development-in-elite-sport.html
Coming soon.
All names, marks, and material are the property of their respective owners.
Olympics name, marks, and material are the property of the International Olympic Committee (the IOC).
This article includes limited excerpts of content from the IOC, attributed and used under fair use doctrine for purposes of news reporting, commentary, and analysis.
Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" is copyright © Scott M. Graffius. All rights reserved.
If there are any supplements or updates to this article after the date of publication, they will appear here.
Copyright © Scott M. Graffius. All rights reserved.
Content on this site—including text, images, videos, and data—may not be used for training or input into any artificial intelligence, machine learning, or automatized learning systems, or published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the express written permission of Scott M. Graffius.
Graffius, S. M. (2026, March 31). Phases of Team Development in Elite Sport. ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/phases-of-team-development-in-elite-sport.html
Building Elite Teams: The Phases That Turn Talent into Triumph
Teamwork is everything. It's the indispensable multiplier that amplifies individual talents, drives exceptional performance, and creates a competitive edge.
Scott M. Graffius is a leading authority on teamwork tradecraft. Informed by the research of Bruce W. Tuckman and Mary Ann C. Jensen, over 150 subsequent studies, and Graffius' first-hand professional experience with and analysis of team leadership and performance, Graffius created his "Phases of Team Development" intellectual property. It's a unique perspective and visual that serves as a diagnostic and strategic guide for navigating team dynamics. Leaders apply the actionable insights to help advance the effectiveness and success of teams.
Businesses, professional associations, government agencies, universities, researchers, journalists, and others worldwide have featured and utilized Graffius' "Phases of Team Development." Examples include Adobe, American Management Association, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Bayer, Boston University, Broadcom, Cisco, DevOps Institute, Finland Government, Hasso-Plattner-Institut für Digital Engineering GmbH, IEEE, Johns Hopkins University, Journal of Neurosurgery, Microsoft, Oracle, Technical University of Munich, Tufts University, U.S. National Park Service, U.S. Soccer, U.S. Tennis Association, UC San Diego, UK Sports Institute, Warsaw University of Technology, Yale University, and many others.
This article spotlights its powerful application in elite sport, where the margin between good and great often comes down to how well teams evolve and perform under intense pressure.
UK Sports Institute
The UK Sports Institute features Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" in its materials on teamwork and leadership. The Institute supports Olympic and Paralympic athletes through multidisciplinary teams that integrate coaches, medics, data experts, physiologists, and logistics professionals. In these high-stakes environments, where coordination and trust can determine medals, a structured approach to team evolution is essential for building podium-ready performance.
U.S. Soccer
U.S. Soccer has also adopted Graffius' "Phases of Team Development." Soccer demands constant motion, quick decisions, and seamless interdependence. Players must read one another instinctively, adapt on the fly, and function as a single, fluid unit even when the game turns chaotic. The framework helps navigate the dynamics of team development—from early forming jitters to high-performing match-day cohesion and on-pitch fluidity that turns talent into trophies.
U.S. Tennis Association
The U.S. Tennis Association brings yet another angle. Tennis may appear to be an individual pursuit, but elite success relies on an extensive support ecosystem. There are coaches, trainers, strength staff, mental performance specialists, and more. The Player Development section of the U.S. Tennis Association leverages Graffius' "Phases of Team Development." It works just as effectively when the “team” operates behind a single athlete—helping synchronize the support staff pod for peak performance—as it does in traditional squad sports.
NHL
The preceding examples illustrate three elite sport organizations that have leveraged Graffius' work. But its relevance extends beyond them. Here's one example. Consider ice hockey, where physicality, blistering speed, and split-second adjustments define success. National Hockey League (NHL) teams operate in a pressure-cooker environment where line chemistry, defensive pairings, goaltender communication, and on-ice adaptability can shift in an instant. While this is not (yet) a documented public adoption by a league or franchise, "Phases of Team Development" offers coaches, captains, and leaders a valuable resource for building that cohesion—and ultimately the synchronized, high-output execution required for Stanley Cup contention.
Conclusion
No team starts on the podium. They evolve through distinct phases, and Graffius gives leaders actionable insights that they can leverage to help advance the effectiveness and success of teams. Its adoption by leading sport bodies reinforces its value in high-stakes, high-pressure environments.
A visual from the now-current (2026) edition of Scott M. Graffius’ "Phases of Team Development" is shown below and details are here. It covers both human-only teams and human-AI teams (including handling the exotic team dynamics which emerge when collaborating with advanced AI).
Bibliography
Agile Scrum Guide [@AgileScrumGuide]. (2024, August 21). The U.S. Tennis Association used and referenced our content by Scott M. Graffius (@ScottGraffius). X. https://x.com/AgileScrumGuide/status/1826366633444868294?s=20
Graffius, S. M. (2025, March 16). U.S. Soccer Scores with Scott M. Graffius' Intellectual Property on Teamwork. ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/u-s-soccer-scores-with-scott-m-graffius-intellectual-property-on-teamwork.html
Graffius, S. M. (2023, July 25). The UK Sports Institute Features My Content! [LinkedIn post]. LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/scottgraffius_scott-m-graffius-content-featured-by-uk-activity-7089813136551149568-VWiY
Graffius, S. M. (2024, April 10). U.S. Tennis Association Features Scott M. Graffius' "Phases of Team Development." ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/usta-features-work-of-scott-m-graffius.html
Graffius, S. M. (2025, August 8). Exotic Team Dynamics: The New Frontier of Human-AI Collaboration. ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/exotic-team-dynamics.html
Graffius, S. M. (2025, August 22). Scott M. Graffius Premieres His New "Exotic Team Dynamics: Human-AI Collaboration" Talk at Corporate Event in Las Vegas. ScottGraffius.com. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.34380.07047
Graffius, S. M. (2025, October 29). Definitions of Advanced AIs: Agentic, Autonomous, and Autopoietic. ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/advanced-ai-definitions.html
Graffius, S. M. (2025, November 3). UK Sports Institute Features Teamwork and Leadership Work of Scott M. Graffius. ScottGraffius.com. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.23408.11520
Graffius, S. M. (2025, November 21). Navigating the Spectrum of Advanced AI – Agentic, Autonomous, and Autopoietic. ScottGraffius.com. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.21284.74882
Graffius, S. M. (2025, November 21). This is What Happens When Advanced AI Joins Your Team [Presentation; French translation for contextual clarity: Voici ce qui se passe lorsque l’IA avancée rejoint votre équipe]. Talk delivered in English at a corporate event, Paris, France.
Graffius, S. M. (2026, January 3). Scott M. Graffius' Phases of Team Development - Applied to Human Teams and Human-AI Teams: 2026 Update. ScottGraffius.com. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.18184.89601
National Hockey League. (n.d.). National Hockey League (NHL). https://www.nhl.com/
Olympics. (n.d.). The Olympics. https://www.olympics.com
Patterson, C. (2021, September 29). Post on X. X. https://x.com/physiocolinp/status/1443292171252154377
UK Sports Institute. (n.d.). UK Sports Institute. https://uksportsinstitute.co.uk/
UK Sports Institute (2023, April 25). English Institute of Sport Celebrates the Start of a New Era as the UK Sports Institute. UK Sports Institute. https://www.uksport.gov.uk/news/2023/04/25/english-institute-of-sport-celebrates-the-start-of-a-new-era-as-the-uk-sports-institute
US Soccer. (n.d.). US Soccer. https://www.ussoccer.com/
US Tennis Association. (n.d.). US Tennis Association (USTA). https://www.usta.com/en/home.html
About Scott M. Graffius
Scott M. Graffius is a strategic transformation leader who drives AI, Agile, and broader business and technology initiatives to deliver measurable value across projects, programs, portfolios, and PMOs. He is an expert in the teamwork tradecraft of both human and human-AI teams, including the “exotic team dynamics” that emerge. He is also an authority on the temporal patterns of social media, including the half-life of audience engagement.
He’s a practitioner, researcher, thought leader, award-winning author, and keynote speaker who’s taken the stage at 98 conferences and other events across 25 countries.
He’s delivered over $2.51 billion in value for Fortune 500 companies and other leaders in technology, entertainment, financial services, healthcare, and beyond.
Businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities use Graffius and feature his work. Examples include Adobe, Bayer, Boston University, Ford, Gartner, Harvard Medical School, IEEE, Johns Hopkins University, Microsoft, MSN, National Academy of Sciences, Oracle, Pinterest Inc., Project Management Institute, UC San Diego, Verizon, Yale University, and others.
The following sections provide additional information on his experience, contributions, and influence.
Experience
Graffius heads the professional services firm Exceptional PPM and PMO Solutions, along with its subsidiary Exceptional Agility. These consultancies offer strategic and tactical advisory, training, embedded expertise, and consulting services to the public, private, and government sectors. They help organizations enhance their capabilities and results in agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership, supporting innovation and driving competitive advantage. The consultancies confidently back services with a Delighted Client Guarantee™.
Graffius is a former VP of project management with a publicly traded provider of diverse consumer products and services over the Internet. Before that, he ran and supervised the delivery of projects and programs in public and private organizations with businesses ranging from e-commerce to advanced technology products and services, retail, manufacturing, entertainment, and more.
He has experience with consumer, business, reseller, government, and international markets.
Award-Winning Author
Graffius has authored three books.
- Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions, his first book, earned 17 awards.
- Agile Transformation: A Brief Story of How an Entertainment Company Developed New Capabilities and Unlocked Business Agility to Thrive in an Era of Rapid Change, his second book, was named one of the best Scrum books of all time by BookAuthority.
- Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum, his third book and his first work of fiction, was released in April 2025. The book trailer is on YouTube.
International Public Speaker
Organizations worldwide engage Graffius to present on tech (including AI), Agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership. He crafts and delivers unique and compelling talks and workshops. Graffius has conducted 98 sessions across 25 countries. Select examples of events include Agile Trends Gov, BSides (Newcastle Upon Tyne), Conf42 Quantum Computing, DevDays Europe, DevOps Institute, DevOpsDays (Geneva), Frug’Agile, IEEE, Microsoft, Scottish Summit, Scrum Alliance RSG (Nepal), Techstars, and W Love Games International Video Game Development Conference (Helsinki), and more.
With an average rating of 4.81 (on a scale of 1-5), sessions are highly valued.
The speaker engagement request form is here.
Thought Leadership and Influence
Prominent businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities have showcased Graffius and his contributions—spanning his books, talks, workshops, and beyond. Select examples include:
- Adobe,
- American Management Association,
- Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute,
- Bayer,
- BMC Software,
- Boston University,
- Broadcom,
- Cisco,
- Coburg University of Applied Sciences and Arts - Germany,
- Computer Weekly,
- Constructor University - Germany,
- Data Governance Success,
- Deimos Aerospace,
- DevOps Institute,
- Dropbox,
- EU's European Commission,
- Ford Motor Company,
- Gartner,
- GoDaddy,
- Harvard Medical School,
- Hasso Plattner Institute - Germany,
- IEEE,
- Innovation Project Management,
- Johns Hopkins University,
- Journal of Neurosurgery,
- Lam Research (Semiconductors),
- Leadership Worthy,
- Life Sciences Trainers and Educators Network,
- London South Bank University,
- Microsoft,
- MSN,
- NASSCOM,
- National Academy of Sciences,
- New Zealand Government,
- Oracle,
- Pinterest Inc.,
- Project Management Institute,
- Mary Raum (Professor of National Security Affairs, United States Naval War College),
- SANS Institute,
- SBG Neumark - Germany,
- Singapore Institute of Technology,
- Torrens University - Australia,
- TBS Switzerland,
- Tufts University,
- UC San Diego,
- UK Sports Institute,
- University of Galway - Ireland,
- US Department of Energy,
- US National Park Service,
- US Soccer,
- US Tennis Association,
- Verizon,
- Wrike,
- Yale University,
- and many others.
Graffius has played a key role in the Project Management Institute (PMI) in developing professional standards. He was a member of multiple teams that authored, reviewed, and produced:
- Practice Standard for Work Breakdown Structures—Second Edition.
- A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge—Sixth Edition.
- The Standard for Program Management—Fourth Edition.
- The Practice Standard for Project Estimating—Second Edition.
Additional details are here.
He was also a subject matter expert reviewer of content for the PMI’s Congress. Beyond the PMI, Graffius also served as a member of the review team for two of the Scrum Alliance’s Global Scrum Gatherings.
Acclaimed Authority on Teamwork Tradecraft
Graffius is a renowned authority on teamwork tradecraft. Informed by the research of Bruce W. Tuckman and Mary Ann C. Jensen, over 150 subsequent studies, and Graffius' first-hand professional experience with, and analysis of, team leadership and performance, Graffius created his "Phases of Team Development" intellectual property as a unique perspective and visual conveying the five phases of team development. First introduced in 2008 and periodically updated, his work provides a diagnostic and strategic guide for navigating team dynamics. It provides actionable insights for leaders across industries to develop high-performance teams. Its adoption by esteemed organizations such as Yale University, IEEE, Cisco, Microsoft, Ford, Oracle, Broadcom, the U.S. National Park Service, and the Journal of Neurosurgery, among others, highlights its utility and value, solidifying its status as an indispensable resource for elevating team performance and driving organizational excellence. In 2026, Graffius added human-AI teamwork—including the "exotic team dynamics" which emerge when advanced AI collaborates as a teammate—to his "Phases of Team Development."
The 2026 edition of Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" intellectual property is here.
Expert on Temporal Dynamics on Social Media Platforms
Graffius is also an authority on temporal dynamics on social media platforms. His "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts" research—first published in 2018 and updated annually—delivers a precise quantitative analysis of post longevity across digital platforms, utilizing advanced statistical techniques to determine mean half-life with precision. It establishes a solid empirical base, effectively highlighting the ephemeral nature of content within social media ecosystems. Referenced and applied by leading entities—such as Fast Company, GoDaddy, Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume), Ministère de la Culture (French Ministry of Culture), Pinterest Inc., PNAS, and Telecommunications Policy, among others—his research exemplifies methodological rigor and sustained significance in the field of digital informatics.
The 2026 edition of Graffius "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts" research is here.
Education and Professional Certifications
Graffius has a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a focus in Human Factors. He holds eight professional certifications:
- Certified SAFe 6 Agilist (SA),
- Certified Scrum Professional - ScrumMaster (CSP-SM),
- Certified Scrum Professional - Product Owner (CSP-PO),
- Certified ScrumMaster (CSM),
- Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO),
- Project Management Professional (PMP),
- Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (LSSGB), and
- IT Service Management Foundation (ITIL).
He is an active member of the Scrum Alliance, the Project Management Institute (PMI), and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
Advancing AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management
Scott M. Graffius continues to advance the fields of AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management through his leadership, research, writing, and real-world impact. Businesses and other organizations leverage Graffius’ insights to drive their success.
Discover Scott’s Books
- Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions — Deliver Products in Short Cycles with Rapid Adaptation to Change, Fast Time-to-Market, and Continuous Improvement
- Agile Transformation: A Brief Story of How an Entertainment Company Developed New Capabilities and Unlocked Business Agility to Thrive in an Era of Rapid Change
- Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum
Connect with and follow Scott on LinkedIn, X, YouTube, Facebook, Threads, Bluesky, Mastodon, and ResearchGate.
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List of Additional Articles
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How to Cite This Article
Graffius, S. M. (2026, March 31). Phases of Team Development in Elite Sport. ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/phases-of-team-development-in-elite-sport.html
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Coming soon.
Content Acknowledgements
All names, marks, and material are the property of their respective owners.
Olympics name, marks, and material are the property of the International Olympic Committee (the IOC).
This article includes limited excerpts of content from the IOC, attributed and used under fair use doctrine for purposes of news reporting, commentary, and analysis.
Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" is copyright © Scott M. Graffius. All rights reserved.
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Post-Publication Notes
If there are any supplements or updates to this article after the date of publication, they will appear here.
Copyright
Copyright © Scott M. Graffius. All rights reserved.
Content on this site—including text, images, videos, and data—may not be used for training or input into any artificial intelligence, machine learning, or automatized learning systems, or published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the express written permission of Scott M. Graffius.
A Critical Analysis of COVID-19 Treatment Search Trends and Media Coverage Study Citing Scott M. Graffius' Work
30 March 2026
BY SCOTT M. GRAFFIUS | ScottGraffius.com
The medRxiv preprint paper, "Search Interest in Alleged COVID-19 Treatments During the Pandemic and the Impact of Mass News Media," examines the relationship between media coverage and public search behavior for three widely discussed treatments during the COVID-19 pandemic: hydroxychloroquine, ivermectin, and remdesivir.
That paper cites Scott M. Graffius' research. While a careful reading makes clear that Graffius' work is distinct from the study’s framing, methods, and conclusions, citations can sometimes create perceived alignment where none exists—especially for readers who may not examine the full context in detail. For that reason, and to proactively clarify any potential misunderstandings, Graffius provides the following objective, evidence-based assessment of the scientific paper and does not endorse the paper.
This article provides a critical analysis of the "Search Interest in Alleged COVID-19 Treatments During the Pandemic and the Impact of Mass News Media" paper, including its use of Scott M. Graffius' work.
1. Problematic Title Language
An issue appears in the title itself. The phrase "alleged COVID-19 treatments" may be interpreted as value-laden. While these interventions were the subject of significant debate regarding their efficacy against COVID-19, some were recommended and prescribed by licensed physicians during the pandemic. The terminology employed by the paper's authors may therefore be reasonably seen as attempting to influence the reader's interpretation at the outset.
2. Correlation vs. Causation
The study identifies associations between media coverage and Google search interest over time. However, at times it interprets these associations as directional influence—suggesting that media coverage may "drive" public interest. This is not fully supported by the methodology. Time-series correlations, even with lag structures, do not establish causality. Both media coverage and search activity are likely responding to shared external drivers, such as major news events, political statements, regulatory decisions, or social media amplification. Without a causal identification strategy (e.g., natural experiments or instrumental variables), conclusions about influence remain speculative.
3. Measurement Limitations
The study relies on two proxy measures: Google Trends data and Media Cloud article counts.
Google Trends provides normalized, relative search interest (scaled 0–100), not absolute search volume. Because Google Trends provides normalized (0–100) relative search interest rather than absolute volumes, interpretation requires caution. Reported differences may reflect relative scaling and baseline variation rather than absolute changes in search behavior.
Media Cloud data capture article frequency, but do not account for audience reach, prominence, engagement, or sentiment. Media Cloud data capture article frequency but do not account for audience reach, prominence, engagement, or sentiment, which may limit the interpretability of "media coverage" as a proxy for exposure.
Additionally, the use of third-party media bias ratings introduces subjective classifications that are not standardized scientific measures.
4. Model Specification and Confounding
The study employs zero-inflated negative binomial models with short lag structures. However, three issues warrant attention. First, the choice of lag intervals (same day, 1-day, and 2-day lags) is not accompanied by a clear theoretical justification, which may limit interpretability. Second, key confounders (such as major real-world events, policy announcements, and social media dynamics) are not incorporated, despite being likely drivers of both media coverage and search behavior. Third, the included covariates (political leaning, rurality, social vulnerability) are plausible but insufficient to address the broader causal landscape.
As a result, the models risk attributing effects to media coverage that may be driven by omitted variables.
5. Overstatement of Effect Sizes
Reported findings (e.g., large percentage increases in search interest following media coverage) may appear substantial in relative terms. Because the analysis relies on normalized Google Trends data and model-based estimates, interpretation should consider the underlying scaling and variability of the data, particularly outside peak periods.
6. Use of Exploratory and Qualitative Techniques
The study incorporates word clouds and co-occurrence analyses to characterize media content. These methods are descriptive and exploratory in nature, and while useful for contextualization, they do not provide the same level of statistical rigor as the primary analyses.
7. Strengths
While the study has several limitations and other issues, it has some strengths. Examples include the use of large datasets, transparent methodology and code availability, consideration of bidirectional dynamics, and relevance to public health communication.
8. Citation of Graffius' Work
The paper includes a citation to Scott M. Graffius' "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts" research. However, this reference appears in a limited context and does not reflect or align with the paper’s overall framing, methodological approach, interpretive lens, or conclusions regarding media influence and “alleged” treatments. Graffius does not endorse the paper.
Excerpts from the paper follow.
The paper cited the 2024 edition of Graffius' work. A visual from the now-current (2026) edition is shown below and details are available here.
Details including links to the 2024 and 2026 editions of Graffius' respective work are in the bibliography section of this article.
The study demonstrates that media coverage and public search behavior are temporally associated during certain major public health events. However, the evidence does not establish causal influence, and several methodological and interpretive limitations constrain the strength of its conclusions. In particular, reliance on proxy measures, limited control for confounding variables, and narrative framing choices contribute to an overextension of the findings.
A more accurate interpretation recognizes the study as evidence of correlation within a complex information ecosystem, rather than as definitive proof that media coverage causes changes in public behavior. The paper's findings do not justify policy or behavioral conclusions.
The "Search interest in alleged COVID-19 treatments during the pandemic and the impact of mass news media paper" authors and their respective affiliations are:
Emily E Ricotta, PhD
Samantha Bents, BS
Brendan Lawler, BS
Thomas Berkane, MS
Fausto A Bustos Carrillo, PhD
Brianna A Smith, PhD
Maimuna S Majumder, PhD
Ricotta, E. E., Bents, S., Lawler, B., Smith, B. A., & Majumder, M. S. (2024, November 22). Search interest in alleged COVID-19 treatments over the pandemic period: The impact of mass news media [Preprint]. medRxiv. https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.11.20.24317650
Graffius, S. M. (2024, January 1). Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts: Update for 2024. ScottGraffius.com. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.21043.60965
Graffius, S. M. (2026, January 23). Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts: Update for 2026. ScottGraffius.com. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.32407.43689
Scott M. Graffius is a strategic transformation leader who drives AI, Agile, and broader business and technology initiatives to deliver measurable value across projects, programs, portfolios, and PMOs. He is an expert in the teamwork tradecraft of both human and human-AI teams, including the “exotic team dynamics” that emerge. He is also an authority on the temporal patterns of social media, including the half-life of audience engagement.
He’s a practitioner, researcher, thought leader, award-winning author, and keynote speaker who’s taken the stage at 96 conferences and other events across 25 countries.
He’s delivered over $2.3 billion in value for Fortune 500 companies and other leaders in technology, entertainment, financial services, healthcare, and beyond.
Businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities use Graffius and feature his work. Examples include Adobe, Bayer, Boston University, Ford, Gartner, Harvard Medical School, IEEE, Johns Hopkins University, Microsoft, MSN, National Academy of Sciences, Oracle, Pinterest Inc., Project Management Institute, UC San Diego, Verizon, Yale University, and others.
The following sections provide additional information on his experience, contributions, and influence.
Experience
Graffius heads the professional services firm Exceptional PPM and PMO Solutions, along with its subsidiary Exceptional Agility. These consultancies offer strategic and tactical advisory, training, embedded expertise, and consulting services to the public, private, and government sectors. They help organizations enhance their capabilities and results in agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership, supporting innovation and driving competitive advantage. The consultancies confidently back services with a Delighted Client Guarantee™.
Graffius is a former VP of project management with a publicly traded provider of diverse consumer products and services over the Internet. Before that, he ran and supervised the delivery of projects and programs in public and private organizations with businesses ranging from e-commerce to advanced technology products and services, retail, manufacturing, entertainment, and more.
He has experience with consumer, business, reseller, government, and international markets.
Award-Winning Author
Graffius has authored three books.
International Public Speaker
Organizations worldwide engage Graffius to present on tech (including AI), Agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership. He crafts and delivers unique and compelling talks and workshops. Graffius has conducted 97 sessions across 25 countries. Select examples of events include Agile Trends Gov, BSides (Newcastle Upon Tyne), Conf42 Quantum Computing, DevDays Europe, DevOps Institute, DevOpsDays (Geneva), Frug’Agile, IEEE, Microsoft, Scottish Summit, Scrum Alliance RSG (Nepal), Techstars, and W Love Games International Video Game Development Conference (Helsinki), and more.
With an average rating of 4.81 (on a scale of 1-5), sessions are highly valued.
The speaker engagement request form is here.
Thought Leadership and Influence
Prominent businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities have showcased Graffius and his contributions—spanning his books, talks, workshops, and beyond. Select examples include:
Graffius has played a key role in the Project Management Institute (PMI) in developing professional standards. He was a member of multiple teams that authored, reviewed, and produced:
Additional details are here.
He was also a subject matter expert reviewer of content for the PMI’s Congress. Beyond the PMI, Graffius also served as a member of the review team for two of the Scrum Alliance’s Global Scrum Gatherings.
