Gifts That Inspire Joy: 2026-2027 Edition
01 October 2026
Welcome to the 2026-2027 edition of Gifts That Inspire Joy!
This curated collection of exceptional selections is designed to make every unwrapping a moment to remember and inspire lasting joy.
Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen)
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The Bose QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) bring acclaimed noise cancellation and renowned comfort to a refreshed design. New Bose TrueSpatial Technology adds immersive listening modes, while Bluetooth multipoint connectivity makes it easy to move between devices. With up to 24 hours of wireless playtime and both wireless and wired listening options, they’re built for versatility.
The soft, padded earcups make long listening sessions comfortable, while the Bose app provides control over listening modes and other settings. Whether you’re flying, working, or simply unwinding at home, they let you focus on your music—and block out everything else.
Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle
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Give the ultimate gaming experience with the Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle. This all-in-one set features the sleek, upgraded Switch 2 console with a crisp 7.9″ display, 4K dock support, and vibrant red and blue Joy-Con 2 controllers. Included digitally is Mario Kart World, an exciting evolution of the classic franchise with open-world tracks, dynamic weather, off-road shortcuts, and up to 24-player online races.
Perfect for players of all ages, this bundle delivers endless entertainment, whether at home, on the go, or sharing the fun with friends and family.
Apple MacBook Pro Laptop Computer
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Elevate productivity and creativity with the Apple MacBook Pro, now powered by the M5 Pro chip. The 16-inch model combines a high-performance M5 Pro processor with a Liquid Retina XDR display, making it well suited to demanding professional and creative workflows, from video editing and 3D rendering to software development and intensive multitasking.
With fast connectivity, long battery life, and Apple's unified-memory architecture, MacBook Pro is engineered to empower work, play, and everything in between.
Apple Studio Display (Nano-Texture Glass, Tilt- and Height-Adjustable Stand)
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The Apple Studio Display combines elegant design with an exceptional viewing and audio experience, making it a sophisticated addition to any workspace. This 2026 model features a 27-inch 5K Retina display with True Tone and nano-texture glass, which further minimizes reflections and helps maintain outstanding image quality in brightly lit environments.
The 12MP Center Stage camera with Desk View, studio-quality three-microphone array, and six-speaker sound system with Spatial Audio make it equally well suited to video calls, presentations, music, and immersive content. Thunderbolt 5 connectivity provides fast connections for peripherals and high-speed accessories, while the tilt- and height-adjustable stand allows for a more comfortable, personalized setup.
Beautiful, capable, and thoughtfully designed, the Studio Display brings a premium experience to the desk. Whether treating yourself or gifting someone special, it is a striking upgrade for a creative studio, home office, or professional workspace.
Ledger Nano Gen5 Crypto Hardware Wallet
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The Ledger Nano Gen5 is a compact hardware wallet designed to help users securely manage cryptocurrency and digital assets. It features a Secure Element, a secure E Ink touchscreen, Bluetooth connectivity, USB-C, NFC, and Ledger’s security-focused operating system.
Its touchscreen provides a clear way to review transaction details, while Ledger’s security features are designed to help protect private keys and digital assets. It is a distinctive gift for someone interested in cryptocurrency, digital assets, or personal digital security.
Apple TV 4K
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The Apple TV 4K is a powerful streaming device that elevates your home entertainment experience with stunning 4K visuals, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and immersive Dolby Atmos audio. Powered by the A15 Bionic chip, it offers smooth performance and supports Thread networking and Gigabit Ethernet for seamless smart home integration. The included Siri Remote allows for intuitive navigation and voice control, and even helps locate the remote using your iPhone.
Beyond streaming, Apple TV 4K serves as a hub for Apple services like Fitness+, Arcade, Music, and Photos, and supports live TV and popular apps such as Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney+. Whether you’re watching, gaming, or connecting with friends and family, Apple TV 4K delivers a premium, all-in-one entertainment solution.
Louis Vuitton Keepall
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The Louis Vuitton Keepall 45 Bandoulière redefines travel elegance with its sleek black and grey Monogram Eclipse canvas, a modern twist on a classic design that has accompanied stylish globetrotters since 1930. Crafted with natural cowhide leather trimmings and a soft cotton textile lining, this cabin-size duffle combines form and function, offering ample space for an overnight journey.
Its double leather handles ensure a comfortable grip, while the removable, adjustable strap allows effortless cross-body wear, and gleaming silver hardware, including a padlock, adds a touch of sophistication. Complete with a removable leather name tag, the Keepall 45 Bandoulière is the ultimate companion for those who travel with style.
Jackery Explorer Portable Power Station
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The Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 Portable Power Station is a robust and versatile energy solution, ideal for both outdoor adventures and emergency home backup. With a substantial 2042Wh capacity and 2200W continuous output (4400W surge), it can power a variety of devices, from kitchen appliances to other essential equipment. The unit features multiple output options, allowing simultaneous charging of multiple devices.
Its LiFePO₄ battery is designed for long-term durability, while the compact design makes it portable enough for camping trips and tailgating yet powerful enough to serve as a reliable backup during power outages.
Zero Halliburton Aluminum Briefcase
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The Zero Halliburton Aluminum Briefcase is a masterclass in functional elegance, blending timeless design with modern utility. Crafted from aluminum and featuring the brand’s signature double-rib design, it combines durability with a distinctive aesthetic. The case is thoughtfully organized for professional essentials and electronic devices.
The slim profile and ergonomic carry handle make it an ideal companion for professionals on the move. Whether you’re heading to a high-stakes meeting or traveling between cities, this briefcase exudes confidence and sophistication.
Peloton Cross Training Tread Treadmill
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The Peloton Cross Training Tread brings the connected Peloton experience to a versatile home training environment. Its immersive 24-inch HD swivel touchscreen supports a wide range of workouts, including running, walking, hiking, strength training, yoga, Pilates, and barre. Manual and auto-incline options provide flexibility for different workouts and training styles.