Acclaimed Authority on Teamwork Tradecraft
Graffius is a renowned authority on teamwork tradecraft. Informed by the research of Bruce W. Tuckman and Mary Ann C. Jensen, over 150 subsequent studies, and Graffius' first-hand professional experience with, and analysis of, team leadership and performance, Graffius created his "Phases of Team Development" intellectual property as a unique perspective and visual conveying the five phases of team development. First introduced in 2008 and periodically updated, his work provides a diagnostic and strategic guide for navigating team dynamics. It provides actionable insights for leaders across industries to develop high-performance teams. Its adoption by esteemed organizations such as Yale University, IEEE, Cisco, Microsoft, Ford, Oracle, Broadcom, the U.S. National Park Service, and the Journal of Neurosurgery, among others, highlights its utility and value, solidifying its status as an indispensable resource for elevating team performance and driving organizational excellence. In 2026, Graffius added human-AI teamwork—including the "exotic team dynamics" which emerge when advanced AI collaborates as a teammate—to his "Phases of Team Development."
The 2026 edition of Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" intellectual property is here.
Expert on Temporal Dynamics on Social Media Platforms
Graffius is also an authority on temporal dynamics on social media platforms. His "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts" research—first published in 2018 and updated annually—delivers a precise quantitative analysis of post longevity across digital platforms, utilizing advanced statistical techniques to determine mean half-life with precision. It establishes a solid empirical base, effectively highlighting the ephemeral nature of content within social media ecosystems. Referenced and applied by leading entities—such as Fast Company, GoDaddy, Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume), Ministère de la Culture (French Ministry of Culture), Pinterest Inc., PNAS, and Telecommunications Policy, among others—his research exemplifies methodological rigor and sustained significance in the field of digital informatics.
The 2026 edition of Graffius "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts" research is here.
Education and Professional Certifications
Graffius has a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a focus in Human Factors. He holds eight professional certifications:
He is an active member of the Scrum Alliance, the Project Management Institute (PMI), and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
Advancing AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management
Scott M. Graffius continues to advance the fields of AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management through his leadership, research, writing, and real-world impact. Businesses and other organizations leverage Graffius’ insights to drive their success.
Discover Scott’s Books
Connect with and follow Scott on LinkedIn, X, YouTube, Facebook, Threads, Bluesky, Mastodon, and ResearchGate.
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Graffius, S. M. (2026, March 30). A Critical Analysis of COVID-19 Treatment Search Trends and Media Coverage Study Citing Scott M. Graffius' Work. ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/critical-analysis-of-covid19-media-coverage-study.html
Coming soon
Names, marks, and content are the property of their respective owners.
Emily E Ricotta, Samantha Bents, Brendan Lawler, Thomas Berkane, Fausto A Bustos Carrillo, Brianna A Smith, and Maimuna S Majumder are authors of paper, "Search interest in alleged COVID-19 treatments during the pandemic and the impact of mass news media." The paper cites "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts" research by Scott M. Graffius.
The following appears in the header of the paper: "medRxiv preprint doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.11.20.24317650; this version posted February 17, 2026. The copyright holder for this preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder, who has granted medRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. This article is a US Government work. It is not subject to copyright under 17 USC 105 and is also made available
for use under a CC0 license."
This article includes limited excerpts from the paper, attributed and used under fair use doctrine for purposes of news reporting, commentary, and analysis.
Graffius' "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts" is copyright (c) Scott M. Graffius. All rights reserved.
If there are any supplements or updates to this article after the date of publication, they will appear here.
Copyright © Scott M. Graffius. All rights reserved.
Content on this site—including text, images, videos, and data—may not be used for training or input into any artificial intelligence, machine learning, or automatized learning systems, or published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the express written permission of Scott M. Graffius.
Introduction
The medRxiv preprint paper, "Search Interest in Alleged COVID-19 Treatments During the Pandemic and the Impact of Mass News Media," examines the relationship between media coverage and public search behavior for three widely discussed treatments during the COVID-19 pandemic: hydroxychloroquine, ivermectin, and remdesivir.
That paper cites Scott M. Graffius' research. While a careful reading makes clear that Graffius' work is distinct from the study’s framing, methods, and conclusions, citations can sometimes create perceived alignment where none exists—especially for readers who may not examine the full context in detail. For that reason, and to proactively clarify any potential misunderstandings, Graffius provides the following objective, evidence-based assessment of the scientific paper and does not endorse the paper.
This article provides a critical analysis of the "Search Interest in Alleged COVID-19 Treatments During the Pandemic and the Impact of Mass News Media" paper, including its use of Scott M. Graffius' work.
Critical Analysis of Paper
1. Problematic Title Language
An issue appears in the title itself. The phrase "alleged COVID-19 treatments" may be interpreted as value-laden. While these interventions were the subject of significant debate regarding their efficacy against COVID-19, some were recommended and prescribed by licensed physicians during the pandemic. The terminology employed by the paper's authors may therefore be reasonably seen as attempting to influence the reader's interpretation at the outset.
2. Correlation vs. Causation
The study identifies associations between media coverage and Google search interest over time. However, at times it interprets these associations as directional influence—suggesting that media coverage may "drive" public interest. This is not fully supported by the methodology. Time-series correlations, even with lag structures, do not establish causality. Both media coverage and search activity are likely responding to shared external drivers, such as major news events, political statements, regulatory decisions, or social media amplification. Without a causal identification strategy (e.g., natural experiments or instrumental variables), conclusions about influence remain speculative.
3. Measurement Limitations
The study relies on two proxy measures: Google Trends data and Media Cloud article counts.
Google Trends provides normalized, relative search interest (scaled 0–100), not absolute search volume. Because Google Trends provides normalized (0–100) relative search interest rather than absolute volumes, interpretation requires caution. Reported differences may reflect relative scaling and baseline variation rather than absolute changes in search behavior.
Media Cloud data capture article frequency, but do not account for audience reach, prominence, engagement, or sentiment. Media Cloud data capture article frequency but do not account for audience reach, prominence, engagement, or sentiment, which may limit the interpretability of "media coverage" as a proxy for exposure.
Additionally, the use of third-party media bias ratings introduces subjective classifications that are not standardized scientific measures.
4. Model Specification and Confounding
The study employs zero-inflated negative binomial models with short lag structures. However, three issues warrant attention. First, the choice of lag intervals (same day, 1-day, and 2-day lags) is not accompanied by a clear theoretical justification, which may limit interpretability. Second, key confounders (such as major real-world events, policy announcements, and social media dynamics) are not incorporated, despite being likely drivers of both media coverage and search behavior. Third, the included covariates (political leaning, rurality, social vulnerability) are plausible but insufficient to address the broader causal landscape.
As a result, the models risk attributing effects to media coverage that may be driven by omitted variables.
5. Overstatement of Effect Sizes
Reported findings (e.g., large percentage increases in search interest following media coverage) may appear substantial in relative terms. Because the analysis relies on normalized Google Trends data and model-based estimates, interpretation should consider the underlying scaling and variability of the data, particularly outside peak periods.
6. Use of Exploratory and Qualitative Techniques
The study incorporates word clouds and co-occurrence analyses to characterize media content. These methods are descriptive and exploratory in nature, and while useful for contextualization, they do not provide the same level of statistical rigor as the primary analyses.
7. Strengths
While the study has several limitations and other issues, it has some strengths. Examples include the use of large datasets, transparent methodology and code availability, consideration of bidirectional dynamics, and relevance to public health communication.
8. Citation of Graffius' Work
The paper includes a citation to Scott M. Graffius' "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts" research. However, this reference appears in a limited context and does not reflect or align with the paper’s overall framing, methodological approach, interpretive lens, or conclusions regarding media influence and “alleged” treatments. Graffius does not endorse the paper.
Excerpts from the paper follow.
The paper cited the 2024 edition of Graffius' work. A visual from the now-current (2026) edition is shown below and details are available here.
Details including links to the 2024 and 2026 editions of Graffius' respective work are in the bibliography section of this article.
Conclusion
The study demonstrates that media coverage and public search behavior are temporally associated during certain major public health events. However, the evidence does not establish causal influence, and several methodological and interpretive limitations constrain the strength of its conclusions. In particular, reliance on proxy measures, limited control for confounding variables, and narrative framing choices contribute to an overextension of the findings.
A more accurate interpretation recognizes the study as evidence of correlation within a complex information ecosystem, rather than as definitive proof that media coverage causes changes in public behavior. The paper's findings do not justify policy or behavioral conclusions.
About the Authors of the Scientific Paper
The "Search interest in alleged COVID-19 treatments during the pandemic and the impact of mass news media paper" authors and their respective affiliations are:
Emily E Ricotta, PhD
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Division of Intramural Research (DIR), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, USA
- CompEpi Dispersed Volunteer Research Network, 401 Park Drive, Boston, MA, USA
Samantha Bents, BS
- Division of Intramural Research (DIR), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, USA
- CompEpi Dispersed Volunteer Research Network, Boston, MA, USA
- Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, USA
Brendan Lawler, BS
- CompEpi Dispersed Volunteer Research Network, Boston, MA, USA
- Computational Health Informatics Program, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
Thomas Berkane, MS
- CompEpi Dispersed Volunteer Research Network, Boston, MA, USA
- Computational Health Informatics Program, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
Fausto A Bustos Carrillo, PhD
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA
Brianna A Smith, PhD
- CompEpi Dispersed Volunteer Research Network, Boston, MA, USA
- Political Science, United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD, USA
Maimuna S Majumder, PhD
- CompEpi Dispersed Volunteer Research Network, Boston, MA, USA
- Computational Health Informatics Program, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
Bibliography
Ricotta, E. E., Bents, S., Lawler, B., Smith, B. A., & Majumder, M. S. (2024, November 22). Search interest in alleged COVID-19 treatments over the pandemic period: The impact of mass news media [Preprint]. medRxiv. https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.11.20.24317650
Graffius, S. M. (2024, January 1). Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts: Update for 2024. ScottGraffius.com. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.21043.60965
Graffius, S. M. (2026, January 23). Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts: Update for 2026. ScottGraffius.com. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.32407.43689
About Scott M. Graffius
Scott M. Graffius is a strategic transformation leader who drives AI, Agile, and broader business and technology initiatives to deliver measurable value across projects, programs, portfolios, and PMOs. He is an expert in the teamwork tradecraft of both human and human-AI teams, including the “exotic team dynamics” that emerge. He is also an authority on the temporal patterns of social media, including the half-life of audience engagement.
He’s a practitioner, researcher, thought leader, award-winning author, and keynote speaker who’s taken the stage at 96 conferences and other events across 25 countries.
He’s delivered over $2.3 billion in value for Fortune 500 companies and other leaders in technology, entertainment, financial services, healthcare, and beyond.
Businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities use Graffius and feature his work. Examples include Adobe, Bayer, Boston University, Ford, Gartner, Harvard Medical School, IEEE, Johns Hopkins University, Microsoft, MSN, National Academy of Sciences, Oracle, Pinterest Inc., Project Management Institute, UC San Diego, Verizon, Yale University, and others.
The following sections provide additional information on his experience, contributions, and influence.
Experience
Graffius heads the professional services firm Exceptional PPM and PMO Solutions, along with its subsidiary Exceptional Agility. These consultancies offer strategic and tactical advisory, training, embedded expertise, and consulting services to the public, private, and government sectors. They help organizations enhance their capabilities and results in agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership, supporting innovation and driving competitive advantage. The consultancies confidently back services with a Delighted Client Guarantee™.
Graffius is a former VP of project management with a publicly traded provider of diverse consumer products and services over the Internet. Before that, he ran and supervised the delivery of projects and programs in public and private organizations with businesses ranging from e-commerce to advanced technology products and services, retail, manufacturing, entertainment, and more.
He has experience with consumer, business, reseller, government, and international markets.
Award-Winning Author
Graffius has authored three books.
- Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions, his first book, earned 17 awards.
- Agile Transformation: A Brief Story of How an Entertainment Company Developed New Capabilities and Unlocked Business Agility to Thrive in an Era of Rapid Change, his second book, was named one of the best Scrum books of all time by BookAuthority.
- Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum, his third book and his first work of fiction, was released in April 2025. The book trailer is on YouTube.
International Public Speaker
Organizations worldwide engage Graffius to present on tech (including AI), Agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership. He crafts and delivers unique and compelling talks and workshops. Graffius has conducted 97 sessions across 25 countries. Select examples of events include Agile Trends Gov, BSides (Newcastle Upon Tyne), Conf42 Quantum Computing, DevDays Europe, DevOps Institute, DevOpsDays (Geneva), Frug’Agile, IEEE, Microsoft, Scottish Summit, Scrum Alliance RSG (Nepal), Techstars, and W Love Games International Video Game Development Conference (Helsinki), and more.
With an average rating of 4.81 (on a scale of 1-5), sessions are highly valued.
The speaker engagement request form is here.
Thought Leadership and Influence
Prominent businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities have showcased Graffius and his contributions—spanning his books, talks, workshops, and beyond. Select examples include:
- Adobe,
- American Management Association,
- Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute,
- Bayer,
- BMC Software,
- Boston University,
- Broadcom,
- Cisco,
- Coburg University of Applied Sciences and Arts - Germany,
- Computer Weekly,
- Constructor University - Germany,
- Data Governance Success,
- Deimos Aerospace,
- DevOps Institute,
- Dropbox,
- EU's European Commission,
- Ford Motor Company,
- Gartner,
- GoDaddy,
- Harvard Medical School,
- Hasso Plattner Institute - Germany,
- IEEE,
- Innovation Project Management,
- Johns Hopkins University,
- Journal of Neurosurgery,
- Lam Research (Semiconductors),
- Leadership Worthy,
- Life Sciences Trainers and Educators Network,
- London South Bank University,
- Microsoft,
- MSN,
- NASSCOM,
- National Academy of Sciences,
- New Zealand Government,
- Oracle,
- Pinterest Inc.,
- Project Management Institute,
- Mary Raum (Professor of National Security Affairs, United States Naval War College),
- SANS Institute,
- SBG Neumark - Germany,
- Singapore Institute of Technology,
- Torrens University - Australia,
- TBS Switzerland,
- Tufts University,
- UC San Diego,
- UK Sports Institute,
- University of Galway - Ireland,
- US Department of Energy,
- US National Park Service,
- US Soccer,
- US Tennis Association,
- Verizon,
- Wrike,
- Yale University,
- and many others.
Graffius has played a key role in the Project Management Institute (PMI) in developing professional standards. He was a member of multiple teams that authored, reviewed, and produced:
- Practice Standard for Work Breakdown Structures—Second Edition.
- A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge—Sixth Edition.
- The Standard for Program Management—Fourth Edition.
- The Practice Standard for Project Estimating—Second Edition.
Additional details are here.
He was also a subject matter expert reviewer of content for the PMI’s Congress. Beyond the PMI, Graffius also served as a member of the review team for two of the Scrum Alliance’s Global Scrum Gatherings.
Acclaimed Authority on Teamwork Tradecraft
Graffius is a renowned authority on teamwork tradecraft. Informed by the research of Bruce W. Tuckman and Mary Ann C. Jensen, over 150 subsequent studies, and Graffius' first-hand professional experience with, and analysis of, team leadership and performance, Graffius created his "Phases of Team Development" intellectual property as a unique perspective and visual conveying the five phases of team development. First introduced in 2008 and periodically updated, his work provides a diagnostic and strategic guide for navigating team dynamics. It provides actionable insights for leaders across industries to develop high-performance teams. Its adoption by esteemed organizations such as Yale University, IEEE, Cisco, Microsoft, Ford, Oracle, Broadcom, the U.S. National Park Service, and the Journal of Neurosurgery, among others, highlights its utility and value, solidifying its status as an indispensable resource for elevating team performance and driving organizational excellence. In 2026, Graffius added human-AI teamwork—including the "exotic team dynamics" which emerge when advanced AI collaborates as a teammate—to his "Phases of Team Development."
The 2026 edition of Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" intellectual property is here.
Expert on Temporal Dynamics on Social Media Platforms
Graffius is also an authority on temporal dynamics on social media platforms. His "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts" research—first published in 2018 and updated annually—delivers a precise quantitative analysis of post longevity across digital platforms, utilizing advanced statistical techniques to determine mean half-life with precision. It establishes a solid empirical base, effectively highlighting the ephemeral nature of content within social media ecosystems. Referenced and applied by leading entities—such as Fast Company, GoDaddy, Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume), Ministère de la Culture (French Ministry of Culture), Pinterest Inc., PNAS, and Telecommunications Policy, among others—his research exemplifies methodological rigor and sustained significance in the field of digital informatics.
The 2026 edition of Graffius "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts" research is here.
Education and Professional Certifications
Graffius has a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a focus in Human Factors. He holds eight professional certifications:
- Certified SAFe 6 Agilist (SA),
- Certified Scrum Professional - ScrumMaster (CSP-SM),
- Certified Scrum Professional - Product Owner (CSP-PO),
- Certified ScrumMaster (CSM),
- Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO),
- Project Management Professional (PMP),
- Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (LSSGB), and
- IT Service Management Foundation (ITIL).
He is an active member of the Scrum Alliance, the Project Management Institute (PMI), and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
Advancing AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management
Scott M. Graffius continues to advance the fields of AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management through his leadership, research, writing, and real-world impact. Businesses and other organizations leverage Graffius’ insights to drive their success.
Discover Scott’s Books
- Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions — Deliver Products in Short Cycles with Rapid Adaptation to Change, Fast Time-to-Market, and Continuous Improvement
- Agile Transformation: A Brief Story of How an Entertainment Company Developed New Capabilities and Unlocked Business Agility to Thrive in an Era of Rapid Change
- Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum
Connect with and follow Scott on LinkedIn, X, YouTube, Facebook, Threads, Bluesky, Mastodon, and ResearchGate.
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How to Cite This Article
Graffius, S. M. (2026, March 30). A Critical Analysis of COVID-19 Treatment Search Trends and Media Coverage Study Citing Scott M. Graffius' Work. ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/critical-analysis-of-covid19-media-coverage-study.html
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Coming soon
Content Acknowledgements
Names, marks, and content are the property of their respective owners.
Emily E Ricotta, Samantha Bents, Brendan Lawler, Thomas Berkane, Fausto A Bustos Carrillo, Brianna A Smith, and Maimuna S Majumder are authors of paper, "Search interest in alleged COVID-19 treatments during the pandemic and the impact of mass news media." The paper cites "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts" research by Scott M. Graffius.
The following appears in the header of the paper: "medRxiv preprint doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.11.20.24317650; this version posted February 17, 2026. The copyright holder for this preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder, who has granted medRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. This article is a US Government work. It is not subject to copyright under 17 USC 105 and is also made available
for use under a CC0 license."
This article includes limited excerpts from the paper, attributed and used under fair use doctrine for purposes of news reporting, commentary, and analysis.
Graffius' "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts" is copyright (c) Scott M. Graffius. All rights reserved.
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Post-Publication Notes
If there are any supplements or updates to this article after the date of publication, they will appear here.
Copyright
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Content on this site—including text, images, videos, and data—may not be used for training or input into any artificial intelligence, machine learning, or automatized learning systems, or published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the express written permission of Scott M. Graffius.
Human-AI Teamwork: Master the Exotic Team Dynamics That Emerge When Collaborating with Advanced AI -- Or Be Outplayed
23 March 2026
BY SCOTT M. GRAFFIUS | ScottGraffius.com
Graffius, S. M. (2026, March 23). Human-AI Teamwork: Master the Exotic Team Dynamics That Emerge When Collaborating with Advanced AI -- Or Be Outplayed. ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/human-ai-teamwork-master-the-emergent-exotic-team-dynamics-or-be-outplayed.html
Scott M. Graffius helps organizations unlock breakthrough performance and generate billions in value through AI, Agile, and advanced project, program, portfolio, and PMO leadership. He’s a practitioner, consultant, contractor, researcher, award-winning author, and keynote speaker who’s delivered 98 dynamic talks and workshops at conferences and other events across 25 countries.
This article provides a brief overview of his newest talk, "Human-AI Teamwork: Master the Exotic Team Dynamics That Emerge When Collaborating with Advanced AI — Or Be Outplayed."
The future of work isn’t coming — it’s already here. The leaders and organizations that thrive will be those who can align, mobilize, and elevate both human and human-AI teams. This dynamic session provides a practical, immediately usable diagnostic and strategic playbook for navigating the complexities of both human-only and human-AI teams, including the "exotic team dynamics" that emerge when advanced AI (agentic, autonomous, or autopoietic) joins the team.
Human–AI team collaboration—also known as hybrid intelligence, human–machine teaming, or joint cognitive systems—is here. If you want your teams to thrive in this new frontier, Scott M. Graffius delivers the insights and actionable strategies to get you there. Invite him to speak at your conference or other event.
Complete an engagement request form or email Graffius today.
This is the bibliography for "Human-AI Teamwork: Master the Exotic Team Dynamics That Emerge When Collaborating with Advanced AI — Or Be Outplayed" talk. The session was informed by Graffius' first-hand work in leadership, AI, and teamwork tradecraft (including the exotic team dynamics that emerge when advanced artificial intelligence collaborates as a teammate), and the following sources.
Scott M. Graffius is a strategic transformation leader who drives AI, Agile, and broader business and technology initiatives to deliver measurable value across projects, programs, portfolios, and PMOs. He is an expert in the teamwork tradecraft of both human and human-AI teams, including the “exotic team dynamics” that emerge. He is also an authority on the temporal patterns of social media, including the half-life of audience engagement.
He’s a practitioner, researcher, thought leader, award-winning author, and keynote speaker who’s taken the stage at 98 conferences and other events across 25 countries.
He’s delivered over $2.51 billion in value for Fortune 500 companies and other leaders in technology, entertainment, financial services, healthcare, and beyond.
Businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities use Graffius and feature his work. Examples include Adobe, Bayer, Boston University, Ford, Gartner, Harvard Medical School, IEEE, Johns Hopkins University, Microsoft, MSN, National Academy of Sciences, Oracle, Pinterest Inc., Project Management Institute, UC San Diego, Verizon, Yale University, and others.
The following sections provide additional information on his experience, contributions, and influence.
Experience
Graffius heads the professional services firm Exceptional PPM and PMO Solutions, along with its subsidiary Exceptional Agility. These consultancies offer strategic and tactical advisory, training, embedded expertise, and consulting services to the public, private, and government sectors. They help organizations enhance their capabilities and results in agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership, supporting innovation and driving competitive advantage. The consultancies confidently back services with a Delighted Client Guarantee™.
Graffius is a former VP of project management with a publicly traded provider of diverse consumer products and services over the Internet. Before that, he ran and supervised the delivery of projects and programs in public and private organizations with businesses ranging from e-commerce to advanced technology products and services, retail, manufacturing, entertainment, and more.
He has experience with consumer, business, reseller, government, and international markets.
Award-Winning Author
Graffius has authored three books.
International Public Speaker
Organizations worldwide engage Graffius to present on tech (including AI), Agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership. He crafts and delivers unique and compelling talks and workshops. Graffius has conducted 98 sessions across 25 countries. Select examples of events include Agile Trends Gov, BSides (Newcastle Upon Tyne), Conf42 Quantum Computing, DevDays Europe, DevOps Institute, DevOpsDays (Geneva), Frug’Agile, IEEE, Microsoft, Scottish Summit, Scrum Alliance RSG (Nepal), Techstars, and W Love Games International Video Game Development Conference (Helsinki), and more.
With an average rating of 4.81 (on a scale of 1-5), sessions are highly valued.
The speaker engagement request form is here.
Thought Leadership and Influence
Prominent businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities have showcased Graffius and his contributions—spanning his books, talks, workshops, and beyond. Select examples include:
Graffius has played a key role in the Project Management Institute (PMI) in developing professional standards. He was a member of multiple teams that authored, reviewed, and produced:
Additional details are here.
He was also a subject matter expert reviewer of content for the PMI’s Congress. Beyond the PMI, Graffius also served as a member of the review team for two of the Scrum Alliance’s Global Scrum Gatherings.
Acclaimed Authority on Teamwork Tradecraft
Graffius is a renowned authority on teamwork tradecraft. Informed by the research of Bruce W. Tuckman and Mary Ann C. Jensen, over 150 subsequent studies, and Graffius' first-hand professional experience with, and analysis of, team leadership and performance, Graffius created his "Phases of Team Development" intellectual property as a unique perspective and visual conveying the five phases of team development. First introduced in 2008 and periodically updated, his work provides a diagnostic and strategic guide for navigating team dynamics. It provides actionable insights for leaders across industries to develop high-performance teams. Its adoption by esteemed organizations such as Yale University, IEEE, Cisco, Microsoft, Ford, Oracle, Broadcom, the U.S. National Park Service, and the Journal of Neurosurgery, among others, highlights its utility and value, solidifying its status as an indispensable resource for elevating team performance and driving organizational excellence. In 2026, Graffius added human-AI teamwork—including the "exotic team dynamics" which emerge when advanced AI collaborates as a teammate—to his "Phases of Team Development."
The 2026 edition of Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" intellectual property is here.
Expert on Temporal Dynamics on Social Media Platforms
Graffius is also an authority on temporal dynamics on social media platforms. His "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts" research—first published in 2018 and updated annually—delivers a precise quantitative analysis of post longevity across digital platforms, utilizing advanced statistical techniques to determine mean half-life with precision. It establishes a solid empirical base, effectively highlighting the ephemeral nature of content within social media ecosystems. Referenced and applied by leading entities—such as Fast Company, GoDaddy, Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume), Ministère de la Culture (French Ministry of Culture), Pinterest Inc., PNAS, and Telecommunications Policy, among others—his research exemplifies methodological rigor and sustained significance in the field of digital informatics.
The 2026 edition of Graffius "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts" research is here.
Education and Professional Certifications
Graffius has a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a focus in Human Factors. He holds eight professional certifications:
He is an active member of the Scrum Alliance, the Project Management Institute (PMI), and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
Advancing AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management
Scott M. Graffius continues to advance the fields of AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management through his leadership, research, writing, and real-world impact. Businesses and other organizations leverage Graffius’ insights to drive their success.
Discover Scott’s Books
Connect with and follow Scott on LinkedIn, X, YouTube, Facebook, Threads, Bluesky, Mastodon, and ResearchGate.
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Copyright Infringement in a Book Published by AuthorHouse / Author Solutions / The Najafi Companies: Publisher Fails to Respond or Take Required Action
Pinterest Inc. References Scott M. Graffius’ Research
Bournemouth University Used Scott M. Graffius’ Intellectual Property
‘Comparative Methodological Guidelines: Handbook for Educators’ Violates Scott M. Graffius’ Copyright
Japan Backlog User Group Event Featured Scott M. Graffius’ ‘Phases of Team Development’
TurningWest's 'Trial'
Radio Silence from the American Association of Neurological Surgeons on Report of Blatant Plagiarism in Their ‘Journal of Neurosurgery’ Publication
Supplement to Graffius' 'Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts' Research: Typical Engagement Distribution Pattern for Social Media Posts
How Algorithms Shape the User Experience on Social Media Platforms
Thinkers360 Named Scott M. Graffius a Top Thought Leader on Agile
More articles are listed here.
Graffius, S. M. (2026, March 23). Human-AI Teamwork: Master the Exotic Team Dynamics That Emerge When Collaborating with Advanced AI -- Or Be Outplayed. ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/human-ai-teamwork-master-the-emergent-exotic-team-dynamics-or-be-outplayed.html
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Graffius, S. M. (2026, March 23). Human-AI Teamwork: Master the Exotic Team Dynamics That Emerge When Collaborating with Advanced AI -- Or Be Outplayed. ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/human-ai-teamwork-master-the-emergent-exotic-team-dynamics-or-be-outplayed.html
Introduction
Scott M. Graffius helps organizations unlock breakthrough performance and generate billions in value through AI, Agile, and advanced project, program, portfolio, and PMO leadership. He’s a practitioner, consultant, contractor, researcher, award-winning author, and keynote speaker who’s delivered 98 dynamic talks and workshops at conferences and other events across 25 countries.
This article provides a brief overview of his newest talk, "Human-AI Teamwork: Master the Exotic Team Dynamics That Emerge When Collaborating with Advanced AI — Or Be Outplayed."
Synopsis of "Human-AI Teamwork: Master the Exotic Team Dynamics That Emerge When Collaborating with Advanced AI -- Or Be Outplayed"
The future of work isn’t coming — it’s already here. The leaders and organizations that thrive will be those who can align, mobilize, and elevate both human and human-AI teams. This dynamic session provides a practical, immediately usable diagnostic and strategic playbook for navigating the complexities of both human-only and human-AI teams, including the "exotic team dynamics" that emerge when advanced AI (agentic, autonomous, or autopoietic) joins the team.
Conclusion
Human–AI team collaboration—also known as hybrid intelligence, human–machine teaming, or joint cognitive systems—is here. If you want your teams to thrive in this new frontier, Scott M. Graffius delivers the insights and actionable strategies to get you there. Invite him to speak at your conference or other event.
Complete an engagement request form or email Graffius today.
Bibliography
This is the bibliography for "Human-AI Teamwork: Master the Exotic Team Dynamics That Emerge When Collaborating with Advanced AI — Or Be Outplayed" talk. The session was informed by Graffius' first-hand work in leadership, AI, and teamwork tradecraft (including the exotic team dynamics that emerge when advanced artificial intelligence collaborates as a teammate), and the following sources.
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- Graffius, S. M. (2021, May 13). But First, the Team! [Presentation]. Lecture delivered at DevOps Pro Europe 2021 Conference; based and simulcast live from Vilnius, Lithuania. ScottGraffius.com. https://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.30524.36481
- Graffius, S. M. (2021, June 21). DevOps and Team Leadership [Workshop]. Session at private event in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. ScottGraffius.com. https://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.15380.22401
- Graffius, S. M. (2021, September 11). Navigate the Phases of Team Development with Speed and Agility for Happier and More Productive InfoSec Teams [Presentation]. BSides NCL Newcastle upon Tyne, England 2021 InfoSec Conference. ScottGraffius.com. https://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.27961.29280
- Graffius, S. M. (2021, October 5). Navigate the Phases of Team Development with Speed and Agility for Happier and More Productive Teams [Presentation]. Talk delivered at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers IEEE Day 2021 Conference. ScottGraffius.com. https://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.20055.19365
- Graffius, S. M. (2021, November 8). Bruce Tuckman's Model (Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing, and Adjourning) is Highly Relevant and Beneficial, But It Doesn't Please Everyone. ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/jobs.html
- Graffius, S. M. (2021, November 10). An Error Was Introduced Into the Seventh Edition of 'A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK).' Los Angeles, California, United States: Scott M. Graffius.
- Graffius, S. M. (2022, February 4). Team Development Tradecraft: A Source of Competitive Advantage [Workshop]. Session at private event in Adelaide, Australia. ScottGraffius.com. https://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.14092.80002
- Graffius, S. M. (2022, May 13). Want Happier and More Productive DevOps Teams? [Presentation]. Talk delivered at DevOpsDays Geneva, Switzerland 2022 Conference. ScottGraffius.com. https://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.22252.85127
- Graffius, S. M. (2023, January 9). Use the Phases of Team Development (Based on Bruce W. Tuckman's Model of Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing, and Adjourning) to Help Teams Grow and Advance: 2023 Update. ScottGraffius.com. https://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.10720.35846
- Graffius, S. M. (2023, April 26). The Science of High-Performance Teams [Presentation]. Talk delivered at the DevOps Institute's SKILup Day 2023 Conference. ScottGraffius.com. https://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.15888.28169
- Graffius, S. M. (2023, May 1). AI is a Team Sport: A Confluence of Diverse Technical and Soft Skills are Crucial for Success. ScottGraffius.com. https://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.20321.79200
- Graffius, S. M. (2023, May 1). Fueling the Development of Innovative and Life-Changing AI Solutions [Presentation]. Talk delivered to an audience of Technology professionals at a private event in Mountain View, California, United States. ScottGraffius.com. https://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.27956.73601
- Graffius, S. M. (2023, June 29). What Successful AI Teams Have in Common [Presentation]. Talk delivered at Conf42 Quantum Computing 2023 Conference. ScottGraffius.com. https://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.29382.45120
- Graffius, S. M. (2023, July 15). Successful Video Game Development Teams Leverage an Extensive Range of Hard Skills and Soft Skills. ScottGraffius.com. https://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.31205.17124
- Graffius, S. M. (2023, October 9). Top 5 Roles on AI Teams. ScottGraffius.com. https://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.34857.57449
- Graffius, S. M. (2023, October 13). The Science of High-Performance Game Development Teams [Presentation]. Talk delivered at the W Love Games International Video Game Development Conference 2023 - Helsinki, Finland. ScottGraffius.com. https://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.28602.16326
- Graffius, S. M. (2024, January 5). Scott M. Graffius' Phases of Team Development: 2024 Update. ScottGraffius.com. https://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.28629.40168
- Graffius, S. M. (2024, April 5). Cisco Features Scott M. Graffius' 'Phases of Team Development' Work'. ScottGraffius.com. https://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.16689.60000
- Graffius, S. M. (2024, May 3). Leverage Agile and AI to Innovate at the Speed of Light. Talk at private event in Dubai, UAE. ScottGraffius.com. https://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.30790.48960
- Graffius, S. M. (2024, May 21). The Wild World of Team Dynamics: Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing, and Adjourning [Video]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vD4-XueiB1k
- Graffius, S. M. (2024, May 21). What Successful AI Development Teams Have in Common. Talk at DevDays Europe 2024 Conference. ScottGraffius.com. https://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.24313.07529
- Graffius, S. M. (2024, December 2). Hochschule Coburg (Coburg University) Germany Uses Scott M. Graffius' Phases of Team Development IP in Coursework on Agile Development. ScottGraffius.com. https://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.21272.00002
- Graffius, S. M. (2025). Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum. Seattle, Washington, United States: Amazon Digital Services.
- Graffius, S. M. (2025, January 7). Scott M. Graffius' Phases of Team Development: 2025 Update. ScottGraffius.com. https://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.33705.30564
- Graffius, S. M. (2025, January 24). When Agile, AI, and Strategic Thinking Converge. ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/when-agile-ai-and-strategic-thinking-converge.html
- Graffius, S. M. (2025, March 16). U.S. Soccer Scores with Scott M. Graffius' Intellectual Property on Teamwork. ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/u-s-soccer-scores-with-scott-m-graffius-intellectual-property-on-teamwork.html
- Graffius, S. M. (2025, May 13). Scott M. Graffius Delivering $2.3 Billion in Value Through AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Leadership. ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/scott-m-graffius-delivering-2-point-3-billion-dollars-in-impact-for-organizations.html
- Graffius, S. M. (2025, July 18). Harness Sci-Fi and Speculative Design While Embracing Imperfection to Drive Innovation and Proactively Predict and Prepare for the Future. ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/harness-scifi-and-speculative-design-while-embracing-imperfection-to-drive-innovation-and-proactively-predict-and-prepare-for-the-future.html
- Graffius, S. M. (2025, August 7). Method and System for Facilitating Hybrid Human-Artificial Intelligence Teams via a Protocolized Mediation Layer for Bi-Directional Translation, Interpretation, and Optimization of Natural Language, Paralinguistic, Prosodic, and Nonverbal Cues Across Text, Audio, and Video Modalities, Incorporating Real-Time Analysis of Auditory Tone, Pitch, Affect, Facial Expressions, Gaze, Posture, and Other Body Language Indicators, Generating AI-Compatible Representations for Human Inputs, Generating Human-Accessible Representations for AI Outputs, Conveying Context-Aware Information in Both Directions, Reducing Cognitive Friction, Enhancing Mutual Intelligibility, Supporting Decision-Making, and Maximizing Collective Task Performance. A novel integration of multimodal communication, cognitive alignment, and human-AI interaction. Los Angeles, California, United States: Scott M. Graffius.
- Graffius, S. M. (2025, August 8). Exotic Team Dynamics: The New Frontier of Human-AI Collaboration. ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/exotic-team-dynamics.html
- Graffius, S. M. (2025, August 22). Scott M. Graffius Premieres His New "Exotic Team Dynamics: Human-AI Collaboration" Talk at Corporate Event in Las Vegas. ScottGraffius.com. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.34380.07047
- Graffius, S. M. (2025, September 12). Scott M. Graffius’ Insights on AI, Agile, Gaming, XR, and Defense Transformation Cited by MSN in Their Coverage of Innovation and Leadership in the Sector. ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/msn-cites-scott-m-graffius-insights-on-ai.html
- Graffius, S. M. (2025, October 24). HAN University of Applied Sciences Features the Work of Scott M. Graffius. ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/han-university-features-scott-m-graffius.html
- Graffius, S. M. (2025, October 29). Definitions of Advanced AIs: Agentic, Autonomous, and Autopoietic. ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/advanced-ai-definitions.html
- Graffius, S. M. (2025, November 19). Lessons from Unhinged AI in Fiction: What Rogue AIs in Sci-Fi Storytelling, Films, and TV Shows Reveal About Us. ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/lessons-from-unhinged-ai-in-fiction.html
- Graffius, S. M. (2025, November 21). Navigating the Spectrum of Advanced AI – Agentic, Autonomous, and Autopoietic. ScottGraffius.com. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.21284.74882
- Graffius, S. M. (2025, November 21). This is What Happens When Advanced AI Joins Your Team [Presentation; French translation for contextual clarity: Voici ce qui se passe lorsque l’IA avancée rejoint votre équipe]. Talk delivered in English at a corporate event, Paris, France.
- Graffius, S. M. (2025, December 1). Beep Beep! Why Wile E. Coyote is the Patron Saint of AI Failure. ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/coyote-and-ai.html
- Graffius, S. M. (2025, December 9). A Data-Driven Analysis of the Evolution of Project Management: Tasks, Trends, and AI. ScottGraffius.com. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.25079.28328
- Graffius, S. M. (2025, December 20). Scott M. Graffius’ Update to His "Phases of Team Development" Coming Early 2026. ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/scott-m-graffius-phases-of-team-development-2026-coming-soon.html
- Graffius, S. M. (2025, December 29). Lessons from Yesterday’s Tomorrowland. ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/lessons-from-yesterdays-tomorrowland.html
- Graffius, S. M. (2026, January 3). Scott M. Graffius' Phases of Team Development - Applied to Human Teams and Human-AI Teams: 2026 Update. ScottGraffius.com. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.18184.89601
- Graffius, S. M. (2026, February 3). University of Greenwich Features Graffius' Phases of Team Development. ScottGraffius.com. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.30462.65604
- Graffius, S. M. (2026, February 17). University of Waterloo Features Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" in Course Materials. ScottGraffius.com. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.23551.88482
- Graffius, S. M. (2026, March 12). UNSW Aerospace Engineering Course Features Scott M. Graffius' "Phases of Team Development". ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/unsw-features-phases-of-team-development-by-scott-m-graffius.html
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About Scott M. Graffius
Scott M. Graffius is a strategic transformation leader who drives AI, Agile, and broader business and technology initiatives to deliver measurable value across projects, programs, portfolios, and PMOs. He is an expert in the teamwork tradecraft of both human and human-AI teams, including the “exotic team dynamics” that emerge. He is also an authority on the temporal patterns of social media, including the half-life of audience engagement.
He’s a practitioner, researcher, thought leader, award-winning author, and keynote speaker who’s taken the stage at 98 conferences and other events across 25 countries.
He’s delivered over $2.51 billion in value for Fortune 500 companies and other leaders in technology, entertainment, financial services, healthcare, and beyond.
Businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities use Graffius and feature his work. Examples include Adobe, Bayer, Boston University, Ford, Gartner, Harvard Medical School, IEEE, Johns Hopkins University, Microsoft, MSN, National Academy of Sciences, Oracle, Pinterest Inc., Project Management Institute, UC San Diego, Verizon, Yale University, and others.
The following sections provide additional information on his experience, contributions, and influence.
Experience
Graffius heads the professional services firm Exceptional PPM and PMO Solutions, along with its subsidiary Exceptional Agility. These consultancies offer strategic and tactical advisory, training, embedded expertise, and consulting services to the public, private, and government sectors. They help organizations enhance their capabilities and results in agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership, supporting innovation and driving competitive advantage. The consultancies confidently back services with a Delighted Client Guarantee™.
Graffius is a former VP of project management with a publicly traded provider of diverse consumer products and services over the Internet. Before that, he ran and supervised the delivery of projects and programs in public and private organizations with businesses ranging from e-commerce to advanced technology products and services, retail, manufacturing, entertainment, and more.
He has experience with consumer, business, reseller, government, and international markets.
Award-Winning Author
Graffius has authored three books.
- Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions, his first book, earned 17 awards.
- Agile Transformation: A Brief Story of How an Entertainment Company Developed New Capabilities and Unlocked Business Agility to Thrive in an Era of Rapid Change, his second book, was named one of the best Scrum books of all time by BookAuthority.
- Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum, his third book and his first work of fiction, was released in April 2025. The book trailer is on YouTube.
International Public Speaker
Organizations worldwide engage Graffius to present on tech (including AI), Agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership. He crafts and delivers unique and compelling talks and workshops. Graffius has conducted 98 sessions across 25 countries. Select examples of events include Agile Trends Gov, BSides (Newcastle Upon Tyne), Conf42 Quantum Computing, DevDays Europe, DevOps Institute, DevOpsDays (Geneva), Frug’Agile, IEEE, Microsoft, Scottish Summit, Scrum Alliance RSG (Nepal), Techstars, and W Love Games International Video Game Development Conference (Helsinki), and more.
With an average rating of 4.81 (on a scale of 1-5), sessions are highly valued.
The speaker engagement request form is here.
Thought Leadership and Influence
Prominent businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities have showcased Graffius and his contributions—spanning his books, talks, workshops, and beyond. Select examples include:
- Adobe,
- American Management Association,
- Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute,
- Bayer,
- BMC Software,
- Boston University,
- Broadcom,
- Cisco,
- Coburg University of Applied Sciences and Arts - Germany,
- Computer Weekly,
- Constructor University - Germany,
- Data Governance Success,
- Deimos Aerospace,
- DevOps Institute,
- Dropbox,
- EU's European Commission,
- Ford Motor Company,
- Gartner,
- GoDaddy,
- Harvard Medical School,
- Hasso Plattner Institute - Germany,
- IEEE,
- Innovation Project Management,
- Johns Hopkins University,
- Journal of Neurosurgery,
- Lam Research (Semiconductors),
- Leadership Worthy,
- Life Sciences Trainers and Educators Network,
- London South Bank University,
- Microsoft,
- MSN,
- NASSCOM,
- National Academy of Sciences,
- New Zealand Government,
- Oracle,
- Pinterest Inc.,
- Project Management Institute,
- Mary Raum (Professor of National Security Affairs, United States Naval War College),
- SANS Institute,
- SBG Neumark - Germany,
- Singapore Institute of Technology,
- Torrens University - Australia,
- TBS Switzerland,
- Tufts University,
- UC San Diego,
- UK Sports Institute,
- University of Galway - Ireland,
- US Department of Energy,
- US National Park Service,
- US Soccer,
- US Tennis Association,
- Verizon,
- Wrike,
- Yale University,
- and many others.
Graffius has played a key role in the Project Management Institute (PMI) in developing professional standards. He was a member of multiple teams that authored, reviewed, and produced:
- Practice Standard for Work Breakdown Structures—Second Edition.
- A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge—Sixth Edition.
- The Standard for Program Management—Fourth Edition.
- The Practice Standard for Project Estimating—Second Edition.
Additional details are here.
He was also a subject matter expert reviewer of content for the PMI’s Congress. Beyond the PMI, Graffius also served as a member of the review team for two of the Scrum Alliance’s Global Scrum Gatherings.
Acclaimed Authority on Teamwork Tradecraft
Graffius is a renowned authority on teamwork tradecraft. Informed by the research of Bruce W. Tuckman and Mary Ann C. Jensen, over 150 subsequent studies, and Graffius' first-hand professional experience with, and analysis of, team leadership and performance, Graffius created his "Phases of Team Development" intellectual property as a unique perspective and visual conveying the five phases of team development. First introduced in 2008 and periodically updated, his work provides a diagnostic and strategic guide for navigating team dynamics. It provides actionable insights for leaders across industries to develop high-performance teams. Its adoption by esteemed organizations such as Yale University, IEEE, Cisco, Microsoft, Ford, Oracle, Broadcom, the U.S. National Park Service, and the Journal of Neurosurgery, among others, highlights its utility and value, solidifying its status as an indispensable resource for elevating team performance and driving organizational excellence. In 2026, Graffius added human-AI teamwork—including the "exotic team dynamics" which emerge when advanced AI collaborates as a teammate—to his "Phases of Team Development."
The 2026 edition of Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" intellectual property is here.
Expert on Temporal Dynamics on Social Media Platforms
Graffius is also an authority on temporal dynamics on social media platforms. His "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts" research—first published in 2018 and updated annually—delivers a precise quantitative analysis of post longevity across digital platforms, utilizing advanced statistical techniques to determine mean half-life with precision. It establishes a solid empirical base, effectively highlighting the ephemeral nature of content within social media ecosystems. Referenced and applied by leading entities—such as Fast Company, GoDaddy, Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume), Ministère de la Culture (French Ministry of Culture), Pinterest Inc., PNAS, and Telecommunications Policy, among others—his research exemplifies methodological rigor and sustained significance in the field of digital informatics.
The 2026 edition of Graffius "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts" research is here.
Education and Professional Certifications
Graffius has a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a focus in Human Factors. He holds eight professional certifications:
- Certified SAFe 6 Agilist (SA),
- Certified Scrum Professional - ScrumMaster (CSP-SM),
- Certified Scrum Professional - Product Owner (CSP-PO),
- Certified ScrumMaster (CSM),
- Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO),
- Project Management Professional (PMP),
- Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (LSSGB), and
- IT Service Management Foundation (ITIL).
He is an active member of the Scrum Alliance, the Project Management Institute (PMI), and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
Advancing AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management
Scott M. Graffius continues to advance the fields of AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management through his leadership, research, writing, and real-world impact. Businesses and other organizations leverage Graffius’ insights to drive their success.
Discover Scott’s Books
- Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions — Deliver Products in Short Cycles with Rapid Adaptation to Change, Fast Time-to-Market, and Continuous Improvement
- Agile Transformation: A Brief Story of How an Entertainment Company Developed New Capabilities and Unlocked Business Agility to Thrive in an Era of Rapid Change
- Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum
Connect with and follow Scott on LinkedIn, X, YouTube, Facebook, Threads, Bluesky, Mastodon, and ResearchGate.
Sign up for Miro—it's free!
(Want more features? You can always upgrade to a paid plan.)
List of Additional Articles
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Agile's Journey Through the Decades: Update for 2026
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Handling the Saboteur Within: Lessons from a 3-Letter Agency on Spotting and Stopping Intentional and Unintentional Sabotage
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Most Valuable IT Certifications: Update for 2026
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Scott M. Graffius' Research on the Half-Life of Social Media was Cited in a Peer-Reviewed Study Published in Telecommunications Policy, a Leading Academic Journal
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Scott M. Graffius’ Insights on AI, Agile, Gaming, XR, and Defense Transformation Cited by MSN in Their Coverage of Innovation and Leadership in the Sector
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Scott M. Graffius Premieres His New "Exotic Team Dynamics: Human-AI Collaboration" Talk at Corporate Event in Las Vegas
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More articles are listed here.
How to Cite This Article
Graffius, S. M. (2026, March 23). Human-AI Teamwork: Master the Exotic Team Dynamics That Emerge When Collaborating with Advanced AI -- Or Be Outplayed. ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/human-ai-teamwork-master-the-emergent-exotic-team-dynamics-or-be-outplayed.html
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Coming soon.
Content Acknowledgements
Names, marks, and content are the property of their respective owners.
Tags and Hashtags
- AI
- Human-AI Teams
- Exotic Team Dynamics
- Future of Work
- Leadership
- Innovation
- Agility
- Public Speaker
- #AI
- #ExoticTeamDynamics
- #FutureOfTeams
- #HumanAICollaboration
- #Innovation
- #Leadership
- #Agility
- #PublicSpeaker
Post-Publication Notes
If there are any supplements or updates to this article after the date of publication, they will appear here.
Copyright
Copyright © Scott M. Graffius. All rights reserved.
Content on this site—including text, images, videos, and data—may not be used for training or input into any artificial intelligence, machine learning, or automatized learning systems, or published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the express written permission of Scott M. Graffius.
"Agile Scrum" by Scott M. Graffius Now Featured on Grokipedia
23 March 2026
BY SCOTT M. GRAFFIUS | ScottGraffius.com
Scott M. Graffius' first book, Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions, now has a dedicated page on Grokipedia — xAI’s truth-seeking, AI-generated encyclopedia.
Grokipedia — part of a broader wave of AI-generated knowledge platforms that aim to aggregate and synthesize information at scale — has given Graffius' book a dedicated page, representing a meaningful form of recognition. This indicates that the book's practical, friendly approach to Scrum has earned a place in a growing, AI-curated knowledge base dedicated to making reliable information accessible to everyone.
Published in 2016, Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions provides clear, visual, step-by-step guidance for implementing Scrum, the most widely used Agile approach to the development and delivery of products and services. The 156-page book covers Scrum roles, events, artifacts, metrics, and more. It is designed to help teams deliver products in short cycles, adapt rapidly to change, accelerate time-to-market, and drive continuous improvement and innovation.