Designed to move beyond traditional treadmill workouts, the Cross Training Tread makes it possible to transition between on-tread and off-tread activities while keeping the Peloton experience at the center of the workout.
Hasselblad 907X Anniversary Edition Camera Kit
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The Hasselblad 907X Anniversary Edition Camera Kit is a celebration of Hasselblad’s photographic heritage, combining classic design cues with a sophisticated medium-format digital imaging system. At its heart lies the CFV II 50C digital back with a 50-megapixel medium-format CMOS sensor, 16-bit color depth, and up to 14 stops of dynamic range.
The limited edition kit includes the 907X camera body, CFV II 50C digital back, XCD 30mm f/3.5 lens, control grip, and optical viewfinder, with distinctive Lunar Grey detailing and a commemorative "Since 1941" plate. With only 800 kits produced, it is as much a collectible as it is a remarkable photographic system.
Please note: Availability is limited.
Dyson V16 Piston Animal Submarine™ Cordless Wet and Dry Vacuum
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The Dyson V16 Piston Animal Submarine™ cordless wet and dry vacuum brings powerful, intelligent cleaning to virtually every floor in the home. Its 900-watt Hyperdymium™ motor delivers up to 315 Air Watts of fade-free suction, while the All Floor Cones™ Sense cleaner head automatically adapts to different floor types and uses dual conical brush bars to de-tangle long hair and direct it into the bin. LED illumination helps reveal dust that might otherwise go unseen.
The Submarine™ 2.0 wet roller head adds another dimension to everyday cleaning, washing away spills and tackling stubborn stains on hard floors with adjustable hydration control. A CleanCompaktor™ bin compresses dust and debris for less frequent emptying, while fully sealed, five-stage filtration captures 99.99% of particles as small as 0.1 microns. With up to 70 minutes of runtime, the V16 Piston Animal Submarine combines advanced cordless vacuuming and wet-floor cleaning in one sophisticated system.
SanDisk Extreme PRO Dual Drive
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The SanDisk Extreme PRO Dual Drive is a high-performance USB flash drive designed for professionals and creatives who demand speed and versatility. With a robust metal enclosure and a compact design, this drive offers up to 2TB of storage capacity. It features dual connectors (USB Type-C and USB Type-A) making it compatible with a wide range of devices, including laptops, tablets, and smartphones.
The drive delivers sequential read speeds up to 1,000MB/s and write speeds up to 900MB/s, ensuring rapid file transfers and efficient workflows. Ideal for editing large media files or backing up important documents, the SanDisk Extreme PRO Dual Drive provides the performance and reliability required to keep projects moving forward.
Creed Aventus Eau de Parfum
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Creed Aventus Eau de Parfum is a bold and sophisticated fragrance that has become a modern classic since its debut in 2010. Crafted by the House of Creed, it embodies strength, success, and elegance. The scent opens with a vibrant blend of Calabrian bergamot, blackcurrant leaves, apple, and pineapple, creating a refreshing and fruity top note. The heart reveals a complex mix of birch, patchouli, Moroccan jasmine, and pink pepper, adding depth and intrigue.
The base notes of oakmoss, musk, ambergris, and vanilla provide a warm and woody foundation, ensuring the fragrance’s longevity and richness. Aventus is celebrated for its versatility, suitable for both day and night wear across all seasons. Its unique composition and lasting power have made it a favorite among fragrance enthusiasts worldwide.
iRobot Roomba Max 705 Combo
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The iRobot Roomba Max 705 Combo Robot Vacuum & Mop with AutoWash Dock is a cutting-edge, all-in-one cleaning powerhouse designed to handle every floor in your home. As a vacuum, it delivers powerful suction and uses dual brushes to lift dirt, dust, and pet hair from carpets and rugs with ease. As a mop, its PowerSpin™ Roller Mop and SmartScrub system tackle tile, sealed hardwood, and other hard surfaces, scrubbing away stubborn spots while maintaining consistent pressure.
The AutoWash Dock takes convenience to the next level, offering hands-free operation by self-emptying the dustbin, washing and drying the mop, and refilling cleaning solution automatically. Equipped with PrecisionVision™ AI and advanced obstacle avoidance, the Roomba Max 705 navigates around furniture, cords, and everyday obstacles, ensuring every corner of your home is spotless.
With its combination of intelligent vacuuming, efficient mopping, and self-maintaining features, it’s a true all-in-one solution for a cleaner, smarter home.
Zero Halliburton Backpack
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The Zero Halliburton Profile Deluxe Business Backpack seamlessly blends durability with sophisticated design, making it an ideal companion for professionals on the move. Crafted from a robust combination of leather and Cordura nylon, this backpack offers a sleek, matte finish that resists wear and tear. Its thoughtfully designed compartments include a padded pocket to safeguard electronic devices and a front zippered pocket with an organizer to keep essentials neatly arranged.
The carry handle ensures a comfortable grip, while the padded shoulder straps are engineered to rest comfortably, regardless of the load. Whether you’re commuting or traveling for business, this backpack provides both style and functionality.
Please note: Availability is limited.
Anker Nano Charger (45W, Smart Display, 180° Foldable)
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The Anker Nano Charger (45W, Smart Display, 180° Foldable) combines compact size with intelligent charging features. It delivers up to 45W of power through USB-C and uses Smart Power Adjustment to adapt charging to the device. A built-in smart display shows charging information, while Care Mode is designed to help support battery health.
Its dual foldable prongs and 180° folding design make it easy to carry and convenient to use in tight spaces. It’s a practical, space-saving gift for anyone who carries a charger everywhere.
Marvel Comics Library: X-Men 1963–1966
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Marvel Comics Library: X-Men 1963–1966 is a monumental collector’s edition that captures the birth of mutantkind and the dawn of Marvel’s modern mythology. This 684-page volume from TASCHEN faithfully reproduces the first 21 X-Men stories from 1963 through 1966 in stunning, high-resolution detail, meticulously restored from rare original sources.
Featuring the visionary work of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, along with essays and extensive archival material, the book offers both artistic splendor and historical insight. It is a spectacular tribute to the era when Professor X’s gifted youngsters first leapt from the page and into pop culture history.
Marvel Comics Library: Avengers. Vol. 2. 1965–1967
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Marvel Comics Library: Avengers. Vol. 2. 1965–1967 from TASCHEN captures a thrilling moment in Marvel history, when the original team faced internal strife, shifting alliances, and cosmic threats that would define its legacy. This grand, oversized edition reproduces 20 original issues, Nos. 21–40, with painstaking fidelity, using pristine original comics that were photographed and digitally remastered.
Under the creative stewardship of Stan Lee and Don Heck, and later Roy Thomas, the Avengers roster expanded, tensions flared, and epic story arcs unfolded. Hawkeye, Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver, and Captain America all figure prominently, while villains such as Kang, the Enchantress, and Doctor Doom challenge Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.
An essay by Christopher Priest, along with rare art, archival documents, photographs, and other ephemera, elevates this volume beyond a reprint to a spectacular tribute to the Silver Age of Marvel Comics.
Montblanc Meisterstück Le Grand Platinum Ballpoint Pen
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The Montblanc Meisterstück Le Grand Platinum Ballpoint Pen is a timeless writing instrument that seamlessly blends classic elegance with modern sophistication. Crafted from deep black precious resin, the pen features platinum-coated accents, including three rings embossed with the Montblanc brand name and a clip engraved with an individual serial number, underscoring its exclusivity and attention to detail. The white Montblanc emblem atop the cap further enhances its distinguished appearance.
Designed for comfort and precision, the Le Grand model boasts a larger barrel, providing a balanced and ergonomic writing experience. Its twist mechanism ensures a smooth and reliable operation, making it a perfect choice for professionals and enthusiasts alike who appreciate the art of fine writing. Whether used for daily correspondence or special occasions, this pen stands as a symbol of refined taste and enduring quality.
Please note: Availability is limited.
Xbox Series X – 1TB Digital Edition
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The Xbox Series X – 1TB Digital Edition offers a premium, all-digital gaming experience, ideal for those who prefer downloading their games without physical discs. Equipped with a custom AMD Zen 2 processor and RDNA 2 GPU delivering 12 teraflops of graphics power, it supports true 4K gaming at up to 120 frames per second, ensuring smooth and immersive visuals.
Quick Resume allows players to switch between games seamlessly, while backward compatibility provides access to a vast library of games from previous Xbox generations. With 1TB of SSD storage and a streamlined all-digital design, it is built for players seeking high-performance gaming without a disc drive.
DJI Mavic 4 Pro 512GB Creator Combo Drone
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The DJI Mavic 4 Pro 512GB Creator Combo drone is a powerhouse for aerial creators seeking professional-grade performance and storage. Equipped with an advanced triple-camera system, it provides multiple focal lengths and perspectives for capturing high-quality photographs and video. Its long-range transmission and intelligent flight modes support precise, stable, and dynamic aerial shots, while the 512GB configuration provides ample onboard storage for high-resolution content.
Compact yet robust, this drone combines portability with professional-grade features, making it ideal for capturing sweeping landscapes, intricate action sequences, or creative aerial perspectives. The Creator Combo further enhances versatility with a suite of accessories designed for efficient filming.
Apple AirTag (2nd Generation) 4 Pack: Tracker for Keychain, Wallet, and More
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The Apple AirTag (2nd generation) brings an elegant measure of reassurance to everyday life, making it easier to keep track of the belongings that matter most. With expanded Precision Finding, a second-generation Ultra Wideband chip, and a speaker that’s 50% louder than the previous generation, AirTag helps locate keys, wallets, luggage, backpacks, and more with remarkable ease. The Find My app provides a seamless way to see an item’s location, play a sound, and, when nearby, receive precise guidance to its exact position.
Compact, lightweight, and IP67 water- and dust-resistant, AirTag is designed to go wherever life does. Its privacy-focused architecture encrypts location data, while unwanted-tracking protections help keep the experience secure. A thoughtful gift for travelers, Apple enthusiasts, and anyone who appreciates smart solutions to everyday challenges, AirTag offers something particularly satisfying: the confidence of knowing where your essentials are located.
Ooni Volt 2 Electric Indoor Pizza Oven
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The Ooni Volt 2 Electric Indoor Pizza Oven brings the experience of a pizzeria into the home kitchen. Its innovative Pizza Intelligence™ system uses real-time temperature data to automatically adjust heat for remarkably consistent results, while the oven reaches up to 850°F for beautifully crisp, restaurant-quality pizza in as little as 90 seconds.
Designed for effortless entertaining, Volt 2 offers dedicated settings for Neapolitan, thin-and-crispy, and pan-style pizzas, along with custom presets and a dough-proofing mode. Its elegant countertop design, generous viewing window, multipurpose oven shelf, and smoke and steam filtration make it as sophisticated as it is versatile. Beyond pizza, it can bake, roast, grill, and more, making it a luxurious addition to the modern kitchen.
Apple Watch Ultra 4
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Apple Watch Ultra 4 is designed for demanding workouts, outdoor adventures, and everyday use, with a rugged titanium case and a bright Always-On Retina display. Powered by the S11 chip, it introduces Apple’s new Health Sensing System, higher-frequency heart rate and heart rate variability measurements, and a new readiness score.