The book has been well received, earning an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars on Amazon (based on customer reviews at the time of writing), with praise for its clarity, organization, user-friendly tone, and helpful visuals. It has achieved notable success, including 17 first-place awards from prestigious programs such as the Beverly Hills Book Awards (Business and Technology categories), the London Book Festival (Business category), the Independent Press Award (Technology category), the National Indie Excellence Awards (Technology category), and others. It is a B.R.A.G. Medallion Honoree and has been recognized by BookAuthority as one of the top books on Agile. Content from the book has been quoted and cited in publications from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
This recognition from Grokipedia adds to Scott M. Graffius’ broader body of work — through which he has generated over $2.51 billion in business value for organizations across technology, entertainment, finance, healthcare, and other sectors — and underscores his continued commitment to helping individuals and teams achieve breakthrough results. The Grokipedia entry reflects the book's enduring relevance.
Explore the Grokipedia page for Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions.
Learn more and view purchase options for Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions on Amazon.
Graffius, S. M. (2016). Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions. CreateSpace.
Grokipedia. (n.d.). Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions (book). Grokipedia, accessed on March 23, 2026. https://grokipedia.com/page/agile_scrum_your_quick_start_guide_with_step_by_step_instructions_(book)
Scott M. Graffius is a strategic transformation leader who drives AI, Agile, and broader business and technology initiatives to deliver measurable value across projects, programs, portfolios, and PMOs. He is an expert in the teamwork tradecraft of both human and human-AI teams, including the “exotic team dynamics” that emerge. He is also an authority on the temporal patterns of social media, including the half-life of audience engagement.
He’s a practitioner, researcher, thought leader, award-winning author, and keynote speaker who’s taken the stage at 97 conferences and other events across 25 countries.
He’s delivered over $2.3 billion in value for Fortune 500 companies and other leaders in technology, entertainment, financial services, healthcare, and beyond.
Businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities use Graffius and feature his work. Examples include Adobe, Bayer, Boston University, Ford, Gartner, Harvard Medical School, IEEE, Johns Hopkins University, Microsoft, MSN, National Academy of Sciences, Oracle, Pinterest Inc., Project Management Institute, UC San Diego, Verizon, Yale University, and others.
The following sections provide additional information on his experience, contributions, and influence.
Experience
Graffius heads the professional services firm Exceptional PPM and PMO Solutions, along with its subsidiary Exceptional Agility. These consultancies offer strategic and tactical advisory, training, embedded expertise, and consulting services to the public, private, and government sectors. They help organizations enhance their capabilities and results in agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership, supporting innovation and driving competitive advantage. The consultancies confidently back services with a Delighted Client Guarantee™.
Graffius is a former VP of project management with a publicly traded provider of diverse consumer products and services over the Internet. Before that, he ran and supervised the delivery of projects and programs in public and private organizations with businesses ranging from e-commerce to advanced technology products and services, retail, manufacturing, entertainment, and more.
He has experience with consumer, business, reseller, government, and international markets.
Award-Winning Author
Graffius has authored three books.
International Public Speaker
Organizations worldwide engage Graffius to present on tech (including AI), Agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership. He crafts and delivers unique and compelling talks and workshops. Graffius has conducted 97 sessions across 25 countries. Select examples of events include Agile Trends Gov, BSides (Newcastle Upon Tyne), Conf42 Quantum Computing, DevDays Europe, DevOps Institute, DevOpsDays (Geneva), Frug’Agile, IEEE, Microsoft, Scottish Summit, Scrum Alliance RSG (Nepal), Techstars, and W Love Games International Video Game Development Conference (Helsinki), and more.
With an average rating of 4.81 (on a scale of 1-5), sessions are highly valued.
The speaker engagement request form is here.
Thought Leadership and Influence
Prominent businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities have showcased Graffius and his contributions—spanning his books, talks, workshops, and beyond. Select examples include:
Graffius has played a key role in the Project Management Institute (PMI) in developing professional standards. He was a member of multiple teams that authored, reviewed, and produced:
Additional details are here.
He was also a subject matter expert reviewer of content for the PMI’s Congress. Beyond the PMI, Graffius also served as a member of the review team for two of the Scrum Alliance’s Global Scrum Gatherings.
Acclaimed Authority on Teamwork Tradecraft
Graffius is a renowned authority on teamwork tradecraft. Informed by the research of Bruce W. Tuckman and Mary Ann C. Jensen, over 150 subsequent studies, and Graffius' first-hand professional experience with, and analysis of, team leadership and performance, Graffius created his "Phases of Team Development" intellectual property as a unique perspective and visual conveying the five phases of team development. First introduced in 2008 and periodically updated, his work provides a diagnostic and strategic guide for navigating team dynamics. It provides actionable insights for leaders across industries to develop high-performance teams. Its adoption by esteemed organizations such as Yale University, IEEE, Cisco, Microsoft, Ford, Oracle, Broadcom, the U.S. National Park Service, and the Journal of Neurosurgery, among others, highlights its utility and value, solidifying its status as an indispensable resource for elevating team performance and driving organizational excellence. In 2026, Graffius added human-AI teamwork—including the "exotic team dynamics" which emerge when advanced AI collaborates as a teammate—to his "Phases of Team Development."
The 2026 edition of Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" intellectual property is here.
Expert on Temporal Dynamics on Social Media Platforms
Graffius is also an authority on temporal dynamics on social media platforms. His "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts" research—first published in 2018 and updated annually—delivers a precise quantitative analysis of post longevity across digital platforms, utilizing advanced statistical techniques to determine mean half-life with precision. It establishes a solid empirical base, effectively highlighting the ephemeral nature of content within social media ecosystems. Referenced and applied by leading entities—such as Fast Company, GoDaddy, Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume), Ministère de la Culture (French Ministry of Culture), Pinterest Inc., PNAS, and Telecommunications Policy, among others—his research exemplifies methodological rigor and sustained significance in the field of digital informatics.
The 2026 edition of Graffius "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts" research is here.
Education and Professional Certifications
Graffius has a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a focus in Human Factors. He holds eight professional certifications:
He is an active member of the Scrum Alliance, the Project Management Institute (PMI), and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
Advancing AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management
Scott M. Graffius continues to advance the fields of AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management through his leadership, research, writing, and real-world impact. Businesses and other organizations leverage Graffius’ insights to drive their success.
Discover Scott’s Books
Connect with and follow Scott on LinkedIn, X, YouTube, Facebook, Threads, Bluesky, Mastodon, and ResearchGate.
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Thinkers360 Honors Scott M. Graffius as a 2026 Top Agile Thought Leader
Agile's Journey Through the Decades: Update for 2026
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Peer-Reviewed Journal Cited Work of Scott M. Graffius
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UK Sports Institute Features Teamwork and Leadership Work of Scott M. Graffius
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HAN University of Applied Sciences Features the Work of Scott M. Graffius
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Scott M. Graffius’ Insights on AI, Agile, Gaming, XR, and Defense Transformation Cited by MSN in Their Coverage of Innovation and Leadership in the Sector
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Government of Finland Agency Features Graffius' Phases of Team Development IP
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Climbing the Ladder: The Head of Agile/PMO’s Organizational Proximity to the CEO is Closer Than Ever
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Tufts University Features Scott M. Graffius 'Phases of Team Development' Intellectual Property
'Cat Herders': Retelling the Massive Success Story
Pennsylvania State Agency Used Scott M. Graffius' Intellectual Property
Copyright Infringement in a Book Published by AuthorHouse / Author Solutions / The Najafi Companies: Publisher Fails to Respond or Take Required Action
Pinterest Inc. References Scott M. Graffius’ Research
Bournemouth University Used Scott M. Graffius’ Intellectual Property
‘Comparative Methodological Guidelines: Handbook for Educators’ Violates Scott M. Graffius’ Copyright
Japan Backlog User Group Event Featured Scott M. Graffius’ ‘Phases of Team Development’
TurningWest's 'Trial'
Radio Silence from the American Association of Neurological Surgeons on Report of Blatant Plagiarism in Their ‘Journal of Neurosurgery’ Publication
Supplement to Graffius' 'Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts' Research: Typical Engagement Distribution Pattern for Social Media Posts
How Algorithms Shape the User Experience on Social Media Platforms
Thinkers360 Named Scott M. Graffius a Top Thought Leader on Agile
More articles are listed here.
Graffius, S. M. (2026, March 23). "Agile Scrum" by Scott M. Graffius Now Featured on Grokipedia. ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/agile-scrum-book-by-scott-m-graffius-featured-on-grokipedia.html
Coming soon.
Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions book by Scott M. Graffius is featured on Grokipedia.
Grokipedia name, mark, and content are the property of Grokipedia and/or X Corp.
This article includes limited excerpts of content from Grokipedia, attributed and used under fair use doctrine for purposes of news reporting, commentary, and analysis.
Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions is copyright © Scott M. Graffius. All rights reserved.
If there are any supplements or updates to this article after the date of publication, they will appear here.
Copyright © Scott M. Graffius. All rights reserved.
Content on this site—including text, images, videos, and data—may not be used for training or input into any artificial intelligence, machine learning, or automatized learning systems, or published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the express written permission of Scott M. Graffius.
Agile Scrum Page on Grokipedia
Scott M. Graffius' first book, Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions, now has a dedicated page on Grokipedia — xAI’s truth-seeking, AI-generated encyclopedia.
Grokipedia — part of a broader wave of AI-generated knowledge platforms that aim to aggregate and synthesize information at scale — has given Graffius' book a dedicated page, representing a meaningful form of recognition. This indicates that the book's practical, friendly approach to Scrum has earned a place in a growing, AI-curated knowledge base dedicated to making reliable information accessible to everyone.
Published in 2016, Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions provides clear, visual, step-by-step guidance for implementing Scrum, the most widely used Agile approach to the development and delivery of products and services. The 156-page book covers Scrum roles, events, artifacts, metrics, and more. It is designed to help teams deliver products in short cycles, adapt rapidly to change, accelerate time-to-market, and drive continuous improvement and innovation.
The book has been well received, earning an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars on Amazon (based on customer reviews at the time of writing), with praise for its clarity, organization, user-friendly tone, and helpful visuals. It has achieved notable success, including 17 first-place awards from prestigious programs such as the Beverly Hills Book Awards (Business and Technology categories), the London Book Festival (Business category), the Independent Press Award (Technology category), the National Indie Excellence Awards (Technology category), and others. It is a B.R.A.G. Medallion Honoree and has been recognized by BookAuthority as one of the top books on Agile. Content from the book has been quoted and cited in publications from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
This recognition from Grokipedia adds to Scott M. Graffius’ broader body of work — through which he has generated over $2.51 billion in business value for organizations across technology, entertainment, finance, healthcare, and other sectors — and underscores his continued commitment to helping individuals and teams achieve breakthrough results. The Grokipedia entry reflects the book's enduring relevance.
Explore the Grokipedia page for Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions.
Learn more and view purchase options for Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions on Amazon.
Bibliography
Graffius, S. M. (2016). Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions. CreateSpace.
Grokipedia. (n.d.). Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions (book). Grokipedia, accessed on March 23, 2026. https://grokipedia.com/page/agile_scrum_your_quick_start_guide_with_step_by_step_instructions_(book)
About Scott M. Graffius
Scott M. Graffius is a strategic transformation leader who drives AI, Agile, and broader business and technology initiatives to deliver measurable value across projects, programs, portfolios, and PMOs. He is an expert in the teamwork tradecraft of both human and human-AI teams, including the “exotic team dynamics” that emerge. He is also an authority on the temporal patterns of social media, including the half-life of audience engagement.
He’s a practitioner, researcher, thought leader, award-winning author, and keynote speaker who’s taken the stage at 97 conferences and other events across 25 countries.
He’s delivered over $2.3 billion in value for Fortune 500 companies and other leaders in technology, entertainment, financial services, healthcare, and beyond.
Businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities use Graffius and feature his work. Examples include Adobe, Bayer, Boston University, Ford, Gartner, Harvard Medical School, IEEE, Johns Hopkins University, Microsoft, MSN, National Academy of Sciences, Oracle, Pinterest Inc., Project Management Institute, UC San Diego, Verizon, Yale University, and others.
The following sections provide additional information on his experience, contributions, and influence.
Experience
Graffius heads the professional services firm Exceptional PPM and PMO Solutions, along with its subsidiary Exceptional Agility. These consultancies offer strategic and tactical advisory, training, embedded expertise, and consulting services to the public, private, and government sectors. They help organizations enhance their capabilities and results in agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership, supporting innovation and driving competitive advantage. The consultancies confidently back services with a Delighted Client Guarantee™.
Graffius is a former VP of project management with a publicly traded provider of diverse consumer products and services over the Internet. Before that, he ran and supervised the delivery of projects and programs in public and private organizations with businesses ranging from e-commerce to advanced technology products and services, retail, manufacturing, entertainment, and more.
He has experience with consumer, business, reseller, government, and international markets.
Award-Winning Author
Graffius has authored three books.
- Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions, his first book, earned 17 awards.
- Agile Transformation: A Brief Story of How an Entertainment Company Developed New Capabilities and Unlocked Business Agility to Thrive in an Era of Rapid Change, his second book, was named one of the best Scrum books of all time by BookAuthority.
- Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum, his third book and his first work of fiction, was released in April 2025. The book trailer is on YouTube.
International Public Speaker
Organizations worldwide engage Graffius to present on tech (including AI), Agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership. He crafts and delivers unique and compelling talks and workshops. Graffius has conducted 97 sessions across 25 countries. Select examples of events include Agile Trends Gov, BSides (Newcastle Upon Tyne), Conf42 Quantum Computing, DevDays Europe, DevOps Institute, DevOpsDays (Geneva), Frug’Agile, IEEE, Microsoft, Scottish Summit, Scrum Alliance RSG (Nepal), Techstars, and W Love Games International Video Game Development Conference (Helsinki), and more.
With an average rating of 4.81 (on a scale of 1-5), sessions are highly valued.
The speaker engagement request form is here.
Thought Leadership and Influence
Prominent businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities have showcased Graffius and his contributions—spanning his books, talks, workshops, and beyond. Select examples include:
- Adobe,
- American Management Association,
- Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute,
- Bayer,
- BMC Software,
- Boston University,
- Broadcom,
- Cisco,
- Coburg University of Applied Sciences and Arts - Germany,
- Computer Weekly,
- Constructor University - Germany,
- Data Governance Success,
- Deimos Aerospace,
- DevOps Institute,
- Dropbox,
- EU's European Commission,
- Ford Motor Company,
- Gartner,
- GoDaddy,
- Harvard Medical School,
- Hasso Plattner Institute - Germany,
- IEEE,
- Innovation Project Management,
- Johns Hopkins University,
- Journal of Neurosurgery,
- Lam Research (Semiconductors),
- Leadership Worthy,
- Life Sciences Trainers and Educators Network,
- London South Bank University,
- Microsoft,
- MSN,
- NASSCOM,
- National Academy of Sciences,
- New Zealand Government,
- Oracle,
- Pinterest Inc.,
- Project Management Institute,
- Mary Raum (Professor of National Security Affairs, United States Naval War College),
- SANS Institute,
- SBG Neumark - Germany,
- Singapore Institute of Technology,
- Torrens University - Australia,
- TBS Switzerland,
- Tufts University,
- UC San Diego,
- UK Sports Institute,
- University of Galway - Ireland,
- US Department of Energy,
- US National Park Service,
- US Soccer,
- US Tennis Association,
- Verizon,
- Wrike,
- Yale University,
- and many others.
Graffius has played a key role in the Project Management Institute (PMI) in developing professional standards. He was a member of multiple teams that authored, reviewed, and produced:
- Practice Standard for Work Breakdown Structures—Second Edition.
- A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge—Sixth Edition.
- The Standard for Program Management—Fourth Edition.
- The Practice Standard for Project Estimating—Second Edition.
Additional details are here.
He was also a subject matter expert reviewer of content for the PMI’s Congress. Beyond the PMI, Graffius also served as a member of the review team for two of the Scrum Alliance’s Global Scrum Gatherings.
Acclaimed Authority on Teamwork Tradecraft
Graffius is a renowned authority on teamwork tradecraft. Informed by the research of Bruce W. Tuckman and Mary Ann C. Jensen, over 150 subsequent studies, and Graffius' first-hand professional experience with, and analysis of, team leadership and performance, Graffius created his "Phases of Team Development" intellectual property as a unique perspective and visual conveying the five phases of team development. First introduced in 2008 and periodically updated, his work provides a diagnostic and strategic guide for navigating team dynamics. It provides actionable insights for leaders across industries to develop high-performance teams. Its adoption by esteemed organizations such as Yale University, IEEE, Cisco, Microsoft, Ford, Oracle, Broadcom, the U.S. National Park Service, and the Journal of Neurosurgery, among others, highlights its utility and value, solidifying its status as an indispensable resource for elevating team performance and driving organizational excellence. In 2026, Graffius added human-AI teamwork—including the "exotic team dynamics" which emerge when advanced AI collaborates as a teammate—to his "Phases of Team Development."
The 2026 edition of Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" intellectual property is here.
Expert on Temporal Dynamics on Social Media Platforms
Graffius is also an authority on temporal dynamics on social media platforms. His "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts" research—first published in 2018 and updated annually—delivers a precise quantitative analysis of post longevity across digital platforms, utilizing advanced statistical techniques to determine mean half-life with precision. It establishes a solid empirical base, effectively highlighting the ephemeral nature of content within social media ecosystems. Referenced and applied by leading entities—such as Fast Company, GoDaddy, Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume), Ministère de la Culture (French Ministry of Culture), Pinterest Inc., PNAS, and Telecommunications Policy, among others—his research exemplifies methodological rigor and sustained significance in the field of digital informatics.
The 2026 edition of Graffius "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts" research is here.
Education and Professional Certifications
Graffius has a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a focus in Human Factors. He holds eight professional certifications:
- Certified SAFe 6 Agilist (SA),
- Certified Scrum Professional - ScrumMaster (CSP-SM),
- Certified Scrum Professional - Product Owner (CSP-PO),
- Certified ScrumMaster (CSM),
- Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO),
- Project Management Professional (PMP),
- Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (LSSGB), and
- IT Service Management Foundation (ITIL).
He is an active member of the Scrum Alliance, the Project Management Institute (PMI), and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
Advancing AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management
Scott M. Graffius continues to advance the fields of AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management through his leadership, research, writing, and real-world impact. Businesses and other organizations leverage Graffius’ insights to drive their success.
Discover Scott’s Books
- Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions — Deliver Products in Short Cycles with Rapid Adaptation to Change, Fast Time-to-Market, and Continuous Improvement
- Agile Transformation: A Brief Story of How an Entertainment Company Developed New Capabilities and Unlocked Business Agility to Thrive in an Era of Rapid Change
- Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum
Connect with and follow Scott on LinkedIn, X, YouTube, Facebook, Threads, Bluesky, Mastodon, and ResearchGate.
Sign up for Miro—it's free!
(Want more features? You can always upgrade to a paid plan.)
List of Additional Articles
You may be interested in these stories.
Thinkers360 Honors Scott M. Graffius as a 2026 Top Agile Thought Leader
Agile's Journey Through the Decades: Update for 2026
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University of Waterloo Features Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" in Course Materials
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Handling the Saboteur Within: Lessons from a 3-Letter Agency on Spotting and Stopping Intentional and Unintentional Sabotage
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Most Valuable IT Certifications: Update for 2026
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10 Essential Agile Books: Curated Recommendations for Agile Professionals
Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts: Update for 2026
Scott M. Graffius' Research on the Half-Life of Social Media was Cited in a Peer-Reviewed Study Published in Telecommunications Policy, a Leading Academic Journal
Are AI Hallucinations Getting Better or Worse? We Analyzed the Data
Scott M. Graffius' Phases of Team Development - Applied to Human Teams and Human-AI Teams: 2026 Update
Lessons from Yesterday’s Tomorrowland
Scott M. Graffius’ Update to His "Phases of Team Development” Coming Early 2026
A Data-Driven Analysis of the Evolution of Project Management: Tasks, Trends, and AI
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Beep Beep! Why Wile E. Coyote Is the Patron Saint of AI Failure
Social Media Half-Life Research Cited in Prestigious Peer-Reviewed Medical Journal
Navigating the Spectrum of Advanced AI – Agentic, Autonomous, and Autopoietic
Lessons from Unhinged AI in Fiction: What Rogue AIs in Sci-Fi Storytelling, Films, and TV Shows Reveal About Us
Scott M. Graffius Contributed to and Reviewed the PMBOK Guide, 8th Edition — the Global Standard for Project Management
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Definitions of Advanced AIs: Agentic, Autonomous, and Autopoietic
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Gifts That Inspire Joy
Evergreen Echoes: How Pinterest Inc. and Pinterest Japan Spotlighted Scott M. Graffius’ Research on the Half-Life of Social Media Content
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Government of Finland Agency Features Graffius' Phases of Team Development IP
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Exotic Team Dynamics: The New Frontier of Human–AI Collaboration
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Climbing the Ladder: The Head of Agile/PMO’s Organizational Proximity to the CEO is Closer Than Ever
Harness Sci-Fi and Speculative Design While Embracing Imperfection to Drive Innovation and Proactively Predict and Prepare for the Future
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Setting Direction with OKRs and Tracking Progress with KPIs: A Guide for Agile, Project Management, and Tech Teams
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16 Causes of Technical Debt and How to Avoid It
PMI’s Infinity AI Gets the Basics of Team Development Alarmingly and Repeatedly Wrong
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How to Cite This Article
Graffius, S. M. (2026, March 23). "Agile Scrum" by Scott M. Graffius Now Featured on Grokipedia. ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/agile-scrum-book-by-scott-m-graffius-featured-on-grokipedia.html
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Coming soon.
Content Acknowledgements
Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions book by Scott M. Graffius is featured on Grokipedia.
Grokipedia name, mark, and content are the property of Grokipedia and/or X Corp.
This article includes limited excerpts of content from Grokipedia, attributed and used under fair use doctrine for purposes of news reporting, commentary, and analysis.
Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions is copyright © Scott M. Graffius. All rights reserved.
Tags and Hashtags
- Agile Scrum
- Scott M. Graffius
- Grokipedia
- Project Management
- Scrum Framework
- Agile Methodology
- Software Development
- #AgileScrum
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- #ProjectManagement
- #Grokipedia
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Post-Publication Notes
If there are any supplements or updates to this article after the date of publication, they will appear here.
Copyright
Copyright © Scott M. Graffius. All rights reserved.
Content on this site—including text, images, videos, and data—may not be used for training or input into any artificial intelligence, machine learning, or automatized learning systems, or published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the express written permission of Scott M. Graffius.
UNSW Aerospace Engineering Course Features Scott M. Graffius' "Phases of Team Development"
12 March 2026
BY SCOTT M. GRAFFIUS | ScottGraffius.com
Scott M. Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" intellectual property on teamwork tradecraft was featured in coursework for AERO4110 Aerospace Design 2 at the University of South Wales (UNSW Sydney), a globally recognized research university known for its strength in engineering and technology. The course is part of the School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, taught by Dr. Sonya A. Brown.
Excerpts are shown below.
Informed by the research of Bruce W. Tuckman and Mary Ann C. Jensen, over 150 subsequent studies, and Graffius' first-hand professional experience with, and analysis of, team leadership and performance, Graffius created his "Phases of Team Development" intellectual property as a unique perspective and visual conveying the five phases of team development. First introduced in 2008 and periodically updated, his work provides a diagnostic and strategic guide for navigating team dynamics. Leaders can apply the actionable insights to help advance the effectiveness and success of teams.
It has been adopted and relied upon by esteemed organizations, such as Adobe, Bayer, Boston University, Broadcom, Cisco, DevOps Institute, Finland Government, Hasso-Plattner-Institut für Digital Engineering GmbH, IEEE, Johns Hopkins University, Journal of Neurosurgery, Mary Raum (Professor of National Security Affairs, United States Naval War College), Microsoft, New Zealand Government, Oracle, Technical University of Munich, Tufts University, U.S. National Park Service, UCSD, Yale University, and many more.
In 2026, Graffius added human-AI teamwork—including the "exotic team dynamics" which emerge when advanced AI (agentic, autonomous, or autopoietic) collaborates as a teammate. A visual from the current (2026) edition is shown below and details are here.
The University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney) is a leading global research university based in Sydney, Australia. Founded in 1949, it is a member of Australia’s Group of Eight coalition of research-intensive universities and is widely recognized for excellence in engineering, technology, business, and the sciences. UNSW enrolls tens of thousands of students from around the world and consistently ranks among the top universities globally.