Apple Watch Ultra 4 also offers advanced workout tracking, sleep tracking, heart-health features, satellite communications, precision GPS, and extended battery life. With fast charging and a rugged design, it is built to keep pace with long workouts and extended adventures.
Samsung 75-Inch Neo QLED 4K Smart TV
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Transform the living room into a spectacular home theater with the Samsung 75-Inch QN90F Neo QLED 4K Smart TV. Its advanced Mini LED technology delivers brilliant brightness, deep contrast, and finely rendered detail, while the NQ4 AI Gen3 Processor and 4K AI Upscaling Pro intelligently enhance content for a beautifully refined picture. The glare-free display helps minimize distracting reflections, even in brightly lit rooms.
With Samsung Vision AI, the QN90F brings intelligent picture and sound enhancements to an expansive 75-inch screen. Motion Xcelerator 165Hz provides exceptionally smooth motion for sports, movies, and gaming, while Neo Quantum HDR+ adds depth and vibrancy to compatible content. Elegant and immersive, it makes a sophisticated centerpiece for an exceptional home entertainment experience.
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Tags: #GiftsThatInspireJoy • #Luxury • #Gifts • #GiftIdeas • #LuxuryGifts • #Tech • #TechGifts • Apple MacBook Pro • Apple Studio Display • Apple TV • Apple Watch Ultra 4 • Bose QuietComfort Headphones • Nintendo Switch 2 • Ledger Nano Gen5 Crypto Hardware Wallet • SanDisk Extreme Pro USB Thumb Drive • Anker Nano Charger • Jackery Portable Power Station • Tech Gifts • Peloton Cross Training Tread • Dyson Gen5Detect Cordless Vacuum Cleaner • iRobot Roomba Max 705 • Louis Vuitton Keepall • Zero Halliburton Aluminum Briefcase • Hasselblad 907X Camera Kit • Creed Cologne • X-Men Collector’s Book • Avengers Collector’s Book • Montblanc Pen • Ooni Volt 2 Electric Indoor Pizza Oven • Apple AirTag (2nd Generation) 4 Pack • Samsung 75-Inch Neo QLED 4K Smart TV
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Taiwan Ministry of Education Report Cites Graffius' Phases of Team Development
17 September 2026
BY SCOTT M. GRAFFIUS | ScottGraffius.com
Recommended Citation
Graffius, S. M. (2026, September 17). Taiwan Ministry of Education Report Cites Graffius' Phases of Team Development. ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/taiwan-ministry-of-education-report-cites-graffius-phases-of-team-development.html
About This Article
Source information and links for materials cited are provided in the References section.
Scott M. Graffius is a technology leader, researcher, author, consultant, speaker, and thought leader specializing in AI, Agile, project/program/portfolio management (PPPM), PMO leadership, and teamwork tradecraft. His work explores the intersection of human ingenuity and emerging technology, with a strong practitioner voice grounded in research, experimentation, and experience. His focus includes innovation, organizational performance, and teamwork tradecraft, including the "exotic team dynamics" that emerge when people collaborate with advanced AI. He has generated over $3.1 billion in business value.
A Taiwan Ministry of Education research report, developed at National Cheng Kung University (Taiwan), cites Scott M. Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" material on teamwork, collaboration, and leadership. Selected excerpts are shown in the visual below.
The research report — "Project report for the MOE Teaching Practice Research Program, Project No. PGE1134661" — cited the 2023 edition of the "Phases of Team Development." Graffius regularly updates his work. Highlights of the current (2026) edition, and more, are presented next.
The following excerpts from Scott M. Graffius' Phases of Team Development - Applied to Human Teams and Human-AI Teams: 2026 Update provides an overview of his respective material. The excerpts appear in blue, italic font.
"Exceptional teamwork is the indispensable multiplier that amplifies individual talents, drives superior performance, and creates a lasting competitive advantage—whether the team is all-human or human-AI."
"Informed by the research of Bruce W. Tuckman and Mary Ann C. Jensen, over 150 subsequent studies on human teamwork, and Scott M. Graffius' first-hand professional experience with and analysis of team leadership and high-performance teams, Graffius created his "Phases of Team Development" as a unique perspective and visual conveying the five phases of team development—Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing, and Adjourning—inclusive of a graph showing how performance varies by phase, as well as the characteristics and strategies for each phase. Project Managers, Scrum Masters, Agile Coaches, and other leaders can apply these insights to overcome team challenges, fostering happiness, productivity, and success in both human and human-AI teams. Graffius initially developed his unique material in 2008, and he periodically updates it."
"Businesses, professional associations, government agencies, universities, researchers, journalists, and others worldwide have featured and utilized prior editions of Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" material. Examples include Adobe, American Management Association, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Bayer, Boston University, Broadcom, Cisco, DevOps Institute, Erste Group Bank AG, Finland Government, Ford Motor Company, 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, Torrens University, Tufts University, U.S. National Park Service, U.S. Tennis Association, UC San Diego, UK Sports Institute, University of Galway, Warsaw University of Technology, Yale University, and many others."
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. Additional details are here.
Scott M. Graffius has generated over $3.1 billion in business value for Fortune 500 companies and other organizations around the world. Put that track record to work for you. For speaking engagements, use the request form; for other inquiries, email him.
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. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.10720.35846
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 Cheng Kung University. (n.d.). https://web.ncku.edu.tw
Taiwan Ministry of Education. (n.d.). https://english.moe.gov.tw [Note: The site may load slowly and temporarily time out.]
Weng, H.-C. (2025). Integrating team art collaboration in emotional training courses to enhance students' social emotional expression and teamwork abilities [Project report for the MOE Teaching Practice Research Program, Project No. PGE1134661]. National Cheng Kung University, Institute of Health Care Sciences. https://nckur.lib.ncku.edu.tw/bitstream/987654321/316249/1/13.%E7%BF%81%E6%85%A7%E5%8D%BF_%E6%88%90%E6%9E%9C%E5%A0%B1%E5%91%8A.pdf [Note: The site may load slowly and temporarily time out.]
The Ministry of Education (MOE) of the Republic of China (Taiwan) is Taiwan's central government agency responsible for education policy and administration. Among its initiatives is the Teaching Practice Research Program for Teachers in Colleges and Universities, which provides funding for research examining teaching practices and student learning outcomes in higher education. The program supports projects that investigate teaching methods, instructional design, learning assessment, and related approaches to improving students' learning.
National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) is a research university in Tainan, Taiwan. Founded in 1931 as Tainan Technical College and attaining its present status and name in 1971, NCKU has developed from an engineering-focused institution into a comprehensive university encompassing fields including engineering, science, liberal arts, management, medicine, social sciences, electrical engineering and computer science, planning and design, and bioscience and biotechnology. The university describes its academic environment as emphasizing research, interdisciplinary innovation, international engagement, and collaboration with industry and society. NCKU is also active in research and international collaboration across a broad range of fields.
Scott M. Graffius is a technology leader, researcher, award-winning author, practitioner, consultant, thought leader, and international public speaker specializing in AI, Agile, project/program/portfolio management (PPPM), PMO leadership, and teamwork tradecraft. His work explores the intersection of human ingenuity and emerging technology, with a strong practitioner voice grounded in research, experimentation, and experience. His focus includes innovation, organizational performance, and the evolving practice of teamwork, including the "exotic team dynamics" that emerge when people collaborate with advanced artificial intelligence (agentic, autonomous, or autopoietic AI). Graffius has delivered more than $3.1 billion in business value for Fortune 500 companies and other organizations spanning technology, entertainment and media, financial services, healthcare, government, and other industries.
Businesses, professional associations, government agencies, universities, publications, and media outlets use Graffius and his work. Examples include Adobe, Bayer, Boston University, Ford, Gartner, Harvard Medical School, IEEE, Innovation Project Management, 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 highlight his experience, leadership, contributions, research, and enduring influence across industries and institutions worldwide.
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 enterprise 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 media, and more.
He has experience with consumer, business, reseller, government, and international markets.
Additional information is on LinkedIn.
Award-Winning Author
Graffius has authored three books.
Graffius' first book, Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions, earned 17 awards. It provides a practical, step-by-step guide to Scrum, enabling teams to deliver products in short cycles with rapid adaptation, fast time-to-market, and continuous improvement—which supports innovation and drives competitive advantage.
Additional information on Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions is here.
His second book, 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, was named one of the best Scrum books of all time by BookAuthority. It tells the compelling story of an entertainment company's agile transformation—offering lessons that apply across industries.
Additional information on 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 is here.
Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum, is his third book—and his first work of fiction.
It's a fast-paced satirical story by that dismantles corporate Agile cosplay and other forms of "fake Agile" while delivering practical insights, actionable guidance, and proven practices for real-world Agile transformation success.
Packed with humor, quirky characters, sharp commentary on corporate culture and workplace absurdities, and actionable tips, it’s a must-read for Scrum Masters, Product Owners, Agile Coaches, Agile Project Managers, and other professionals interested in Agile project management and enterprise agility.
Additional information on Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum is here.
International Public Speaker
Organizations worldwide engage Graffius to present on technology (including AI), Agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and enterprise PMO leadership. He crafts and delivers unique and compelling talks and workshops.
Graffius has conducted 99 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), Future of Work and Advanced AI (Paris, France), and more.
With an average rating of 4.82 (on a scale of 1-5), sessions are highly valued.
The 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:
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.
Authority on Teamwork Tradecraft
Graffius is a renowned and highly-cited 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 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, 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/program/portfolio management (PPPM), and PMO leadership. Businesses and other organizations leverage Graffius’ insights to drive their success.
Graffius has generated over $3.1 billion in business value for Fortune 500 companies and other organizations served. Put that track record to work for you. For speaking engagements, use the request form; for other inquiries, email him.
Connect with and follow Scott on LinkedIn, X, YouTube, Facebook, Bluesky, Mastodon, and ResearchGate.
Read more.
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Graffius, S. M. (2026, September 17). Taiwan Ministry of Education Report Cites Graffius' Phases of Team Development. ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/taiwan-ministry-of-education-report-cites-graffius-phases-of-team-development.html
Coming soon
A Taiwan Ministry of Education research report, developed at National Cheng Kung University, cites Scott M. Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" IP on teamwork, collaboration, and leadership. Taiwan Ministry of Education name, mark, and content are the property of the Taiwan Ministry of Education. National Cheng Kung University name, mark, and content are the property of National Cheng Kung University. This article includes limited excerpts of the respective research report, attributed and used under the 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.
Recommended Citation
Graffius, S. M. (2026, September 17). Taiwan Ministry of Education Report Cites Graffius' Phases of Team Development. ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/taiwan-ministry-of-education-report-cites-graffius-phases-of-team-development.html
About This Article
Source information and links for materials cited are provided in the References section.
Ministry of Education Research Report Cites Scott M. Graffius' Resource on Teamwork Tradecraft
Scott M. Graffius is a technology leader, researcher, author, consultant, speaker, and thought leader specializing in AI, Agile, project/program/portfolio management (PPPM), PMO leadership, and teamwork tradecraft. His work explores the intersection of human ingenuity and emerging technology, with a strong practitioner voice grounded in research, experimentation, and experience. His focus includes innovation, organizational performance, and teamwork tradecraft, including the "exotic team dynamics" that emerge when people collaborate with advanced AI. He has generated over $3.1 billion in business value.
A Taiwan Ministry of Education research report, developed at National Cheng Kung University (Taiwan), cites Scott M. Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" material on teamwork, collaboration, and leadership. Selected excerpts are shown in the visual below.