The Group of Eight (Go8) is a coalition of Australia’s leading research-intensive universities. Established in 1999, the organization represents eight universities that collectively produce a substantial share of Australia’s university research output and receive a significant portion of competitive research funding. Go8 universities are widely recognized for their strong performance in global rankings, extensive international collaborations, and contributions to scientific, technological, and economic development.
The School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering at UNSW Sydney is one of Australia’s leading engineering schools. The school conducts research and education across various areas, including aerospace engineering, advanced manufacturing, robotics, energy systems, and mechanical design. It offers undergraduate and postgraduate programs that emphasize industry engagement, multidisciplinary collaboration, and the practical application of engineering principles to complex technological challenges.
AERO4110 Aerospace Design 2 is an advanced undergraduate aerospace engineering course offered through the School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering at UNSW Sydney. The course focuses on the design and development of aerospace systems, emphasizing engineering analysis, collaborative design processes, and the application of multidisciplinary principles to aerospace engineering projects.
Dr. Sonya A. Brown is an academic in the School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering at UNSW Sydney. Her teaching includes aerospace engineering design courses such as AERO4110 Aerospace Design 2, where students apply engineering principles to complex aerospace design challenges in collaborative project environments.
Brown, S. A. (n.d.). Associate Professor Sonya Brown. UNSW Sydney. https://www.unsw.edu.au/staff/sonya-brown
Graffius, S. M. (2021, January 4). Using Bruce Tuckman's Phases of Team Development to Help Your Team Grow and Advance: 2021 Update. ScottGraffius.com. https://www.scottgraffius.com/blog/files/team-21.html
Graffius, S. M. (2026, January 23). Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts: Update for 2026. ScottGraffius.com. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.32407.43689
Group of Eight. (n.d.). About the Group of Eight. https://go8.edu.au/about
University of New South Wales. (n.d.). About UNSW Sydney. https://www.unsw.edu.au/about-us
University of New South Wales. (2021). AERO4110 Aerospace Design 2: Course outline. https://www.unsw.edu.au/engineering/sites/default/files/documents/AERO4110_CourseOutline_T2_2021_0.pdf
UNSW Sydney. (n.d.). School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering. https://www.unsw.edu.au/engineering/our-schools/mechanical-and-manufacturing-engineering
Scott M. Graffius is a strategic transformation leader who drives AI, Agile, and broader business and technology initiatives to deliver measurable value across projects, programs, portfolios, and PMOs. He is an expert in the teamwork tradecraft of both human and human-AI teams, including the “exotic team dynamics” that emerge. He is also an authority on the temporal patterns of social media, including the half-life of audience engagement.
He’s a practitioner, researcher, thought leader, award-winning author, and keynote speaker who’s taken the stage at 96 conferences and other events across 25 countries.
He’s delivered over $2.3 billion in value for Fortune 500 companies and other leaders in technology, entertainment, financial services, healthcare, and beyond.
Businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities use Graffius and feature his work. Examples include Adobe, Bayer, Boston University, Ford, Gartner, Harvard Medical School, IEEE, Johns Hopkins University, Microsoft, MSN, National Academy of Sciences, Oracle, Pinterest Inc., Project Management Institute, UC San Diego, Verizon, Yale University, and others.
The following sections provide additional information on his experience, contributions, and influence.
Experience
Graffius heads the professional services firm Exceptional PPM and PMO Solutions, along with its subsidiary Exceptional Agility. These consultancies offer strategic and tactical advisory, training, embedded expertise, and consulting services to the public, private, and government sectors. They help organizations enhance their capabilities and results in agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership, supporting innovation and driving competitive advantage. The consultancies confidently back services with a Delighted Client Guarantee™.
Graffius is a former VP of project management with a publicly traded provider of diverse consumer products and services over the Internet. Before that, he ran and supervised the delivery of projects and programs in public and private organizations with businesses ranging from e-commerce to advanced technology products and services, retail, manufacturing, entertainment, and more.
He has experience with consumer, business, reseller, government, and international markets.
Award-Winning Author
Graffius has authored three books.
International Public Speaker
Organizations worldwide engage Graffius to present on tech (including AI), Agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership. He crafts and delivers unique and compelling talks and workshops. Graffius has conducted 97 sessions across 25 countries. Select examples of events include Agile Trends Gov, BSides (Newcastle Upon Tyne), Conf42 Quantum Computing, DevDays Europe, DevOps Institute, DevOpsDays (Geneva), Frug’Agile, IEEE, Microsoft, Scottish Summit, Scrum Alliance RSG (Nepal), Techstars, and W Love Games International Video Game Development Conference (Helsinki), and more.
With an average rating of 4.81 (on a scale of 1-5), sessions are highly valued.
The speaker engagement request form is here.
Thought Leadership and Influence
Prominent businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities have showcased Graffius and his contributions—spanning his books, talks, workshops, and beyond. Select examples include:
Graffius has played a key role in the Project Management Institute (PMI) in developing professional standards. He was a member of multiple teams that authored, reviewed, and produced:
Additional details are here.
He was also a subject matter expert reviewer of content for the PMI’s Congress. Beyond the PMI, Graffius also served as a member of the review team for two of the Scrum Alliance’s Global Scrum Gatherings.
Acclaimed Authority on Teamwork Tradecraft
Graffius is a renowned authority on teamwork tradecraft. Informed by the research of Bruce W. Tuckman and Mary Ann C. Jensen, over 150 subsequent studies, and Graffius' first-hand professional experience with, and analysis of, team leadership and performance, Graffius created his "Phases of Team Development" intellectual property as a unique perspective and visual conveying the five phases of team development. First introduced in 2008 and periodically updated, his work provides a diagnostic and strategic guide for navigating team dynamics. It provides actionable insights for leaders across industries to develop high-performance teams. Its adoption by esteemed organizations such as Yale University, IEEE, Cisco, Microsoft, Ford, Oracle, Broadcom, the U.S. National Park Service, and the Journal of Neurosurgery, among others, highlights its utility and value, solidifying its status as an indispensable resource for elevating team performance and driving organizational excellence. In 2026, Graffius added human-AI teamwork—including the "exotic team dynamics" which emerge when advanced AI collaborates as a teammate—to his "Phases of Team Development."
The 2026 edition of Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" intellectual property is here.
Expert on Temporal Dynamics on Social Media Platforms
Graffius is also an authority on temporal dynamics on social media platforms. His "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts" research—first published in 2018 and updated annually—delivers a precise quantitative analysis of post longevity across digital platforms, utilizing advanced statistical techniques to determine mean half-life with precision. It establishes a solid empirical base, effectively highlighting the ephemeral nature of content within social media ecosystems. Referenced and applied by leading entities—such as Fast Company, GoDaddy, Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume), Ministère de la Culture (French Ministry of Culture), Pinterest Inc., PNAS, and Telecommunications Policy, among others—his research exemplifies methodological rigor and sustained significance in the field of digital informatics.
The 2026 edition of Graffius "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts" research is here.
Education and Professional Certifications
Graffius has a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a focus in Human Factors. He holds eight professional certifications:
He is an active member of the Scrum Alliance, the Project Management Institute (PMI), and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
Advancing AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management
Scott M. Graffius continues to advance the fields of AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management through his leadership, research, writing, and real-world impact. Businesses and other organizations leverage Graffius’ insights to drive their success.
Discover Scott’s Books
Connect with and follow Scott on LinkedIn, X, YouTube, Facebook, Threads, Bluesky, Mastodon, and ResearchGate.
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Graffius, S. M. (2026, March 12). UNSW Aerospace Engineering Course Features Scott M. Graffius' "Phases of Team Development". ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/unsw-features-phases-of-team-development-by-scott-m-graffius.html
Coming soon.
Scott M. Graffius' “Phases of Team Development” intellectual property on teamwork tradecraft was featured in coursework for AERO4110 Aerospace Design 2 at the University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney), a globally recognized research university known for its strength in engineering and technology. The course is part of the School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering and was taught by Dr. Sonya A. Brown.
The respective coursework is the property of Dr. Sonya A. Brown and UNSW Sydney.
UNSW Sydney name, mark, and content are the property of UNSW Sydney.
This article includes limited excerpts of content from Dr. Sonya A. Brown and UNSW Sydney, attributed and used under fair use for news reporting and analysis.
Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" is copyright © Scott M. Graffius. All rights reserved.
If there are any supplements or updates to this article after the date of publication, they will appear here.
Copyright © Scott M. Graffius. All rights reserved.
Content on this site—including text, images, videos, and data—may not be used for training or input into any artificial intelligence, machine learning, or automatized learning systems, or published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the express written permission of Scott M. Graffius.
Aerospace Design Course Features Graffius' Work on Teamwork Tradecraft
Scott M. Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" intellectual property on teamwork tradecraft was featured in coursework for AERO4110 Aerospace Design 2 at the University of South Wales (UNSW Sydney), a globally recognized research university known for its strength in engineering and technology. The course is part of the School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, taught by Dr. Sonya A. Brown.
Excerpts are shown below.
About Graffius' "Phases of Team Development"
Informed by the research of Bruce W. Tuckman and Mary Ann C. Jensen, over 150 subsequent studies, and Graffius' first-hand professional experience with, and analysis of, team leadership and performance, Graffius created his "Phases of Team Development" intellectual property as a unique perspective and visual conveying the five phases of team development. First introduced in 2008 and periodically updated, his work provides a diagnostic and strategic guide for navigating team dynamics. Leaders can apply the actionable insights to help advance the effectiveness and success of teams.
It has been adopted and relied upon by esteemed organizations, such as Adobe, Bayer, Boston University, Broadcom, Cisco, DevOps Institute, Finland Government, Hasso-Plattner-Institut für Digital Engineering GmbH, IEEE, Johns Hopkins University, Journal of Neurosurgery, Mary Raum (Professor of National Security Affairs, United States Naval War College), Microsoft, New Zealand Government, Oracle, Technical University of Munich, Tufts University, U.S. National Park Service, UCSD, Yale University, and many more.
In 2026, Graffius added human-AI teamwork—including the "exotic team dynamics" which emerge when advanced AI (agentic, autonomous, or autopoietic) collaborates as a teammate. A visual from the current (2026) edition is shown below and details are here.
About UNSW Sydney
The University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney) is a leading global research university based in Sydney, Australia. Founded in 1949, it is a member of Australia’s Group of Eight coalition of research-intensive universities and is widely recognized for excellence in engineering, technology, business, and the sciences. UNSW enrolls tens of thousands of students from around the world and consistently ranks among the top universities globally.
About the Group of Eight Universities
The Group of Eight (Go8) is a coalition of Australia’s leading research-intensive universities. Established in 1999, the organization represents eight universities that collectively produce a substantial share of Australia’s university research output and receive a significant portion of competitive research funding. Go8 universities are widely recognized for their strong performance in global rankings, extensive international collaborations, and contributions to scientific, technological, and economic development.
About the School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering
The School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering at UNSW Sydney is one of Australia’s leading engineering schools. The school conducts research and education across various areas, including aerospace engineering, advanced manufacturing, robotics, energy systems, and mechanical design. It offers undergraduate and postgraduate programs that emphasize industry engagement, multidisciplinary collaboration, and the practical application of engineering principles to complex technological challenges.
About AERO4110 Course
AERO4110 Aerospace Design 2 is an advanced undergraduate aerospace engineering course offered through the School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering at UNSW Sydney. The course focuses on the design and development of aerospace systems, emphasizing engineering analysis, collaborative design processes, and the application of multidisciplinary principles to aerospace engineering projects.
About Instructor Dr. Sonya A. Brown
Dr. Sonya A. Brown is an academic in the School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering at UNSW Sydney. Her teaching includes aerospace engineering design courses such as AERO4110 Aerospace Design 2, where students apply engineering principles to complex aerospace design challenges in collaborative project environments.
Bibliography
Brown, S. A. (n.d.). Associate Professor Sonya Brown. UNSW Sydney. https://www.unsw.edu.au/staff/sonya-brown
Graffius, S. M. (2021, January 4). Using Bruce Tuckman's Phases of Team Development to Help Your Team Grow and Advance: 2021 Update. ScottGraffius.com. https://www.scottgraffius.com/blog/files/team-21.html
Graffius, S. M. (2026, January 23). Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts: Update for 2026. ScottGraffius.com. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.32407.43689
Group of Eight. (n.d.). About the Group of Eight. https://go8.edu.au/about
University of New South Wales. (n.d.). About UNSW Sydney. https://www.unsw.edu.au/about-us
University of New South Wales. (2021). AERO4110 Aerospace Design 2: Course outline. https://www.unsw.edu.au/engineering/sites/default/files/documents/AERO4110_CourseOutline_T2_2021_0.pdf
UNSW Sydney. (n.d.). School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering. https://www.unsw.edu.au/engineering/our-schools/mechanical-and-manufacturing-engineering
About Scott M. Graffius
Scott M. Graffius is a strategic transformation leader who drives AI, Agile, and broader business and technology initiatives to deliver measurable value across projects, programs, portfolios, and PMOs. He is an expert in the teamwork tradecraft of both human and human-AI teams, including the “exotic team dynamics” that emerge. He is also an authority on the temporal patterns of social media, including the half-life of audience engagement.
He’s a practitioner, researcher, thought leader, award-winning author, and keynote speaker who’s taken the stage at 96 conferences and other events across 25 countries.
He’s delivered over $2.3 billion in value for Fortune 500 companies and other leaders in technology, entertainment, financial services, healthcare, and beyond.
Businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities use Graffius and feature his work. Examples include Adobe, Bayer, Boston University, Ford, Gartner, Harvard Medical School, IEEE, Johns Hopkins University, Microsoft, MSN, National Academy of Sciences, Oracle, Pinterest Inc., Project Management Institute, UC San Diego, Verizon, Yale University, and others.
The following sections provide additional information on his experience, contributions, and influence.
Experience
Graffius heads the professional services firm Exceptional PPM and PMO Solutions, along with its subsidiary Exceptional Agility. These consultancies offer strategic and tactical advisory, training, embedded expertise, and consulting services to the public, private, and government sectors. They help organizations enhance their capabilities and results in agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership, supporting innovation and driving competitive advantage. The consultancies confidently back services with a Delighted Client Guarantee™.
Graffius is a former VP of project management with a publicly traded provider of diverse consumer products and services over the Internet. Before that, he ran and supervised the delivery of projects and programs in public and private organizations with businesses ranging from e-commerce to advanced technology products and services, retail, manufacturing, entertainment, and more.
He has experience with consumer, business, reseller, government, and international markets.
Award-Winning Author
Graffius has authored three books.
- Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions, his first book, earned 17 awards.
- Agile Transformation: A Brief Story of How an Entertainment Company Developed New Capabilities and Unlocked Business Agility to Thrive in an Era of Rapid Change, his second book, was named one of the best Scrum books of all time by BookAuthority.
- Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum, his third book and his first work of fiction, was released in April 2025. The book trailer is on YouTube.
International Public Speaker
Organizations worldwide engage Graffius to present on tech (including AI), Agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership. He crafts and delivers unique and compelling talks and workshops. Graffius has conducted 97 sessions across 25 countries. Select examples of events include Agile Trends Gov, BSides (Newcastle Upon Tyne), Conf42 Quantum Computing, DevDays Europe, DevOps Institute, DevOpsDays (Geneva), Frug’Agile, IEEE, Microsoft, Scottish Summit, Scrum Alliance RSG (Nepal), Techstars, and W Love Games International Video Game Development Conference (Helsinki), and more.
With an average rating of 4.81 (on a scale of 1-5), sessions are highly valued.
The speaker engagement request form is here.
Thought Leadership and Influence
Prominent businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities have showcased Graffius and his contributions—spanning his books, talks, workshops, and beyond. Select examples include:
- Adobe,
- American Management Association,
- Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute,
- Bayer,
- BMC Software,
- Boston University,
- Broadcom,
- Cisco,
- Coburg University of Applied Sciences and Arts - Germany,
- Computer Weekly,
- Constructor University - Germany,
- Data Governance Success,
- Deimos Aerospace,
- DevOps Institute,
- Dropbox,
- EU's European Commission,
- Ford Motor Company,
- Gartner,
- GoDaddy,
- Harvard Medical School,
- Hasso Plattner Institute - Germany,
- IEEE,
- Innovation Project Management,
- Johns Hopkins University,
- Journal of Neurosurgery,
- Lam Research (Semiconductors),
- Leadership Worthy,
- Life Sciences Trainers and Educators Network,
- London South Bank University,
- Microsoft,
- MSN,
- NASSCOM,
- National Academy of Sciences,
- New Zealand Government,
- Oracle,
- Pinterest Inc.,
- Project Management Institute,
- Mary Raum (Professor of National Security Affairs, United States Naval War College),
- SANS Institute,
- SBG Neumark - Germany,
- Singapore Institute of Technology,
- Torrens University - Australia,
- TBS Switzerland,
- Tufts University,
- UC San Diego,
- UK Sports Institute,
- University of Galway - Ireland,
- US Department of Energy,
- US National Park Service,
- US Soccer,
- US Tennis Association,
- Verizon,
- Wrike,
- Yale University,
- and many others.
Graffius has played a key role in the Project Management Institute (PMI) in developing professional standards. He was a member of multiple teams that authored, reviewed, and produced:
- Practice Standard for Work Breakdown Structures—Second Edition.
- A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge—Sixth Edition.
- The Standard for Program Management—Fourth Edition.
- The Practice Standard for Project Estimating—Second Edition.
Additional details are here.
He was also a subject matter expert reviewer of content for the PMI’s Congress. Beyond the PMI, Graffius also served as a member of the review team for two of the Scrum Alliance’s Global Scrum Gatherings.
Acclaimed Authority on Teamwork Tradecraft
Graffius is a renowned authority on teamwork tradecraft. Informed by the research of Bruce W. Tuckman and Mary Ann C. Jensen, over 150 subsequent studies, and Graffius' first-hand professional experience with, and analysis of, team leadership and performance, Graffius created his "Phases of Team Development" intellectual property as a unique perspective and visual conveying the five phases of team development. First introduced in 2008 and periodically updated, his work provides a diagnostic and strategic guide for navigating team dynamics. It provides actionable insights for leaders across industries to develop high-performance teams. Its adoption by esteemed organizations such as Yale University, IEEE, Cisco, Microsoft, Ford, Oracle, Broadcom, the U.S. National Park Service, and the Journal of Neurosurgery, among others, highlights its utility and value, solidifying its status as an indispensable resource for elevating team performance and driving organizational excellence. In 2026, Graffius added human-AI teamwork—including the "exotic team dynamics" which emerge when advanced AI collaborates as a teammate—to his "Phases of Team Development."
The 2026 edition of Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" intellectual property is here.
Expert on Temporal Dynamics on Social Media Platforms
Graffius is also an authority on temporal dynamics on social media platforms. His "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts" research—first published in 2018 and updated annually—delivers a precise quantitative analysis of post longevity across digital platforms, utilizing advanced statistical techniques to determine mean half-life with precision. It establishes a solid empirical base, effectively highlighting the ephemeral nature of content within social media ecosystems. Referenced and applied by leading entities—such as Fast Company, GoDaddy, Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume), Ministère de la Culture (French Ministry of Culture), Pinterest Inc., PNAS, and Telecommunications Policy, among others—his research exemplifies methodological rigor and sustained significance in the field of digital informatics.
The 2026 edition of Graffius "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts" research is here.
Education and Professional Certifications
Graffius has a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a focus in Human Factors. He holds eight professional certifications:
- Certified SAFe 6 Agilist (SA),
- Certified Scrum Professional - ScrumMaster (CSP-SM),
- Certified Scrum Professional - Product Owner (CSP-PO),
- Certified ScrumMaster (CSM),
- Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO),
- Project Management Professional (PMP),
- Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (LSSGB), and
- IT Service Management Foundation (ITIL).
He is an active member of the Scrum Alliance, the Project Management Institute (PMI), and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
Advancing AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management
Scott M. Graffius continues to advance the fields of AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management through his leadership, research, writing, and real-world impact. Businesses and other organizations leverage Graffius’ insights to drive their success.
Discover Scott’s Books
- Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions — Deliver Products in Short Cycles with Rapid Adaptation to Change, Fast Time-to-Market, and Continuous Improvement
- Agile Transformation: A Brief Story of How an Entertainment Company Developed New Capabilities and Unlocked Business Agility to Thrive in an Era of Rapid Change
- Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum
Connect with and follow Scott on LinkedIn, X, YouTube, Facebook, Threads, Bluesky, Mastodon, and ResearchGate.
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Scott M. Graffius’ Work Featured at ACM DIS ’25
Climbing the Ladder: The Head of Agile/PMO’s Organizational Proximity to the CEO is Closer Than Ever
Harness Sci-Fi and Speculative Design While Embracing Imperfection to Drive Innovation and Proactively Predict and Prepare for the Future
Scott M. Graffius’ “Agile Scrum” Book Featured in a Publication of the Associação Nacional de Educação Católica do Brasil (ANEC)
Setting Direction with OKRs and Tracking Progress with KPIs: A Guide for Agile, Project Management, and Tech Teams
AI Showcase Showdown: Ranking AI Accuracy on Project Management Basics
BookAuthority Features “Agile Scrum” by Scott M. Graffius in “10 Agile Software Development Books That Define the Field”
Exploring Team Dynamics, Adaptability, and Creative Problem-Solving Through Felix the Cat’s Metaphorical Toolkit
Mind Games and Master Plans: How PsyOps Exploit Psychological Phenomena
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Meta and Anduril’s EagleEye and the Future of XR: How Gaming, AI, and Agile Are Transforming Defense
"Agile Protocol" and the Power of Satire, Parody, and Humor
AI in Agile: Benefits, Risks, Outlook
Hostinger Highlights Scott M. Graffius’ “Agile Protocol” Book in Feature on Software Projects
French Ministry of Culture Links to Scott M. Graffius Research in Their Guide for Responsible Digital Communication
National Science Foundation’s LTER Network Features Scott M. Graffius’ Phases of Team Development IP
Waterfall vs. Agile: What’s Fixed, What’s Flexible, and Why It Matters
Scott M. Graffius Delivering $2.3 Billion in Value Through AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Leadership
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“Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum” Lands on the Amazon Best Sellers List!
Scott M. Graffius Recognized as a Top Thought Leader in Digital Disruption by Thinkers360
“Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum” by Scott M. Graffius Crashes the Book Scene with Satirical Firepower
NCKU in Taiwan Integrates Graffius' 'Phases of Team Development' into Its Curriculum
The Art and Science of Aligning Initiatives with Strategic Objectives
RGPV University Adds Scott M. Graffius’ "Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions" to Its Syllabus
Introducing ‘Engage or Fade: Decoding the Half-Life of Digital Resonance’ – A New Talk by Scott M. Graffius
Dropbox Company (Nira) Taps into Scott M. Graffius’ Expertise in Strategic Planning
Reporting Errors in a Publication: A Case Study on ‘Frontiers in Public Health’
NESEA Conference Session on Innovation Highlights Scott M. Graffius' 'Phases of Team Development'
U.S. Soccer Scores with Scott M. Graffius' Intellectual Property on Teamwork
U.S. Department of Commerce Partner (IEDC) Features Scott M. Graffius’ Intellectual Property
How Long Do Your Posts Live? AI Critiques Scott M. Graffius’ Research on the Half-Life of Social Media
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Scott M. Graffius' Role in Advancing Project Management Institute (PMI) Standards Excellence
Most Valuable IT Certifications: Update for 2025
The PMI + Agile Alliance Merger: A Recipe for Success?
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Scott M. Graffius’ Phases of Team Development: 2025 Update
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Verizon Features Scott M. Graffius
Do Not Read This Article! An Exploration of the Streisand Effect and Other Phenomena
Scott M. Graffius' 'Phases of Team Development' was Spotlighted in Journal of Neurosurgery
Pinterest Japan Uses Graffius’ Research on Temporal Dynamics on Social Media Platforms
Hochschule Coburg (Coburg University) Germany Uses Scott M. Graffius’ Phases of Team Development IP in Coursework on Agile Development
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EU Europass Teacher Academy Features Scott M. Graffius’ ‘Phases of Team Development’ in Leadership Training
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Constructor University 2024 Advanced Software Technology Handbook References Scott M. Graffius' Work on Team Dynamics
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SBG Neumark — Europe’s Largest Distribution Transformer Plant — Powers Up with Scott M. Graffius’ Intellectual Property
Scott M. Graffius’ Intellectual Property was Employed by the NHS — the Largest Single-Payer Healthcare System in Europe
Luxury Unwrapped: The Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide for Every Budget
Singapore Institute of Technology Features Work of Scott M. Graffius
Tufts University Features Scott M. Graffius 'Phases of Team Development' Intellectual Property
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Pinterest Inc. References Scott M. Graffius’ Research
Bournemouth University Used Scott M. Graffius’ Intellectual Property
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Thinkers360 Named Scott M. Graffius a Top Thought Leader on Agile
More articles are listed here.