The research report — "Project report for the MOE Teaching Practice Research Program, Project No. PGE1134661" — cited the 2023 edition of the "Phases of Team Development." Graffius regularly updates his work. Highlights of the current (2026) edition, and more, are presented next.
Graffius' "Phases of Team Development"
The following excerpts from Scott M. Graffius' Phases of Team Development - Applied to Human Teams and Human-AI Teams: 2026 Update provides an overview of his respective material. The excerpts appear in blue, italic font.
"Exceptional teamwork is the indispensable multiplier that amplifies individual talents, drives superior performance, and creates a lasting competitive advantage—whether the team is all-human or human-AI."
"Informed by the research of Bruce W. Tuckman and Mary Ann C. Jensen, over 150 subsequent studies on human teamwork, and Scott M. Graffius' first-hand professional experience with and analysis of team leadership and high-performance teams, Graffius created his "Phases of Team Development" as a unique perspective and visual conveying the five phases of team development—Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing, and Adjourning—inclusive of a graph showing how performance varies by phase, as well as the characteristics and strategies for each phase. Project Managers, Scrum Masters, Agile Coaches, and other leaders can apply these insights to overcome team challenges, fostering happiness, productivity, and success in both human and human-AI teams. Graffius initially developed his unique material in 2008, and he periodically updates it."
"Businesses, professional associations, government agencies, universities, researchers, journalists, and others worldwide have featured and utilized prior editions of Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" material. Examples include Adobe, American Management Association, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Bayer, Boston University, Broadcom, Cisco, DevOps Institute, Erste Group Bank AG, Finland Government, Ford Motor Company, 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, Torrens University, Tufts University, U.S. National Park Service, U.S. Tennis Association, UC San Diego, UK Sports Institute, University of Galway, Warsaw University of Technology, Yale University, and many others."
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. Additional details are here.
Scott M. Graffius has generated over $3.1 billion in business value for Fortune 500 companies and other organizations around the world. Put that track record to work for you. For speaking engagements, use the request form; for other inquiries, email him.
References
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. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.10720.35846
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 Cheng Kung University. (n.d.). https://web.ncku.edu.tw
Taiwan Ministry of Education. (n.d.). https://english.moe.gov.tw [Note: The site may load slowly and temporarily time out.]
Weng, H.-C. (2025). Integrating team art collaboration in emotional training courses to enhance students' social emotional expression and teamwork abilities [Project report for the MOE Teaching Practice Research Program, Project No. PGE1134661]. National Cheng Kung University, Institute of Health Care Sciences. https://nckur.lib.ncku.edu.tw/bitstream/987654321/316249/1/13.%E7%BF%81%E6%85%A7%E5%8D%BF_%E6%88%90%E6%9E%9C%E5%A0%B1%E5%91%8A.pdf [Note: The site may load slowly and temporarily time out.]
About the Taiwan Ministry of Education
The Ministry of Education (MOE) of the Republic of China (Taiwan) is Taiwan's central government agency responsible for education policy and administration. Among its initiatives is the Teaching Practice Research Program for Teachers in Colleges and Universities, which provides funding for research examining teaching practices and student learning outcomes in higher education. The program supports projects that investigate teaching methods, instructional design, learning assessment, and related approaches to improving students' learning.
About National Cheng Kung University
National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) is a research university in Tainan, Taiwan. Founded in 1931 as Tainan Technical College and attaining its present status and name in 1971, NCKU has developed from an engineering-focused institution into a comprehensive university encompassing fields including engineering, science, liberal arts, management, medicine, social sciences, electrical engineering and computer science, planning and design, and bioscience and biotechnology. The university describes its academic environment as emphasizing research, interdisciplinary innovation, international engagement, and collaboration with industry and society. NCKU is also active in research and international collaboration across a broad range of fields.
About Scott M. Graffius
Scott M. Graffius is a technology leader, researcher, award-winning author, practitioner, consultant, thought leader, and international public speaker specializing in AI, Agile, project/program/portfolio management (PPPM), PMO leadership, and teamwork tradecraft. His work explores the intersection of human ingenuity and emerging technology, with a strong practitioner voice grounded in research, experimentation, and experience. His focus includes innovation, organizational performance, and the evolving practice of teamwork, including the "exotic team dynamics" that emerge when people collaborate with advanced artificial intelligence (agentic, autonomous, or autopoietic AI). Graffius has delivered more than $3.1 billion in business value for Fortune 500 companies and other organizations spanning technology, entertainment and media, financial services, healthcare, government, and other industries.
Businesses, professional associations, government agencies, universities, publications, and media outlets use Graffius and his work. Examples include Adobe, Bayer, Boston University, Ford, Gartner, Harvard Medical School, IEEE, Innovation Project Management, 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 highlight his experience, leadership, contributions, research, and enduring influence across industries and institutions worldwide.
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 enterprise 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 media, and more.
He has experience with consumer, business, reseller, government, and international markets.
Additional information is on LinkedIn.
Award-Winning Author
Graffius has authored three books.
Graffius' first book, Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions, earned 17 awards. It provides a practical, step-by-step guide to Scrum, enabling teams to deliver products in short cycles with rapid adaptation, fast time-to-market, and continuous improvement—which supports innovation and drives competitive advantage.
- Paperback ISBN-13: 9781533370242
- Kindle ASIN: B01FZ0JIIY
Additional information on Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions is here.
His second book, 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, was named one of the best Scrum books of all time by BookAuthority. It tells the compelling story of an entertainment company's agile transformation—offering lessons that apply across industries.
- Paperback ISBN-13: 9781072447962
- Kindle ASIN: B07R9LJLPJ
Additional information on 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 is here.
Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum, is his third book—and his first work of fiction.
It's a fast-paced satirical story by that dismantles corporate Agile cosplay and other forms of "fake Agile" while delivering practical insights, actionable guidance, and proven practices for real-world Agile transformation success.
Packed with humor, quirky characters, sharp commentary on corporate culture and workplace absurdities, and actionable tips, it’s a must-read for Scrum Masters, Product Owners, Agile Coaches, Agile Project Managers, and other professionals interested in Agile project management and enterprise agility.
- Kindle ASIN: B0F2SJ83WT
- Audible ASIN: B0DJG163R5
Additional information on Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum is here.
International Public Speaker
Organizations worldwide engage Graffius to present on technology (including AI), Agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and enterprise PMO leadership. He crafts and delivers unique and compelling talks and workshops.
Graffius has conducted 99 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), Future of Work and Advanced AI (Paris, France), and more.
With an average rating of 4.82 (on a scale of 1-5), sessions are highly valued.
The 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,
- BCG,
- BMC Software,
- Boston Consulting Group (BCG),
- 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 Marketing,
- 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,
- Ohio State University,
- Oracle,
- Pinterest Inc.,
- Project Management Institute,
- Mary Raum (Professor of National Security Affairs, United States Naval War College),
- Round Square Global Educational Network,
- Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP),
- 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:
- The Standard for Artificial Intelligence in Portfolio, Program, and Project Management.
- Agile Practice Guide — Second Edition.
- A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide) — Eighth Edition.
- A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide) — Sixth Edition.
- The Standard for Program Management — Fourth Edition.
- Practice Standard for Work Breakdown Structures — Second Edition.
- The Practice Standard for Project Estimating — Second Edition.
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.
Authority on Teamwork Tradecraft
Graffius is a renowned and highly-cited 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 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, 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/program/portfolio management (PPPM), and PMO leadership. Businesses and other organizations leverage Graffius’ insights to drive their success.
Booking
Graffius has generated over $3.1 billion in business value for Fortune 500 companies and other organizations served. Put that track record to work for you. For speaking engagements, use the request form; for other inquiries, email him.
Connect with and follow Scott on LinkedIn, X, YouTube, Facebook, Bluesky, Mastodon, and ResearchGate.
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List of Additional Articles
Read more.
Meta CTO Called the AI Reorganization “Atrocious” — What Went Wrong and the Lessons for Human-AI Teams
A Critical Analysis of "AI and Quantum Computers Will Be Frenemies"
A Supplement to Graffius' Phases of Team Development: Exploring the Original, Data-Based Curvature for the Performance Trajectory
Scott M. Graffius Speaking on Strategic Leadership at Silicon Valley Chapter of the Project Management Institute
AI Hallucinations, Deception, and Unauthorized Agency: The Spectrum of AI Trust Failures
A Critical Analysis of "The Social Cost of an AI Teammate: How an Artificial Teammate Reshapes Human-Human Communication in Small-Team Decision-Making"
Journal of Marketing Cites Scott M. Graffius' Research on the Half-Life of Social Media
The Evolution of Pair Programming and the Rise of Exotic Team Dynamics
Number 1 University in England for Student Satisfaction Features Scott M. Graffius' "Phases of Team Development"
Royal Australasian College of Physicians Licenses Scott M. Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" Intellectual Property on Teamwork Tradecraft
Exotic Team Dynamics: How Advanced AI Teammates Are Unlocking New Levels of Innovation, Performance, and Success
A Critical Analysis of "Platform-Specific Data Decay Patterns: A Comparative Study of Twitter, Reddit, and TikTok" and Its Reference to Research by Scott M. Graffius
Round Square Global Educational Network Features Scott M. Graffius’ Phases of Team Development
Meta's Muse Missed the Mark: Hollywood’s Win Against Big Tech on AI Consent and Likeness Rights
Scott M. Graffius Contributed to Seven Project Management Institute (PMI) Standards
Quantum Computing, Advanced AI Acceleration, and the Rise of Exotic Team Dynamics in Human-AI Teams
Ohio State University Course Features Scott M. Graffius' "Phases of Team Development"
Questions About Integrity at UNC Chapel Hill
Scrum Isn’t Just for Coding
Book on Generative and Agentic AI Cites Scott M. Graffius' Work on AI
IPA / ADAL Publication Plagiarized Another’s Copyrighted Work and Violated Intellectual Property Rights
UC Davis' Integrity Is Circling the Drain
L'avenir du Travail et de l'IA Avancée / Future of Work and Advanced AI
NCCI / UNC Chapel Hill Publication Features Scott M. Graffius' Work
Boston Consulting Group (BCG) Features Scott M. Graffius' Research on Social Media Content Half-Life
UC Davis Used Scott M. Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" Intellectual Property
Medical, Pharma, and Healthcare Organizations Are Using Scott M. Graffius' "Phases of Team Development"
Government of Ireland Report Features Research by Scott M. Graffius
Scott M. Graffius Contributed to The Standard for Artificial Intelligence in Portfolio, Program, and Project Management
AI Governance Initiative Cites Scott M. Graffius Research on AI Hallucinations
Scott M. Graffius Contributed to the Agile Practice Guide - Second Edition
Scott M. Graffius Generated Over $2.51 Billion in Business Value for Fortune 500 Companies and Other Organizations
Government of Canada Features Research by Scott M. Graffius
"Strategic Business Research" Journal Cites Work of Scott M. Graffius
IEEE Access Publication Features Scott M. Graffius’ Research on the Half-Life of Social Media
The Agile Coach: 2026 Edition
Scott M. Graffius’ Work Cited in International Peer-Reviewed Journal on Digital Transformation
Phases of Team Development in Elite Sport
A Critical Analysis of COVID-19 Treatment Search Trends and Media Coverage Study Citing Scott M. Graffius' Work
Human-AI Teamwork: Master the Exotic Team Dynamics That Emerge When Collaborating with Advanced AI -- Or Be Outplayed
"Agile Scrum" by Scott M. Graffius Now Featured on Grokipedia
UNSW Aerospace Engineering Course Features Scott M. Graffius' "Phases of Team Development"
Thinkers360 Honors Scott M. Graffius as a 2026 Top Agile Thought Leader
Agile's Journey Through the Decades: Update for 2026
BMC Software Features Content from Scott M. Graffius' Book
Peer-Reviewed Journal Cited Work of Scott M. Graffius
University of Waterloo Features Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" in Course Materials
Perplexity Standalone Article on AI Hallucinations Cites Research by Scott M. Graffius