How to Cite This Article
Graffius, S. M. (2026, March 12). UNSW Aerospace Engineering Course Features Scott M. Graffius' "Phases of Team Development". ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/unsw-features-phases-of-team-development-by-scott-m-graffius.html
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Coming soon.
Content Acknowledgements
Scott M. Graffius' “Phases of Team Development” intellectual property on teamwork tradecraft was featured in coursework for AERO4110 Aerospace Design 2 at the University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney), a globally recognized research university known for its strength in engineering and technology. The course is part of the School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering and was taught by Dr. Sonya A. Brown.
The respective coursework is the property of Dr. Sonya A. Brown and UNSW Sydney.
UNSW Sydney name, mark, and content are the property of UNSW Sydney.
This article includes limited excerpts of content from Dr. Sonya A. Brown and UNSW Sydney, attributed and used under fair use for news reporting and analysis.
Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" is copyright © Scott M. Graffius. All rights reserved.
Tags and Hashtags
- Phases of Team Development
- University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney)
- Team Dynamics, Development, and Leadership
- Teamwork Tradecraft
- AERO4110 Aerospace Design 2 at UNSW Sydney
- School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering
- #TeamDevelopment
- #BusinessSchool
- #Leadership
- #Innovation
- #PhasesOfTeamDevelopment
- #UNSW
- #Aerospace
Post-Publication Notes
If there are any supplements or updates to this article after the date of publication, they will appear here.
Copyright
Copyright © Scott M. Graffius. All rights reserved.
Content on this site—including text, images, videos, and data—may not be used for training or input into any artificial intelligence, machine learning, or automatized learning systems, or published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the express written permission of Scott M. Graffius.
Thinkers360 Honors Scott M. Graffius as a 2026 Top Agile Thought Leader
04 March 2026
BY SCOTT M. GRAFFIUS | ScottGraffius.com
Graffius, S. M. (2026, March 4). Thinkers360 Honors Scott M. Graffius as a 2026 Top Agile Thought Leader. ScottGraffius.com. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.18793.15200
Scott M. Graffius has earned recognition as a leading global thought leader and influencer on Agile in Thinkers360's 2026 annual ranking, which is determined by the platform's patented algorithm that measures impact through articles, books, speaking engagements, and other contributions. This accolade highlights his influential work in advancing Agile, AI-integrated project management, and high performing teams (both human and human-AI, including the "exotic team dynamics" which emerge when agentic, autonomous, or autopoietic artificial intelligence collaborates as a teammate).
The honor reflects his dedication to providing actionable insights that empower organizations to thrive in the face of challenges and drive meaningful results. This achievement celebrates the vital role of thought leadership in evolving Agile methodologies and shaping successful outcomes worldwide.
Excerpts from Thinkers360 are shown below.
Next is the bibliography, which includes links to sources. It's followed by additional information on Thinkers360 and Graffius.
This is the select bibliography.
Graffius, S. M. (n.d.). Speaker. ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/publicspeaker.html
Graffius, S. M. (n.d.). Thought Leader. ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/thoughtleaderandinfluencer.html
Graffius, S. M. (2016). Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions. CreateSpace.
Graffius, S. M. (2019). Agile Transformation: A Brief Story of How an Entertainment Company Developed New Capabilities and Unlocked Business Agility to Thrive in an Era of Rapid Change. CreateSpace.
Graffius, S. M. (2025). Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum. Amazon Digital Services.
Graffius, S. M. (2025, June 2). Meta and Anduril’s EagleEye and the Future of XR: How Gaming, AI, and Agile Are Transforming Defense. ScottGraffius.com. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.26938.45766
Graffius, S. M. (2025, September 12). Scott M. Graffius’ Insights on AI, Agile, Gaming, XR, and Defense Transformation Cited by MSN in Their Coverage of Innovation and Leadership in the Sector. ScottGraffius.com. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.27667.95527
Graffius, S. M. (2025, November 13). Scott M. Graffius Contributed to and Reviewed the PMBOK Guide, 8th Edition — the Global Standard for Project Management. ScottGraffius.com. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.25557.69601
Graffius, S. M. (2026, January 3). Scott M. Graffius' Phases of Team Development - Applied to Human Teams and Human-AI Teams: 2026 Update. ScottGraffius.com. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.18184.89601
Thinkers360. (2026, March 2). Congrats to the Top 50 Global Thought Leaders and Influencers on Agile 2026! [LinkedIn post]. LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/thinkers360_agile-thoughtleadership-influencers-activity-7434611000403718144-9iJK
Thinkers360. (2026, March 2). Top 50 global thought leaders and influencers on agile 2026. Thinkers360. https://www.thinkers360.com/top-50-global-thought-leaders-and-influencers-on-agile-2026/
Additional content is available here.
Thinkers360 is the world’s first, largest, and premier open platform for thought leaders and influencers. It covers academics, advisors, analysts, authors, consultants, executives, speakers, and others. The platform's approach to rating factors each candidate’s diverse contributions and content such as articles, books, media coverage, podcasts, social media, speaking events, videos, and more. Thinkers360 has over 100 million followers on social media combined.
Scott M. Graffius is a strategic transformation leader who drives AI, Agile, and broader business and technology initiatives to deliver measurable value across projects, programs, portfolios, and PMOs. He is an expert in the teamwork tradecraft of both human and human-AI teams, including the “exotic team dynamics” that emerge. He is also an authority on the temporal patterns of social media, including the half-life of audience engagement.
He’s a practitioner, researcher, thought leader, award-winning author, and keynote speaker who’s taken the stage at 96 conferences and other events across 25 countries.
He’s delivered over $2.3 billion in value for Fortune 500 companies and other leaders in technology, entertainment, financial services, healthcare, and beyond.
Businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities use Graffius and feature his work. Examples include Adobe, Bayer, Boston University, Ford, Gartner, Harvard Medical School, IEEE, Johns Hopkins University, Microsoft, MSN, National Academy of Sciences, Oracle, Pinterest Inc., Project Management Institute, UC San Diego, Verizon, Yale University, and others.
The following sections provide additional information on his experience, contributions, and influence.
Experience
Graffius heads the professional services firm Exceptional PPM and PMO Solutions, along with its subsidiary Exceptional Agility. These consultancies offer strategic and tactical advisory, training, embedded expertise, and consulting services to the public, private, and government sectors. They help organizations enhance their capabilities and results in agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership, supporting innovation and driving competitive advantage. The consultancies confidently back services with a Delighted Client Guarantee™.
Graffius is a former VP of project management with a publicly traded provider of diverse consumer products and services over the Internet. Before that, he ran and supervised the delivery of projects and programs in public and private organizations with businesses ranging from e-commerce to advanced technology products and services, retail, manufacturing, entertainment, and more.
He has experience with consumer, business, reseller, government, and international markets.
Award-Winning Author
Graffius has authored three books.
International Public Speaker
Organizations worldwide engage Graffius to present on tech (including AI), Agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership. He crafts and delivers unique and compelling talks and workshops. Graffius has conducted 97 sessions across 25 countries. Select examples of events include Agile Trends Gov, BSides (Newcastle Upon Tyne), Conf42 Quantum Computing, DevDays Europe, DevOps Institute, DevOpsDays (Geneva), Frug’Agile, IEEE, Microsoft, Scottish Summit, Scrum Alliance RSG (Nepal), Techstars, and W Love Games International Video Game Development Conference (Helsinki), and more.
With an average rating of 4.81 (on a scale of 1-5), sessions are highly valued.
The speaker engagement request form is here.
Thought Leadership and Influence
Prominent businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities have showcased Graffius and his contributions—spanning his books, talks, workshops, and beyond. Select examples include:
Graffius has played a key role in the Project Management Institute (PMI) in developing professional standards. He was a member of multiple teams that authored, reviewed, and produced:
Additional details are here.
He was also a subject matter expert reviewer of content for the PMI’s Congress. Beyond the PMI, Graffius also served as a member of the review team for two of the Scrum Alliance’s Global Scrum Gatherings.
Acclaimed Authority on Teamwork Tradecraft
Graffius is a renowned authority on teamwork tradecraft. Informed by the research of Bruce W. Tuckman and Mary Ann C. Jensen, over 150 subsequent studies, and Graffius' first-hand professional experience with, and analysis of, team leadership and performance, Graffius created his "Phases of Team Development" intellectual property as a unique perspective and visual conveying the five phases of team development. First introduced in 2008 and periodically updated, his work provides a diagnostic and strategic guide for navigating team dynamics. It provides actionable insights for leaders across industries to develop high-performance teams. Its adoption by esteemed organizations such as Yale University, IEEE, Cisco, Microsoft, Ford, Oracle, Broadcom, the U.S. National Park Service, and the Journal of Neurosurgery, among others, highlights its utility and value, solidifying its status as an indispensable resource for elevating team performance and driving organizational excellence. In 2026, Graffius added human-AI teamwork—including the "exotic team dynamics" which emerge when advanced AI collaborates as a teammate—to his "Phases of Team Development."
The 2026 edition of Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" intellectual property is here.
Expert on Temporal Dynamics on Social Media Platforms
Graffius is also an authority on temporal dynamics on social media platforms. His "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts" research—first published in 2018 and updated annually—delivers a precise quantitative analysis of post longevity across digital platforms, utilizing advanced statistical techniques to determine mean half-life with precision. It establishes a solid empirical base, effectively highlighting the ephemeral nature of content within social media ecosystems. Referenced and applied by leading entities—such as Fast Company, GoDaddy, Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume), Ministère de la Culture (French Ministry of Culture), Pinterest Inc., PNAS, and Telecommunications Policy, among others—his research exemplifies methodological rigor and sustained significance in the field of digital informatics.
The 2026 edition of Graffius "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts" research is here.
Education and Professional Certifications
Graffius has a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a focus in Human Factors. He holds eight professional certifications:
He is an active member of the Scrum Alliance, the Project Management Institute (PMI), and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
Advancing AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management
Scott M. Graffius continues to advance the fields of AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management through his leadership, research, writing, and real-world impact. Businesses and other organizations leverage Graffius’ insights to drive their success.
Discover Scott’s Books
Connect with and follow Scott on LinkedIn, X, YouTube, Facebook, Threads, Bluesky, Mastodon, and ResearchGate.
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More articles are listed here.
Graffius, S. M. (2026, March 4). Thinkers360 Honors Scott M. Graffius as a 2026 Top Agile Thought Leader. ScottGraffius.com. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.18793.15200
https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.18793.15200
Names, marks, and content are the property of their respective owners.
This article includes brief excerpts from Thinkers360, attributed and used under fair use for news reporting and analysis.
Thinkers360 name and mark are the property of Thinkers360.
If there are any supplements or updates to this article after the date of publication, they will appear here.
Copyright © Scott M. Graffius. All rights reserved.
Content on this site—including text, images, videos, and data—may not be used for training or input into any artificial intelligence, machine learning, or automatized learning systems, or published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the express written permission of Scott M. Graffius.
Graffius, S. M. (2026, March 4). Thinkers360 Honors Scott M. Graffius as a 2026 Top Agile Thought Leader. ScottGraffius.com. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.18793.15200
Agile Thought Leader and Influencer
Scott M. Graffius has earned recognition as a leading global thought leader and influencer on Agile in Thinkers360's 2026 annual ranking, which is determined by the platform's patented algorithm that measures impact through articles, books, speaking engagements, and other contributions. This accolade highlights his influential work in advancing Agile, AI-integrated project management, and high performing teams (both human and human-AI, including the "exotic team dynamics" which emerge when agentic, autonomous, or autopoietic artificial intelligence collaborates as a teammate).
The honor reflects his dedication to providing actionable insights that empower organizations to thrive in the face of challenges and drive meaningful results. This achievement celebrates the vital role of thought leadership in evolving Agile methodologies and shaping successful outcomes worldwide.
Excerpts from Thinkers360 are shown below.
Next is the bibliography, which includes links to sources. It's followed by additional information on Thinkers360 and Graffius.
Bibliography
This is the select bibliography.
Graffius, S. M. (n.d.). Speaker. ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/publicspeaker.html
Graffius, S. M. (n.d.). Thought Leader. ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/thoughtleaderandinfluencer.html
Graffius, S. M. (2016). Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions. CreateSpace.
Graffius, S. M. (2019). Agile Transformation: A Brief Story of How an Entertainment Company Developed New Capabilities and Unlocked Business Agility to Thrive in an Era of Rapid Change. CreateSpace.
Graffius, S. M. (2025). Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum. Amazon Digital Services.
Graffius, S. M. (2025, June 2). Meta and Anduril’s EagleEye and the Future of XR: How Gaming, AI, and Agile Are Transforming Defense. ScottGraffius.com. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.26938.45766
Graffius, S. M. (2025, September 12). Scott M. Graffius’ Insights on AI, Agile, Gaming, XR, and Defense Transformation Cited by MSN in Their Coverage of Innovation and Leadership in the Sector. ScottGraffius.com. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.27667.95527
Graffius, S. M. (2025, November 13). Scott M. Graffius Contributed to and Reviewed the PMBOK Guide, 8th Edition — the Global Standard for Project Management. ScottGraffius.com. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.25557.69601
Graffius, S. M. (2026, January 3). Scott M. Graffius' Phases of Team Development - Applied to Human Teams and Human-AI Teams: 2026 Update. ScottGraffius.com. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.18184.89601
Thinkers360. (2026, March 2). Congrats to the Top 50 Global Thought Leaders and Influencers on Agile 2026! [LinkedIn post]. LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/thinkers360_agile-thoughtleadership-influencers-activity-7434611000403718144-9iJK
Thinkers360. (2026, March 2). Top 50 global thought leaders and influencers on agile 2026. Thinkers360. https://www.thinkers360.com/top-50-global-thought-leaders-and-influencers-on-agile-2026/
Additional content is available here.
About Thinkers360
Thinkers360 is the world’s first, largest, and premier open platform for thought leaders and influencers. It covers academics, advisors, analysts, authors, consultants, executives, speakers, and others. The platform's approach to rating factors each candidate’s diverse contributions and content such as articles, books, media coverage, podcasts, social media, speaking events, videos, and more. Thinkers360 has over 100 million followers on social media combined.
About Scott M. Graffius
Scott M. Graffius is a strategic transformation leader who drives AI, Agile, and broader business and technology initiatives to deliver measurable value across projects, programs, portfolios, and PMOs. He is an expert in the teamwork tradecraft of both human and human-AI teams, including the “exotic team dynamics” that emerge. He is also an authority on the temporal patterns of social media, including the half-life of audience engagement.
He’s a practitioner, researcher, thought leader, award-winning author, and keynote speaker who’s taken the stage at 96 conferences and other events across 25 countries.
He’s delivered over $2.3 billion in value for Fortune 500 companies and other leaders in technology, entertainment, financial services, healthcare, and beyond.
Businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities use Graffius and feature his work. Examples include Adobe, Bayer, Boston University, Ford, Gartner, Harvard Medical School, IEEE, Johns Hopkins University, Microsoft, MSN, National Academy of Sciences, Oracle, Pinterest Inc., Project Management Institute, UC San Diego, Verizon, Yale University, and others.
The following sections provide additional information on his experience, contributions, and influence.
Experience
Graffius heads the professional services firm Exceptional PPM and PMO Solutions, along with its subsidiary Exceptional Agility. These consultancies offer strategic and tactical advisory, training, embedded expertise, and consulting services to the public, private, and government sectors. They help organizations enhance their capabilities and results in agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership, supporting innovation and driving competitive advantage. The consultancies confidently back services with a Delighted Client Guarantee™.
Graffius is a former VP of project management with a publicly traded provider of diverse consumer products and services over the Internet. Before that, he ran and supervised the delivery of projects and programs in public and private organizations with businesses ranging from e-commerce to advanced technology products and services, retail, manufacturing, entertainment, and more.
He has experience with consumer, business, reseller, government, and international markets.
Award-Winning Author
Graffius has authored three books.
- Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions, his first book, earned 17 awards.
- Agile Transformation: A Brief Story of How an Entertainment Company Developed New Capabilities and Unlocked Business Agility to Thrive in an Era of Rapid Change, his second book, was named one of the best Scrum books of all time by BookAuthority.
- Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum, his third book and his first work of fiction, was released in April 2025. The book trailer is on YouTube.
International Public Speaker
Organizations worldwide engage Graffius to present on tech (including AI), Agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership. He crafts and delivers unique and compelling talks and workshops. Graffius has conducted 97 sessions across 25 countries. Select examples of events include Agile Trends Gov, BSides (Newcastle Upon Tyne), Conf42 Quantum Computing, DevDays Europe, DevOps Institute, DevOpsDays (Geneva), Frug’Agile, IEEE, Microsoft, Scottish Summit, Scrum Alliance RSG (Nepal), Techstars, and W Love Games International Video Game Development Conference (Helsinki), and more.
With an average rating of 4.81 (on a scale of 1-5), sessions are highly valued.
The speaker engagement request form is here.
Thought Leadership and Influence
Prominent businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities have showcased Graffius and his contributions—spanning his books, talks, workshops, and beyond. Select examples include:
- Adobe,
- American Management Association,
- Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute,
- Bayer,
- BMC Software,
- Boston University,
- Broadcom,
- Cisco,
- Coburg University of Applied Sciences and Arts - Germany,
- Computer Weekly,
- Constructor University - Germany,
- Data Governance Success,
- Deimos Aerospace,
- DevOps Institute,
- Dropbox,
- EU's European Commission,
- Ford Motor Company,
- Gartner,
- GoDaddy,
- Harvard Medical School,
- Hasso Plattner Institute - Germany,
- IEEE,
- Innovation Project Management,
- Johns Hopkins University,
- Journal of Neurosurgery,
- Lam Research (Semiconductors),
- Leadership Worthy,
- Life Sciences Trainers and Educators Network,
- London South Bank University,
- Microsoft,
- MSN,
- NASSCOM,
- National Academy of Sciences,
- New Zealand Government,
- Oracle,
- Pinterest Inc.,
- Project Management Institute,
- Mary Raum (Professor of National Security Affairs, United States Naval War College),
- SANS Institute,
- SBG Neumark - Germany,
- Singapore Institute of Technology,
- Torrens University - Australia,
- TBS Switzerland,
- Tufts University,
- UC San Diego,
- UK Sports Institute,
- University of Galway - Ireland,
- US Department of Energy,
- US National Park Service,
- US Soccer,
- US Tennis Association,
- Verizon,
- Wrike,
- Yale University,
- and many others.
Graffius has played a key role in the Project Management Institute (PMI) in developing professional standards. He was a member of multiple teams that authored, reviewed, and produced:
- Practice Standard for Work Breakdown Structures—Second Edition.
- A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge—Sixth Edition.
- The Standard for Program Management—Fourth Edition.
- The Practice Standard for Project Estimating—Second Edition.
Additional details are here.
He was also a subject matter expert reviewer of content for the PMI’s Congress. Beyond the PMI, Graffius also served as a member of the review team for two of the Scrum Alliance’s Global Scrum Gatherings.
Acclaimed Authority on Teamwork Tradecraft
Graffius is a renowned authority on teamwork tradecraft. Informed by the research of Bruce W. Tuckman and Mary Ann C. Jensen, over 150 subsequent studies, and Graffius' first-hand professional experience with, and analysis of, team leadership and performance, Graffius created his "Phases of Team Development" intellectual property as a unique perspective and visual conveying the five phases of team development. First introduced in 2008 and periodically updated, his work provides a diagnostic and strategic guide for navigating team dynamics. It provides actionable insights for leaders across industries to develop high-performance teams. Its adoption by esteemed organizations such as Yale University, IEEE, Cisco, Microsoft, Ford, Oracle, Broadcom, the U.S. National Park Service, and the Journal of Neurosurgery, among others, highlights its utility and value, solidifying its status as an indispensable resource for elevating team performance and driving organizational excellence. In 2026, Graffius added human-AI teamwork—including the "exotic team dynamics" which emerge when advanced AI collaborates as a teammate—to his "Phases of Team Development."
The 2026 edition of Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" intellectual property is here.
Expert on Temporal Dynamics on Social Media Platforms
Graffius is also an authority on temporal dynamics on social media platforms. His "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts" research—first published in 2018 and updated annually—delivers a precise quantitative analysis of post longevity across digital platforms, utilizing advanced statistical techniques to determine mean half-life with precision. It establishes a solid empirical base, effectively highlighting the ephemeral nature of content within social media ecosystems. Referenced and applied by leading entities—such as Fast Company, GoDaddy, Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume), Ministère de la Culture (French Ministry of Culture), Pinterest Inc., PNAS, and Telecommunications Policy, among others—his research exemplifies methodological rigor and sustained significance in the field of digital informatics.
The 2026 edition of Graffius "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts" research is here.
Education and Professional Certifications
Graffius has a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a focus in Human Factors. He holds eight professional certifications:
- Certified SAFe 6 Agilist (SA),
- Certified Scrum Professional - ScrumMaster (CSP-SM),
- Certified Scrum Professional - Product Owner (CSP-PO),
- Certified ScrumMaster (CSM),
- Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO),
- Project Management Professional (PMP),
- Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (LSSGB), and
- IT Service Management Foundation (ITIL).
He is an active member of the Scrum Alliance, the Project Management Institute (PMI), and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
Advancing AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management
Scott M. Graffius continues to advance the fields of AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management through his leadership, research, writing, and real-world impact. Businesses and other organizations leverage Graffius’ insights to drive their success.
Discover Scott’s Books
- Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions — Deliver Products in Short Cycles with Rapid Adaptation to Change, Fast Time-to-Market, and Continuous Improvement
- Agile Transformation: A Brief Story of How an Entertainment Company Developed New Capabilities and Unlocked Business Agility to Thrive in an Era of Rapid Change
- Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum
Connect with and follow Scott on LinkedIn, X, YouTube, Facebook, Threads, Bluesky, Mastodon, and ResearchGate.
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List of Additional Articles
You may be interested in these stories.
University of Greenwich Features Graffius' Phases of Team Development
10 Essential Agile Books: Curated Recommendations for Agile Professionals
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Are AI Hallucinations Getting Better or Worse? We Analyzed the Data
Scott M. Graffius' Phases of Team Development - Applied to Human Teams and Human-AI Teams: 2026 Update
Lessons from Yesterday’s Tomorrowland
Scott M. Graffius’ Update to His "Phases of Team Development” Coming Early 2026
A Data-Driven Analysis of the Evolution of Project Management: Tasks, Trends, and AI
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Beep Beep! Why Wile E. Coyote Is the Patron Saint of AI Failure
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Navigating the Spectrum of Advanced AI – Agentic, Autonomous, and Autopoietic
Lessons from Unhinged AI in Fiction: What Rogue AIs in Sci-Fi Storytelling, Films, and TV Shows Reveal About Us
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UK Sports Institute Features Teamwork and Leadership Work of Scott M. Graffius
Definitions of Advanced AIs: Agentic, Autonomous, and Autopoietic
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Gifts That Inspire Joy
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Top Predictions of 2024, Tested in 2025
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Exotic Team Dynamics: The New Frontier of Human–AI Collaboration
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AI Showcase Showdown: Ranking AI Accuracy on Project Management Basics
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Thinkers360 Named Scott M. Graffius a Top Thought Leader on Agile
More articles are listed here.
How to Cite This Article
Graffius, S. M. (2026, March 4). Thinkers360 Honors Scott M. Graffius as a 2026 Top Agile Thought Leader. ScottGraffius.com. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.18793.15200
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.18793.15200
Content Acknowledgements
Names, marks, and content are the property of their respective owners.
This article includes brief excerpts from Thinkers360, attributed and used under fair use for news reporting and analysis.
Thinkers360 name and mark are the property of Thinkers360.
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Post-Publication Notes
If there are any supplements or updates to this article after the date of publication, they will appear here.
Copyright
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Content on this site—including text, images, videos, and data—may not be used for training or input into any artificial intelligence, machine learning, or automatized learning systems, or published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the express written permission of Scott M. Graffius.
Agile's Journey Through the Decades: Update for 2026
03 March 2026
BY SCOTT M. GRAFFIUS | ScottGraffius.com
Graffius, S. M. (2026, March 3). Agile's Journey Through the Decades: Update for 2026. ScottGraffius.com. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.15437.70883
On February 21, 2025, Scott M. Graffius published "Agile's Journey Through the Decades" along with the "Agile's History, Visualized" infographic, chronicling key milestones in the evolution of Agile.
Fast-forward to March 3, 2026: the Project Management Institute (PMI) and the Agile Alliance jointly released the Manifesto for Enterprise Agility. It’s a significant milestone that advances Agile. What started as practices focused on teams and individual projects now explicitly extends to the entire enterprise. The new manifesto provides a values-based foundation for scaling adaptability amid constant disruption and accelerating technological change.
It articulates four core enterprise-level values and supporting principles designed to help leaders bridge the persistent strategy-execution gap frequently cited by C-suite executives. The focus shifts from rigid plans and functional silos toward purpose-driven alignment, shared outcomes, and human-centric adaptability. Rather than prescribing a specific framework, it emphasizes leadership behaviors, decision-making guardrails, adaptive funding models, and decentralized authority. That enables organizations to become more resilient, responsive, and culturally agile.
This development elevates agility from a localized team or project practice to a strategic organizational capability, offering practitioners and executives a practical compass for embedding agility into culture, governance, operating models, and leadership itself.
In consideration of this milestone, which was timed closely with the 25th anniversary of the Agile Manifesto (2001), Graffius has updated his original (2025) article, "Agile's Journey Through the Decades," and its companion infographic visual, "Agile's History, Visualized." This is the refreshed article, and the revised visual is shown below.
The 1950s
The 1960s
The 1970s
[Agile took a Disco Nap]
The 1980s
The 1990s
The 2000s
The 2010s
The 2020s
Agile has continually evolved, proving its resilience and relevance across industries. It adapts to new challenges and innovations. And its core principles of collaboration, flexibility, and continuous improvement remain as vital as ever.
Scott M. Graffius developed a related infographic, "Agile's History, Visualized." The visual is shown below, and a high-resolution PDF of it is here.
Graffius, S. M. (2025, February 21). Agile's Journey Through the Decades. ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/agile's-journey-through-the-decades.html
Graffius, S. M. (2025, February 23). Agile's Journey Through the Decades [LinkedIn article]. LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/agiles-journey-through-decades-scott-m-graffius-rifdc/
Le Manh, P. [@pierre-le-manh-3a4158]. (2025, March 3). Today PMI Agile Alliance is publishing the Manifesto for Enterprise Agility… [LinkedIn post]. LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/pierre-le-manh-3a4158_enterprise-agile-manifesto-short-activity-7434459656221167616-Xdhj
Project Management Institute. (2026, March 3). Manifesto for Enterprise Agility. Project Management Institute (PMI). https://www.pmi.org/learning/agile/manifesto-for-enterprise-agility
Scott M. Graffius is a strategic transformation leader who drives AI, Agile, and broader business and technology initiatives to deliver measurable value across projects, programs, portfolios, and PMOs. He is an expert in the teamwork tradecraft of both human and human-AI teams, including the “exotic team dynamics” that emerge. He is also an authority on the temporal patterns of social media, including the half-life of audience engagement.
He’s a practitioner, researcher, thought leader, award-winning author, and keynote speaker who’s taken the stage at 96 conferences and other events across 25 countries.
He’s delivered over $2.3 billion in value for Fortune 500 companies and other leaders in technology, entertainment, financial services, healthcare, and beyond.
Businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities use Graffius and feature his work. Examples include Adobe, Bayer, Boston University, Ford, Gartner, Harvard Medical School, IEEE, Johns Hopkins University, Microsoft, MSN, National Academy of Sciences, Oracle, Pinterest Inc., Project Management Institute, UC San Diego, Verizon, Yale University, and others.
The following sections provide additional information on his experience, contributions, and influence.
Experience
Graffius heads the professional services firm Exceptional PPM and PMO Solutions, along with its subsidiary Exceptional Agility. These consultancies offer strategic and tactical advisory, training, embedded expertise, and consulting services to the public, private, and government sectors. They help organizations enhance their capabilities and results in agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership, supporting innovation and driving competitive advantage. The consultancies confidently back services with a Delighted Client Guarantee™.
Graffius is a former VP of project management with a publicly traded provider of diverse consumer products and services over the Internet. Before that, he ran and supervised the delivery of projects and programs in public and private organizations with businesses ranging from e-commerce to advanced technology products and services, retail, manufacturing, entertainment, and more.
He has experience with consumer, business, reseller, government, and international markets.
Award-Winning Author
Graffius has authored three books.
International Public Speaker
Organizations worldwide engage Graffius to present on tech (including AI), Agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership. He crafts and delivers unique and compelling talks and workshops. Graffius has conducted 97 sessions across 25 countries. Select examples of events include Agile Trends Gov, BSides (Newcastle Upon Tyne), Conf42 Quantum Computing, DevDays Europe, DevOps Institute, DevOpsDays (Geneva), Frug’Agile, IEEE, Microsoft, Scottish Summit, Scrum Alliance RSG (Nepal), Techstars, and W Love Games International Video Game Development Conference (Helsinki), and more.
With an average rating of 4.81 (on a scale of 1-5), sessions are highly valued.
The speaker engagement request form is here.
Thought Leadership and Influence
Prominent businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities have showcased Graffius and his contributions—spanning his books, talks, workshops, and beyond. Select examples include:
Graffius has played a key role in the Project Management Institute (PMI) in developing professional standards. He was a member of multiple teams that authored, reviewed, and produced:
Additional details are here.
He was also a subject matter expert reviewer of content for the PMI’s Congress. Beyond the PMI, Graffius also served as a member of the review team for two of the Scrum Alliance’s Global Scrum Gatherings.
Acclaimed Authority on Teamwork Tradecraft
Graffius is a renowned authority on teamwork tradecraft. Informed by the research of Bruce W. Tuckman and Mary Ann C. Jensen, over 150 subsequent studies, and Graffius' first-hand professional experience with, and analysis of, team leadership and performance, Graffius created his "Phases of Team Development" intellectual property as a unique perspective and visual conveying the five phases of team development. First introduced in 2008 and periodically updated, his work provides a diagnostic and strategic guide for navigating team dynamics. It provides actionable insights for leaders across industries to develop high-performance teams. Its adoption by esteemed organizations such as Yale University, IEEE, Cisco, Microsoft, Ford, Oracle, Broadcom, the U.S. National Park Service, and the Journal of Neurosurgery, among others, highlights its utility and value, solidifying its status as an indispensable resource for elevating team performance and driving organizational excellence. In 2026, Graffius added human-AI teamwork—including the "exotic team dynamics" which emerge when advanced AI collaborates as a teammate—to his "Phases of Team Development."
The 2026 edition of Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" intellectual property is here.
Expert on Temporal Dynamics on Social Media Platforms
Graffius is also an authority on temporal dynamics on social media platforms. His "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts" research—first published in 2018 and updated annually—delivers a precise quantitative analysis of post longevity across digital platforms, utilizing advanced statistical techniques to determine mean half-life with precision. It establishes a solid empirical base, effectively highlighting the ephemeral nature of content within social media ecosystems. Referenced and applied by leading entities—such as Fast Company, GoDaddy, Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume), Ministère de la Culture (French Ministry of Culture), Pinterest Inc., PNAS, and Telecommunications Policy, among others—his research exemplifies methodological rigor and sustained significance in the field of digital informatics.
The 2026 edition of Graffius "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts" research is here.
Education and Professional Certifications
Graffius has a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a focus in Human Factors. He holds eight professional certifications:
He is an active member of the Scrum Alliance, the Project Management Institute (PMI), and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
Advancing AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management
Scott M. Graffius continues to advance the fields of AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management through his leadership, research, writing, and real-world impact. Businesses and other organizations leverage Graffius’ insights to drive their success.
Discover Scott’s Books
Connect with and follow Scott on LinkedIn, X, YouTube, Facebook, Threads, Bluesky, Mastodon, and ResearchGate.
You may be interested in these stories.
University of Greenwich Features Graffius' Phases of Team Development
10 Essential Agile Books: Curated Recommendations for Agile Professionals
Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts: Update for 2026
Scott M. Graffius' Research on the Half-Life of Social Media was Cited in a Peer-Reviewed Study Published in Telecommunications Policy, a Leading Academic Journal
Are AI Hallucinations Getting Better or Worse? We Analyzed the Data
Scott M. Graffius' Phases of Team Development - Applied to Human Teams and Human-AI Teams: 2026 Update
Lessons from Yesterday’s Tomorrowland
Scott M. Graffius’ Update to His "Phases of Team Development” Coming Early 2026
A Data-Driven Analysis of the Evolution of Project Management: Tasks, Trends, and AI
Actionable Insights. Global Impact. Scott M. Graffius.
Beep Beep! Why Wile E. Coyote Is the Patron Saint of AI Failure
Social Media Half-Life Research Cited in Prestigious Peer-Reviewed Medical Journal
Navigating the Spectrum of Advanced AI – Agentic, Autonomous, and Autopoietic
Lessons from Unhinged AI in Fiction: What Rogue AIs in Sci-Fi Storytelling, Films, and TV Shows Reveal About Us
Scott M. Graffius Contributed to and Reviewed the PMBOK Guide, 8th Edition — the Global Standard for Project Management
UK Sports Institute Features Teamwork and Leadership Work of Scott M. Graffius
Definitions of Advanced AIs: Agentic, Autonomous, and Autopoietic
HAN University of Applied Sciences Features the Work of Scott M. Graffius
Gifts That Inspire Joy
Evergreen Echoes: How Pinterest Inc. and Pinterest Japan Spotlighted Scott M. Graffius’ Research on the Half-Life of Social Media Content
Scott M. Graffius’ Team Development Work Lights Up the University of Tasmania’s Curriculum
Taiwan’s Leading Outlet for Technology and Innovation Spotlights Graffius’ Research on Social Media Temporal Dynamics
Scott M. Graffius’ Insights on AI, Agile, Gaming, XR, and Defense Transformation Cited by MSN in Their Coverage of Innovation and Leadership in the Sector
Top Predictions of 2024, Tested in 2025
Government of Finland Agency Features Graffius' Phases of Team Development IP
Scott M. Graffius Premieres His New "Exotic Team Dynamics: Human-AI Collaboration" Talk at Corporate Event in Las Vegas
Environmental Science Journal References Scott M. Graffius’ Project Management Work
AI Institute of Switzerland Features Scott M. Graffius’ Work on Algorithms
Exotic Team Dynamics: The New Frontier of Human–AI Collaboration
Scott M. Graffius’ Work Featured at ACM DIS ’25
Climbing the Ladder: The Head of Agile/PMO’s Organizational Proximity to the CEO is Closer Than Ever
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Scott M. Graffius’ “Agile Scrum” Book Featured in a Publication of the Associação Nacional de Educação Católica do Brasil (ANEC)
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RGPV University Adds Scott M. Graffius’ "Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions" to Its Syllabus
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Dropbox Company (Nira) Taps into Scott M. Graffius’ Expertise in Strategic Planning
Reporting Errors in a Publication: A Case Study on ‘Frontiers in Public Health’
NESEA Conference Session on Innovation Highlights Scott M. Graffius' 'Phases of Team Development'
U.S. Soccer Scores with Scott M. Graffius' Intellectual Property on Teamwork
U.S. Department of Commerce Partner (IEDC) Features Scott M. Graffius’ Intellectual Property
How Long Do Your Posts Live? AI Critiques Scott M. Graffius’ Research on the Half-Life of Social Media
Agile's Journey Through the Decades
Scott M. Graffius' Role in Advancing Project Management Institute (PMI) Standards Excellence
Most Valuable IT Certifications: Update for 2025
The PMI + Agile Alliance Merger: A Recipe for Success?
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Scott M. Graffius’ Phases of Team Development: 2025 Update
Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts: Update for 2025
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Scott M. Graffius' 'Phases of Team Development' was Spotlighted in Journal of Neurosurgery
Pinterest Japan Uses Graffius’ Research on Temporal Dynamics on Social Media Platforms
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Singapore Institute of Technology Features Work of Scott M. Graffius
Tufts University Features Scott M. Graffius 'Phases of Team Development' Intellectual Property
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Pennsylvania State Agency Used Scott M. Graffius' Intellectual Property
Copyright Infringement in a Book Published by AuthorHouse / Author Solutions / The Najafi Companies: Publisher Fails to Respond or Take Required Action
Pinterest Inc. References Scott M. Graffius’ Research
Bournemouth University Used Scott M. Graffius’ Intellectual Property
‘Comparative Methodological Guidelines: Handbook for Educators’ Violates Scott M. Graffius’ Copyright
Japan Backlog User Group Event Featured Scott M. Graffius’ ‘Phases of Team Development’
TurningWest's 'Trial'
Radio Silence from the American Association of Neurological Surgeons on Report of Blatant Plagiarism in Their ‘Journal of Neurosurgery’ Publication
Supplement to Graffius' 'Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts' Research: Typical Engagement Distribution Pattern for Social Media Posts
How Algorithms Shape the User Experience on Social Media Platforms
Thinkers360 Named Scott M. Graffius a Top Thought Leader on Agile
More articles are listed here.
Graffius, S. M. (2026, March 3). Agile's Journey Through the Decades: Update for 2026. ScottGraffius.com. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.15437.70883
https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.15437.70883
Names, marks, and content are the property of their respective owners.
If there are any supplements or updates to this article after the date of publication, they will appear here.
3 March 2026
This article was published on 3 March 2026. Post-publication, the same day, here's a note:
"Many individuals and organizations have made valuable contributions to Agile. This article highlights select major milestones and is not intended to be an exhaustive list." already appears on the graphic, "Agile's History, Visualized."
In the next edition of this article (tentative date: 2027), that text will appear on the visual and also in the body of the article.
Copyright © Scott M. Graffius. All rights reserved.
Content on this site—including text, images, videos, and data—may not be used for training or input into any artificial intelligence, machine learning, or automatized learning systems, or published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the express written permission of Scott M. Graffius.
Graffius, S. M. (2026, March 3). Agile's Journey Through the Decades: Update for 2026. ScottGraffius.com. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.15437.70883
Introduction
On February 21, 2025, Scott M. Graffius published "Agile's Journey Through the Decades" along with the "Agile's History, Visualized" infographic, chronicling key milestones in the evolution of Agile.
Fast-forward to March 3, 2026: the Project Management Institute (PMI) and the Agile Alliance jointly released the Manifesto for Enterprise Agility. It’s a significant milestone that advances Agile. What started as practices focused on teams and individual projects now explicitly extends to the entire enterprise. The new manifesto provides a values-based foundation for scaling adaptability amid constant disruption and accelerating technological change.
It articulates four core enterprise-level values and supporting principles designed to help leaders bridge the persistent strategy-execution gap frequently cited by C-suite executives. The focus shifts from rigid plans and functional silos toward purpose-driven alignment, shared outcomes, and human-centric adaptability. Rather than prescribing a specific framework, it emphasizes leadership behaviors, decision-making guardrails, adaptive funding models, and decentralized authority. That enables organizations to become more resilient, responsive, and culturally agile.
This development elevates agility from a localized team or project practice to a strategic organizational capability, offering practitioners and executives a practical compass for embedding agility into culture, governance, operating models, and leadership itself.
In consideration of this milestone, which was timed closely with the 25th anniversary of the Agile Manifesto (2001), Graffius has updated his original (2025) article, "Agile's Journey Through the Decades," and its companion infographic visual, "Agile's History, Visualized." This is the refreshed article, and the revised visual is shown below.
Agile Through the Decades
The 1950s
- 1957: IBM began utilizing incremental development in software projects.
- 1958: Software for Project Mercury, the United States’ first human spaceflight program, was developed in half-day iterations.
The 1960s
- 1968: IBM’s Harlan Mills advocated for staged, incremental software development with continuous user involvement.
The 1970s
[Agile took a Disco Nap]
The 1980s
- 1980: Toyota introduced visual control, a predecessor to Agile’s information radiators.
- 1984: Leo Brodie described the concept of factoring, an early influence on code structuring.
- 1985: Tom Gilb introduced the Evolutionary Delivery Model, an alternative to the Waterfall methodology.
- 1986: The influential article "The New New Product Development Game" by Hirotaka Takeuchi and Ikujiro Nonaka was published in the Harvard Business Review, laying the groundwork for Scrum.
- 1988: The timebox approach was central to DuPont’s Rapid Iterative Production Prototyping.
The 1990s
- 1990: Bill Opdyke coined the term refactoring, which became fundamental in Agile software development.
- 1991: James Martin described timeboxing and iterations, core components of Agile frameworks.
- 1993:Jim Coplien introduced the stand-up meeting pattern. Scrum was first used as a process by Jeff Sutherland, John Scumniotales, and Jeff McKenna at Easel Corporation.
- 1994: Alistair Cockburn advocated working in increments.
- 1995: Ken Schwaber and Jeff Sutherland co-presented Scrum.
- 1997: Ken Schwaber described the daily Scrum.
- 1998: The Chrysler Goes to Extremes case study detailed Extreme Programming (XP) practices like self-chosen tasks, three-week iterations, and pair programming.
The 2000s
- 2000: Martin Fowler published an article defining continuous integration. Ken Schwaber introduced the burndown chart.
- 2001: Seventeen software development experts—Kent Beck, Mike Beedle, Arie van Bennekum, Alistair Cockburn, Ward Cunningham, Martin Fowler, Robert C. Martin, Steve Mellor, Dave Thomas, James Grenning, Jim Highsmith, Andrew Hunt, Ron Jeffries, Jon Kern, Brian Marick, Ken Schwaber, and Jeff Sutherland—formulated the Manifesto for Agile Software Development, emphasizing individuals and interactions, working software, customer collaboration, and responding to change. Mary Poppendieck highlighted Agile’s similarities with Lean manufacturing. Alistair Cockburn coined the term information radiator.
- 2005: Mike Cohn’s Agile Estimating and Planning introduced techniques such as Planning Poker.
- 2008: Kane Mar formally described backlog grooming. Jeff Patton introduced story mapping.
- 2009: The concept of DevOps emerged from John Allspaw and Paul Hammond’s talk on 10+ daily deployments, while Patrick Debois coined the term.
The 2010s
- 2010: Dean Leffingwell and Drew Jemilo introduced the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe), designed for enterprise-level Agile adoption.
The 2020s
- 2026: Project Management Institute (PMI) and Agile Alliance jointly released the Manifesto for Enterprise Agility.
Conclusion
Agile has continually evolved, proving its resilience and relevance across industries. It adapts to new challenges and innovations. And its core principles of collaboration, flexibility, and continuous improvement remain as vital as ever.
Scott M. Graffius developed a related infographic, "Agile's History, Visualized." The visual is shown below, and a high-resolution PDF of it is here.
Bibliography
Graffius, S. M. (2025, February 21). Agile's Journey Through the Decades. ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/agile's-journey-through-the-decades.html
Graffius, S. M. (2025, February 23). Agile's Journey Through the Decades [LinkedIn article]. LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/agiles-journey-through-decades-scott-m-graffius-rifdc/
Le Manh, P. [@pierre-le-manh-3a4158]. (2025, March 3). Today PMI Agile Alliance is publishing the Manifesto for Enterprise Agility… [LinkedIn post]. LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/pierre-le-manh-3a4158_enterprise-agile-manifesto-short-activity-7434459656221167616-Xdhj
Project Management Institute. (2026, March 3). Manifesto for Enterprise Agility. Project Management Institute (PMI). https://www.pmi.org/learning/agile/manifesto-for-enterprise-agility
About Scott M. Graffius
Scott M. Graffius is a strategic transformation leader who drives AI, Agile, and broader business and technology initiatives to deliver measurable value across projects, programs, portfolios, and PMOs. He is an expert in the teamwork tradecraft of both human and human-AI teams, including the “exotic team dynamics” that emerge. He is also an authority on the temporal patterns of social media, including the half-life of audience engagement.
He’s a practitioner, researcher, thought leader, award-winning author, and keynote speaker who’s taken the stage at 96 conferences and other events across 25 countries.
He’s delivered over $2.3 billion in value for Fortune 500 companies and other leaders in technology, entertainment, financial services, healthcare, and beyond.
Businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities use Graffius and feature his work. Examples include Adobe, Bayer, Boston University, Ford, Gartner, Harvard Medical School, IEEE, Johns Hopkins University, Microsoft, MSN, National Academy of Sciences, Oracle, Pinterest Inc., Project Management Institute, UC San Diego, Verizon, Yale University, and others.
The following sections provide additional information on his experience, contributions, and influence.
Experience
Graffius heads the professional services firm Exceptional PPM and PMO Solutions, along with its subsidiary Exceptional Agility. These consultancies offer strategic and tactical advisory, training, embedded expertise, and consulting services to the public, private, and government sectors. They help organizations enhance their capabilities and results in agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership, supporting innovation and driving competitive advantage. The consultancies confidently back services with a Delighted Client Guarantee™.
Graffius is a former VP of project management with a publicly traded provider of diverse consumer products and services over the Internet. Before that, he ran and supervised the delivery of projects and programs in public and private organizations with businesses ranging from e-commerce to advanced technology products and services, retail, manufacturing, entertainment, and more.
He has experience with consumer, business, reseller, government, and international markets.
Award-Winning Author
Graffius has authored three books.
- Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions, his first book, earned 17 awards.
- Agile Transformation: A Brief Story of How an Entertainment Company Developed New Capabilities and Unlocked Business Agility to Thrive in an Era of Rapid Change, his second book, was named one of the best Scrum books of all time by BookAuthority.
- Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum, his third book and his first work of fiction, was released in April 2025. The book trailer is on YouTube.
International Public Speaker
Organizations worldwide engage Graffius to present on tech (including AI), Agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership. He crafts and delivers unique and compelling talks and workshops. Graffius has conducted 97 sessions across 25 countries. Select examples of events include Agile Trends Gov, BSides (Newcastle Upon Tyne), Conf42 Quantum Computing, DevDays Europe, DevOps Institute, DevOpsDays (Geneva), Frug’Agile, IEEE, Microsoft, Scottish Summit, Scrum Alliance RSG (Nepal), Techstars, and W Love Games International Video Game Development Conference (Helsinki), and more.
With an average rating of 4.81 (on a scale of 1-5), sessions are highly valued.
The speaker engagement request form is here.
Thought Leadership and Influence
Prominent businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities have showcased Graffius and his contributions—spanning his books, talks, workshops, and beyond. Select examples include:
- Adobe,
- American Management Association,
- Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute,
- Bayer,
- BMC Software,
- Boston University,
- Broadcom,
- Cisco,
- Coburg University of Applied Sciences and Arts - Germany,
- Computer Weekly,
- Constructor University - Germany,
- Data Governance Success,
- Deimos Aerospace,
- DevOps Institute,
- Dropbox,
- EU's European Commission,
- Ford Motor Company,
- Gartner,
- GoDaddy,
- Harvard Medical School,
- Hasso Plattner Institute - Germany,
- IEEE,
- Innovation Project Management,
- Johns Hopkins University,
- Journal of Neurosurgery,
- Lam Research (Semiconductors),
- Leadership Worthy,
- Life Sciences Trainers and Educators Network,
- London South Bank University,
- Microsoft,
- MSN,
- NASSCOM,
- National Academy of Sciences,
- New Zealand Government,
- Oracle,
- Pinterest Inc.,
- Project Management Institute,
- Mary Raum (Professor of National Security Affairs, United States Naval War College),
- SANS Institute,
- SBG Neumark - Germany,
- Singapore Institute of Technology,
- Torrens University - Australia,
- TBS Switzerland,
- Tufts University,
- UC San Diego,
- UK Sports Institute,
- University of Galway - Ireland,
- US Department of Energy,
- US National Park Service,
- US Soccer,
- US Tennis Association,
- Verizon,
- Wrike,
- Yale University,
- and many others.
Graffius has played a key role in the Project Management Institute (PMI) in developing professional standards. He was a member of multiple teams that authored, reviewed, and produced:
- Practice Standard for Work Breakdown Structures—Second Edition.
- A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge—Sixth Edition.
- The Standard for Program Management—Fourth Edition.
- The Practice Standard for Project Estimating—Second Edition.
Additional details are here.
He was also a subject matter expert reviewer of content for the PMI’s Congress. Beyond the PMI, Graffius also served as a member of the review team for two of the Scrum Alliance’s Global Scrum Gatherings.
Acclaimed Authority on Teamwork Tradecraft
Graffius is a renowned authority on teamwork tradecraft. Informed by the research of Bruce W. Tuckman and Mary Ann C. Jensen, over 150 subsequent studies, and Graffius' first-hand professional experience with, and analysis of, team leadership and performance, Graffius created his "Phases of Team Development" intellectual property as a unique perspective and visual conveying the five phases of team development. First introduced in 2008 and periodically updated, his work provides a diagnostic and strategic guide for navigating team dynamics. It provides actionable insights for leaders across industries to develop high-performance teams. Its adoption by esteemed organizations such as Yale University, IEEE, Cisco, Microsoft, Ford, Oracle, Broadcom, the U.S. National Park Service, and the Journal of Neurosurgery, among others, highlights its utility and value, solidifying its status as an indispensable resource for elevating team performance and driving organizational excellence. In 2026, Graffius added human-AI teamwork—including the "exotic team dynamics" which emerge when advanced AI collaborates as a teammate—to his "Phases of Team Development."
The 2026 edition of Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" intellectual property is here.
Expert on Temporal Dynamics on Social Media Platforms
Graffius is also an authority on temporal dynamics on social media platforms. His "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts" research—first published in 2018 and updated annually—delivers a precise quantitative analysis of post longevity across digital platforms, utilizing advanced statistical techniques to determine mean half-life with precision. It establishes a solid empirical base, effectively highlighting the ephemeral nature of content within social media ecosystems. Referenced and applied by leading entities—such as Fast Company, GoDaddy, Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume), Ministère de la Culture (French Ministry of Culture), Pinterest Inc., PNAS, and Telecommunications Policy, among others—his research exemplifies methodological rigor and sustained significance in the field of digital informatics.
The 2026 edition of Graffius "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts" research is here.
Education and Professional Certifications
Graffius has a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a focus in Human Factors. He holds eight professional certifications:
- Certified SAFe 6 Agilist (SA),
- Certified Scrum Professional - ScrumMaster (CSP-SM),
- Certified Scrum Professional - Product Owner (CSP-PO),
- Certified ScrumMaster (CSM),
- Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO),
- Project Management Professional (PMP),
- Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (LSSGB), and
- IT Service Management Foundation (ITIL).
He is an active member of the Scrum Alliance, the Project Management Institute (PMI), and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
Advancing AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management
Scott M. Graffius continues to advance the fields of AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management through his leadership, research, writing, and real-world impact. Businesses and other organizations leverage Graffius’ insights to drive their success.
Discover Scott’s Books
- Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions — Deliver Products in Short Cycles with Rapid Adaptation to Change, Fast Time-to-Market, and Continuous Improvement
- Agile Transformation: A Brief Story of How an Entertainment Company Developed New Capabilities and Unlocked Business Agility to Thrive in an Era of Rapid Change
- Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum
Connect with and follow Scott on LinkedIn, X, YouTube, Facebook, Threads, Bluesky, Mastodon, and ResearchGate.
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Copyright Infringement in a Book Published by AuthorHouse / Author Solutions / The Najafi Companies: Publisher Fails to Respond or Take Required Action
Pinterest Inc. References Scott M. Graffius’ Research
Bournemouth University Used Scott M. Graffius’ Intellectual Property
‘Comparative Methodological Guidelines: Handbook for Educators’ Violates Scott M. Graffius’ Copyright
Japan Backlog User Group Event Featured Scott M. Graffius’ ‘Phases of Team Development’
TurningWest's 'Trial'
Radio Silence from the American Association of Neurological Surgeons on Report of Blatant Plagiarism in Their ‘Journal of Neurosurgery’ Publication
Supplement to Graffius' 'Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts' Research: Typical Engagement Distribution Pattern for Social Media Posts
How Algorithms Shape the User Experience on Social Media Platforms
Thinkers360 Named Scott M. Graffius a Top Thought Leader on Agile
More articles are listed here.
How to Cite This Article
Graffius, S. M. (2026, March 3). Agile's Journey Through the Decades: Update for 2026. ScottGraffius.com. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.15437.70883
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.15437.70883
Content Acknowledgements
Names, marks, and content are the property of their respective owners.
Tags and Hashtags
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- #Agility
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Post-Publication Notes
If there are any supplements or updates to this article after the date of publication, they will appear here.
3 March 2026
This article was published on 3 March 2026. Post-publication, the same day, here's a note:
"Many individuals and organizations have made valuable contributions to Agile. This article highlights select major milestones and is not intended to be an exhaustive list." already appears on the graphic, "Agile's History, Visualized."
In the next edition of this article (tentative date: 2027), that text will appear on the visual and also in the body of the article.
Copyright
Copyright © Scott M. Graffius. All rights reserved.
Content on this site—including text, images, videos, and data—may not be used for training or input into any artificial intelligence, machine learning, or automatized learning systems, or published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the express written permission of Scott M. Graffius.
BMC Software Features Content from Scott M. Graffius' Book
27 February 2026
BY SCOTT M. GRAFFIUS | ScottGraffius.com
Graffius, S. M. (2026, February 27). BMC Software Features Content from Scott M. Graffius' Book. ScottGraffius.com. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.11243.40489
When a global enterprise software company quotes a publication to emphasize an important point, it signals authority and broad market relevance. BMC's article, "Software Quality Metrics Explained," features content from the award-winning book Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions by Scott M. Graffius (technical editors: Chris Hare and Colin Giffen). BMC highlighted the following excerpt from Agile Scrum: "If you don’t collect any metrics, you’re flying blind. If you collect and focus on too many, they may be obstructing your field of view." An excerpt rom BMC's article is shown below.
The passage is about the danger of operating without metrics and the equal danger of being overwhelmed by too many. It captures a tension that organizations of every size wrestle with. Seeing that insight applied in the context of enterprise-scale technology reinforces that effective metrics are essential for all organizations—whether Agile or otherwise—seeking clarity, performance, and better decision-making.
See the bibliography for details including links.
Shifting customer needs are common in today's marketplace. Businesses must be adaptive and responsive to change while delivering an exceptional customer experience to be competitive. There are a variety of frameworks supporting the development of products and services, and most approaches fall into one of two broad categories: traditional or agile. Traditional practices such as waterfall engage sequential development, while agile involves iterative and incremental deliverables. Organizations are increasingly embracing agile to manage projects, and best meet their business needs of rapid response to change, fast delivery speed, and more.
With clear and easy to follow step-by-step instructions, Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions helps you:
Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions is for those interested or involved in innovation, project management, product development, software development or technology management. It's for those who have not yet used Scrum. It's also for people already using Scrum, in roles such as Product Owners, Scrum Masters, Development Team members (business analysts, solution and system architects, designers, developers, testers, etc.), customers, end users, agile coaches, executives, managers, and other stakeholders. For those already using Scrum, this guide can serve as a reference on practices for consideration and potential adaptation.
BMC Software is a U.S.-based multinational enterprise IT software and services company founded in 1980 and headquartered in Houston, Texas, United States. It specializes in AI-driven infrastructure management, automation, workflow orchestration, IT service management (ITSM), and mainframe operations software, helping large organizations streamline and accelerate digital transformation across hybrid cloud environments. BMC’s portfolio includes flagship offerings such as Control-M for workload automation and mainframe transformation solutions. It serves over 10,000 global customers, with 80% of the Forbes Global 100 relying on its solutions, reflecting its deep reach and influence among the world’s largest enterprises. The company is widely recognized by industry analysts and customers alike for leadership in service orchestration and automation platforms, earning top rankings in Gartner and other independent evaluations that underscore its reputation for innovation and reliability in complex enterprise IT environments.
Graffius, S. M. (2016). Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions. North Charleston, South Carolina: CreateSpace.
Watts, S. (2020, April 21). Software quality metrics explained. BMC Software. https://www.bmc.com/blogs/software-quality-metrics/
Scott M. Graffius is a strategic transformation leader who drives AI, Agile, and broader business and technology initiatives to deliver measurable value across projects, programs, portfolios, and PMOs. He is an expert in the teamwork tradecraft of both human and human-AI teams, including the “exotic team dynamics” that emerge. He is also an authority on the temporal patterns of social media, including the half-life of audience engagement.
He’s a practitioner, researcher, thought leader, award-winning author, and keynote speaker who’s taken the stage at 96 conferences and other events across 25 countries.
He’s delivered over $2.3 billion in value for Fortune 500 companies and other leaders in technology, entertainment, financial services, healthcare, and beyond.
Businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities use Graffius and feature his work. Examples include Adobe, Bayer, Boston University, Ford, Gartner, Harvard Medical School, IEEE, Johns Hopkins University, Microsoft, MSN, National Academy of Sciences, Oracle, Pinterest Inc., Project Management Institute, UC San Diego, Verizon, Yale University, and others.
The following sections provide additional information on his experience, contributions, and influence.
Experience
Graffius heads the professional services firm Exceptional PPM and PMO Solutions, along with its subsidiary Exceptional Agility. These consultancies offer strategic and tactical advisory, training, embedded expertise, and consulting services to the public, private, and government sectors. They help organizations enhance their capabilities and results in agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership, supporting innovation and driving competitive advantage. The consultancies confidently back services with a Delighted Client Guarantee™.
Graffius is a former VP of project management with a publicly traded provider of diverse consumer products and services over the Internet. Before that, he ran and supervised the delivery of projects and programs in public and private organizations with businesses ranging from e-commerce to advanced technology products and services, retail, manufacturing, entertainment, and more.
He has experience with consumer, business, reseller, government, and international markets.
Award-Winning Author
Graffius has authored three books.
International Public Speaker
Organizations worldwide engage Graffius to present on tech (including AI), Agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership. He crafts and delivers unique and compelling talks and workshops. Graffius has conducted 97 sessions across 25 countries. Select examples of events include Agile Trends Gov, BSides (Newcastle Upon Tyne), Conf42 Quantum Computing, DevDays Europe, DevOps Institute, DevOpsDays (Geneva), Frug’Agile, IEEE, Microsoft, Scottish Summit, Scrum Alliance RSG (Nepal), Techstars, and W Love Games International Video Game Development Conference (Helsinki), and more.
With an average rating of 4.81 (on a scale of 1-5), sessions are highly valued.
The speaker engagement request form is here.
Thought Leadership and Influence
Prominent businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities have showcased Graffius and his contributions—spanning his books, talks, workshops, and beyond. Select examples include:
Graffius has played a key role in the Project Management Institute (PMI) in developing professional standards. He was a member of multiple teams that authored, reviewed, and produced:
Additional details are here.
He was also a subject matter expert reviewer of content for the PMI’s Congress. Beyond the PMI, Graffius also served as a member of the review team for two of the Scrum Alliance’s Global Scrum Gatherings.
Acclaimed Authority on Teamwork Tradecraft
Graffius is a renowned authority on teamwork tradecraft. Informed by the research of Bruce W. Tuckman and Mary Ann C. Jensen, over 150 subsequent studies, and Graffius' first-hand professional experience with, and analysis of, team leadership and performance, Graffius created his "Phases of Team Development" intellectual property as a unique perspective and visual conveying the five phases of team development. First introduced in 2008 and periodically updated, his work provides a diagnostic and strategic guide for navigating team dynamics. It provides actionable insights for leaders across industries to develop high-performance teams. Its adoption by esteemed organizations such as Yale University, IEEE, Cisco, Microsoft, Ford, Oracle, Broadcom, the U.S. National Park Service, and the Journal of Neurosurgery, among others, highlights its utility and value, solidifying its status as an indispensable resource for elevating team performance and driving organizational excellence. In 2026, Graffius added human-AI teamwork—including the "exotic team dynamics" which emerge when advanced AI collaborates as a teammate—to his "Phases of Team Development."
The 2026 edition of Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" intellectual property is here.
Expert on Temporal Dynamics on Social Media Platforms
Graffius is also an authority on temporal dynamics on social media platforms. His "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts" research—first published in 2018 and updated annually—delivers a precise quantitative analysis of post longevity across digital platforms, utilizing advanced statistical techniques to determine mean half-life with precision. It establishes a solid empirical base, effectively highlighting the ephemeral nature of content within social media ecosystems. Referenced and applied by leading entities—such as Fast Company, GoDaddy, Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume), Ministère de la Culture (French Ministry of Culture), Pinterest Inc., PNAS, and Telecommunications Policy, among others—his research exemplifies methodological rigor and sustained significance in the field of digital informatics.
The 2026 edition of Graffius "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts" research is here.
Education and Professional Certifications
Graffius has a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a focus in Human Factors. He holds eight professional certifications:
He is an active member of the Scrum Alliance, the Project Management Institute (PMI), and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
Advancing AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management
Scott M. Graffius continues to advance the fields of AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management through his leadership, research, writing, and real-world impact. Businesses and other organizations leverage Graffius’ insights to drive their success.
Discover Scott’s Books
Connect with and follow Scott on LinkedIn, X, YouTube, Facebook, Threads, Bluesky, Mastodon, and ResearchGate.
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Graffius, S. M. (2026, February 27). BMC Software Features Content from Scott M. Graffius' Book. ScottGraffius.com. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.11243.40489
https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.11243.40489
BMC’s article "Software Quality Metrics Explained" highlights content from the award-winning book Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions by Scott M. Graffius (technical editors: Chris Hare and Colin Giffen).
BMC name, mark, and content are the property of BMC Software, Inc.
This article uses limited excerpts from BMC’s respective material, attributed and used under fair use for news reporting and analysis.
Graffius’ Agile Scrum book is copyright © Scott M. Graffius. All rights reserved.
If there are any supplements or updates to this article after the date of publication, they will appear here.
Copyright © Scott M. Graffius. All rights reserved.
Content on this site—including text, images, videos, and data—may not be used for training or input into any artificial intelligence, machine learning, or automatized learning systems, or published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the express written permission of Scott M. Graffius.
Graffius, S. M. (2026, February 27). BMC Software Features Content from Scott M. Graffius' Book. ScottGraffius.com. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.11243.40489
Metrics Drive Clarity, Accountability, and Results
When a global enterprise software company quotes a publication to emphasize an important point, it signals authority and broad market relevance. BMC's article, "Software Quality Metrics Explained," features content from the award-winning book Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions by Scott M. Graffius (technical editors: Chris Hare and Colin Giffen). BMC highlighted the following excerpt from Agile Scrum: "If you don’t collect any metrics, you’re flying blind. If you collect and focus on too many, they may be obstructing your field of view." An excerpt rom BMC's article is shown below.
The passage is about the danger of operating without metrics and the equal danger of being overwhelmed by too many. It captures a tension that organizations of every size wrestle with. Seeing that insight applied in the context of enterprise-scale technology reinforces that effective metrics are essential for all organizations—whether Agile or otherwise—seeking clarity, performance, and better decision-making.
See the bibliography for details including links.
About the Award-Winning Agile Scrum Book
Shifting customer needs are common in today's marketplace. Businesses must be adaptive and responsive to change while delivering an exceptional customer experience to be competitive. There are a variety of frameworks supporting the development of products and services, and most approaches fall into one of two broad categories: traditional or agile. Traditional practices such as waterfall engage sequential development, while agile involves iterative and incremental deliverables. Organizations are increasingly embracing agile to manage projects, and best meet their business needs of rapid response to change, fast delivery speed, and more.
With clear and easy to follow step-by-step instructions, Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions helps you:
- Implement and use the most popular Agile framework―Scrum.
- Deliver products in short cycles with rapid adaptation to change, fast time-to-market, and continuous improvement.
- Support innovation and drive competitive advantage.
Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions is for those interested or involved in innovation, project management, product development, software development or technology management. It's for those who have not yet used Scrum. It's also for people already using Scrum, in roles such as Product Owners, Scrum Masters, Development Team members (business analysts, solution and system architects, designers, developers, testers, etc.), customers, end users, agile coaches, executives, managers, and other stakeholders. For those already using Scrum, this guide can serve as a reference on practices for consideration and potential adaptation.
About BMC Software
BMC Software is a U.S.-based multinational enterprise IT software and services company founded in 1980 and headquartered in Houston, Texas, United States. It specializes in AI-driven infrastructure management, automation, workflow orchestration, IT service management (ITSM), and mainframe operations software, helping large organizations streamline and accelerate digital transformation across hybrid cloud environments. BMC’s portfolio includes flagship offerings such as Control-M for workload automation and mainframe transformation solutions. It serves over 10,000 global customers, with 80% of the Forbes Global 100 relying on its solutions, reflecting its deep reach and influence among the world’s largest enterprises. The company is widely recognized by industry analysts and customers alike for leadership in service orchestration and automation platforms, earning top rankings in Gartner and other independent evaluations that underscore its reputation for innovation and reliability in complex enterprise IT environments.
Bibliography
Graffius, S. M. (2016). Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions. North Charleston, South Carolina: CreateSpace.
Watts, S. (2020, April 21). Software quality metrics explained. BMC Software. https://www.bmc.com/blogs/software-quality-metrics/
About Scott M. Graffius
Scott M. Graffius is a strategic transformation leader who drives AI, Agile, and broader business and technology initiatives to deliver measurable value across projects, programs, portfolios, and PMOs. He is an expert in the teamwork tradecraft of both human and human-AI teams, including the “exotic team dynamics” that emerge. He is also an authority on the temporal patterns of social media, including the half-life of audience engagement.
He’s a practitioner, researcher, thought leader, award-winning author, and keynote speaker who’s taken the stage at 96 conferences and other events across 25 countries.
He’s delivered over $2.3 billion in value for Fortune 500 companies and other leaders in technology, entertainment, financial services, healthcare, and beyond.
Businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities use Graffius and feature his work. Examples include Adobe, Bayer, Boston University, Ford, Gartner, Harvard Medical School, IEEE, Johns Hopkins University, Microsoft, MSN, National Academy of Sciences, Oracle, Pinterest Inc., Project Management Institute, UC San Diego, Verizon, Yale University, and others.
The following sections provide additional information on his experience, contributions, and influence.
Experience
Graffius heads the professional services firm Exceptional PPM and PMO Solutions, along with its subsidiary Exceptional Agility. These consultancies offer strategic and tactical advisory, training, embedded expertise, and consulting services to the public, private, and government sectors. They help organizations enhance their capabilities and results in agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership, supporting innovation and driving competitive advantage. The consultancies confidently back services with a Delighted Client Guarantee™.
Graffius is a former VP of project management with a publicly traded provider of diverse consumer products and services over the Internet. Before that, he ran and supervised the delivery of projects and programs in public and private organizations with businesses ranging from e-commerce to advanced technology products and services, retail, manufacturing, entertainment, and more.
He has experience with consumer, business, reseller, government, and international markets.
Award-Winning Author
Graffius has authored three books.
- Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions, his first book, earned 17 awards.
- Agile Transformation: A Brief Story of How an Entertainment Company Developed New Capabilities and Unlocked Business Agility to Thrive in an Era of Rapid Change, his second book, was named one of the best Scrum books of all time by BookAuthority.
- Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum, his third book and his first work of fiction, was released in April 2025. The book trailer is on YouTube.
International Public Speaker
Organizations worldwide engage Graffius to present on tech (including AI), Agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership. He crafts and delivers unique and compelling talks and workshops. Graffius has conducted 97 sessions across 25 countries. Select examples of events include Agile Trends Gov, BSides (Newcastle Upon Tyne), Conf42 Quantum Computing, DevDays Europe, DevOps Institute, DevOpsDays (Geneva), Frug’Agile, IEEE, Microsoft, Scottish Summit, Scrum Alliance RSG (Nepal), Techstars, and W Love Games International Video Game Development Conference (Helsinki), and more.
With an average rating of 4.81 (on a scale of 1-5), sessions are highly valued.
The speaker engagement request form is here.
Thought Leadership and Influence
Prominent businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities have showcased Graffius and his contributions—spanning his books, talks, workshops, and beyond. Select examples include:
- Adobe,
- American Management Association,
- Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute,
- Bayer,
- BMC Software,
- Boston University,
- Broadcom,
- Cisco,
- Coburg University of Applied Sciences and Arts - Germany,
- Computer Weekly,
- Constructor University - Germany,
- Data Governance Success,
- Deimos Aerospace,
- DevOps Institute,
- Dropbox,
- EU's European Commission,
- Ford Motor Company,
- Gartner,
- GoDaddy,
- Harvard Medical School,
- Hasso Plattner Institute - Germany,
- IEEE,
- Innovation Project Management,
- Johns Hopkins University,
- Journal of Neurosurgery,
- Lam Research (Semiconductors),
- Leadership Worthy,
- Life Sciences Trainers and Educators Network,
- London South Bank University,
- Microsoft,
- MSN,
- NASSCOM,
- National Academy of Sciences,
- New Zealand Government,
- Oracle,
- Pinterest Inc.,
- Project Management Institute,
- Mary Raum (Professor of National Security Affairs, United States Naval War College),
- SANS Institute,
- SBG Neumark - Germany,
- Singapore Institute of Technology,
- Torrens University - Australia,
- TBS Switzerland,
- Tufts University,
- UC San Diego,
- UK Sports Institute,
- University of Galway - Ireland,
- US Department of Energy,
- US National Park Service,
- US Soccer,
- US Tennis Association,
- Verizon,
- Wrike,
- Yale University,
- and many others.
Graffius has played a key role in the Project Management Institute (PMI) in developing professional standards. He was a member of multiple teams that authored, reviewed, and produced:
- Practice Standard for Work Breakdown Structures—Second Edition.
- A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge—Sixth Edition.
- The Standard for Program Management—Fourth Edition.
- The Practice Standard for Project Estimating—Second Edition.
Additional details are here.
He was also a subject matter expert reviewer of content for the PMI’s Congress. Beyond the PMI, Graffius also served as a member of the review team for two of the Scrum Alliance’s Global Scrum Gatherings.
Acclaimed Authority on Teamwork Tradecraft
Graffius is a renowned authority on teamwork tradecraft. Informed by the research of Bruce W. Tuckman and Mary Ann C. Jensen, over 150 subsequent studies, and Graffius' first-hand professional experience with, and analysis of, team leadership and performance, Graffius created his "Phases of Team Development" intellectual property as a unique perspective and visual conveying the five phases of team development. First introduced in 2008 and periodically updated, his work provides a diagnostic and strategic guide for navigating team dynamics. It provides actionable insights for leaders across industries to develop high-performance teams. Its adoption by esteemed organizations such as Yale University, IEEE, Cisco, Microsoft, Ford, Oracle, Broadcom, the U.S. National Park Service, and the Journal of Neurosurgery, among others, highlights its utility and value, solidifying its status as an indispensable resource for elevating team performance and driving organizational excellence. In 2026, Graffius added human-AI teamwork—including the "exotic team dynamics" which emerge when advanced AI collaborates as a teammate—to his "Phases of Team Development."
The 2026 edition of Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" intellectual property is here.
Expert on Temporal Dynamics on Social Media Platforms
Graffius is also an authority on temporal dynamics on social media platforms. His "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts" research—first published in 2018 and updated annually—delivers a precise quantitative analysis of post longevity across digital platforms, utilizing advanced statistical techniques to determine mean half-life with precision. It establishes a solid empirical base, effectively highlighting the ephemeral nature of content within social media ecosystems. Referenced and applied by leading entities—such as Fast Company, GoDaddy, Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume), Ministère de la Culture (French Ministry of Culture), Pinterest Inc., PNAS, and Telecommunications Policy, among others—his research exemplifies methodological rigor and sustained significance in the field of digital informatics.
The 2026 edition of Graffius "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts" research is here.
Education and Professional Certifications
Graffius has a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a focus in Human Factors. He holds eight professional certifications:
- Certified SAFe 6 Agilist (SA),
- Certified Scrum Professional - ScrumMaster (CSP-SM),
- Certified Scrum Professional - Product Owner (CSP-PO),
- Certified ScrumMaster (CSM),
- Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO),
- Project Management Professional (PMP),
- Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (LSSGB), and
- IT Service Management Foundation (ITIL).
He is an active member of the Scrum Alliance, the Project Management Institute (PMI), and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
Advancing AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management
Scott M. Graffius continues to advance the fields of AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management through his leadership, research, writing, and real-world impact. Businesses and other organizations leverage Graffius’ insights to drive their success.
Discover Scott’s Books
- Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions — Deliver Products in Short Cycles with Rapid Adaptation to Change, Fast Time-to-Market, and Continuous Improvement
- Agile Transformation: A Brief Story of How an Entertainment Company Developed New Capabilities and Unlocked Business Agility to Thrive in an Era of Rapid Change
- Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum
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How to Cite This Article
Graffius, S. M. (2026, February 27). BMC Software Features Content from Scott M. Graffius' Book. ScottGraffius.com. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.11243.40489
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.11243.40489
Content Acknowledgements
BMC’s article "Software Quality Metrics Explained" highlights content from the award-winning book Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions by Scott M. Graffius (technical editors: Chris Hare and Colin Giffen).
BMC name, mark, and content are the property of BMC Software, Inc.
This article uses limited excerpts from BMC’s respective material, attributed and used under fair use for news reporting and analysis.
Graffius’ Agile Scrum book is copyright © Scott M. Graffius. All rights reserved.
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Post-Publication Notes
If there are any supplements or updates to this article after the date of publication, they will appear here.
Copyright
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Content on this site—including text, images, videos, and data—may not be used for training or input into any artificial intelligence, machine learning, or automatized learning systems, or published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the express written permission of Scott M. Graffius.