Handling the Saboteur Within: Lessons from a 3-Letter Agency on Spotting and Stopping Intentional and Unintentional Sabotage
A Deep Dive Into the Typical Engagement Pattern for Social Media Posts
Most Valuable IT Certifications: Update for 2026
"Marketing in the Metaverse" Spotlights Scott M. Graffius’ Research on the Half-Life of Social Media
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
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
The “Pants-on-Fire Index for AI”
16 Causes of Technical Debt and How to Avoid It
PMI’s Infinity AI Gets the Basics of Team Development Alarmingly and Repeatedly Wrong
Agile for Unicorns: 7 Keys to Thrive; Scott M. Graffius’ Workshop
Scott M. Graffius’ “Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions” Featured in Prestigious National Academies of Sciences Publication
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
The Problem with Heroes in Agile
The 3 Vital Rules of Science: What They Are and Why They Matter
“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
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
Constructor University 2024 Advanced Software Technology Handbook References Scott M. Graffius' Work on Team Dynamics
Strategies for Medical Team Success Featured Scott M. Graffius’ ‘Phases of Team Development’ Intellectual Property
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
'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.
How to Cite This Article
Graffius, S. M. (2026, September 17). Taiwan Ministry of Education Report Cites Graffius' Phases of Team Development. ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/taiwan-ministry-of-education-report-cites-graffius-phases-of-team-development.html
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Coming soon
Content Acknowledgements
A Taiwan Ministry of Education research report, developed at National Cheng Kung University, cites Scott M. Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" IP on teamwork, collaboration, and leadership. Taiwan Ministry of Education name, mark, and content are the property of the Taiwan Ministry of Education. National Cheng Kung University name, mark, and content are the property of National Cheng Kung University. This article includes limited excerpts of the respective research report, attributed and used under the 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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- Phases of Team Development
- Scott M. Graffius
- Team Development
- Team Dynamics
- Teamwork
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- Higher Education
- Teaching Practice Research
- National Cheng Kung University
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- #PhasesOfTeamDevelopment
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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.
Scott M. Graffius Generated Over $3.1 Billion in Business Value
09 September 2026
BY SCOTT M. GRAFFIUS | ScottGraffius.com
Recommended Citation
Graffius, S. M. (2026, September 9). Scott M. Graffius Generated Over $3.1 Billion in Business Value. ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/scott-m-graffius-generated-over-3-point-1-billion-dollars.html
Scott M. Graffius is a technology leader, researcher, award-winning author, practitioner, consultant, thought leader, and international public speaker specializing in AI, Agile, project/program/portfolio management (PPPM), PMO leadership, and teamwork tradecraft. His work explores the intersection of human ingenuity and emerging technology, with a strong practitioner voice grounded in research, experimentation, and experience. His focus includes innovation, organizational performance, and the evolving practice of teamwork, including the "exotic team dynamics" that emerge when people collaborate with advanced artificial intelligence (agentic, autonomous, or autopoietic AI). Graffius has delivered more than $3.1 billion in business value for Fortune 500 companies and other organizations spanning technology, entertainment and media, financial services, healthcare, government, and other industries.
Businesses, professional associations, government agencies, universities, publications, and media outlets use Graffius and his work. Examples include Adobe, Bayer, Boston University, Ford, Gartner, Harvard Medical School, IEEE, Innovation Project Management, 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 highlight his experience, leadership, contributions, research, and enduring influence across industries and institutions worldwide.
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 enterprise 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 media, and more.
He has experience with consumer, business, reseller, government, and international markets.
Additional information is on LinkedIn.
Graffius has authored three books.
Graffius' first book, Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions, earned 17 awards. It provides a practical, step-by-step guide to Scrum, enabling teams to deliver products in short cycles with rapid adaptation, fast time-to-market, and continuous improvement—which supports innovation and drives competitive advantage.
Additional information on Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions is here.
His second book, 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, was named one of the best Scrum books of all time by BookAuthority. It tells the compelling story of an entertainment company's agile transformation—offering lessons that apply across industries.
Additional information on 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 is here.
Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum, is his third book—and his first work of fiction.
It's a fast-paced satirical story by that dismantles corporate Agile cosplay and other forms of "fake Agile" while delivering practical insights, actionable guidance, and proven practices for real-world Agile transformation success.
Packed with humor, quirky characters, sharp commentary on corporate culture and workplace absurdities, and actionable tips, it’s a must-read for Scrum Masters, Product Owners, Agile Coaches, Agile Project Managers, and other professionals interested in Agile project management and enterprise agility.
Additional information on Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum is here.
Organizations worldwide engage Graffius to present on technology (including AI), Agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and enterprise PMO leadership. He crafts and delivers unique and compelling talks and workshops.
Graffius has conducted 99 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), Future of Work and Advanced AI (Paris, France), and more.
With an average rating of 4.82 (on a scale of 1-5), sessions are highly valued.
The request form is here.
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:
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.
Graffius is a renowned and highly-cited 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 is here.
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, 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.
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).
Scott M. Graffius continues to advance the fields of AI, Agile, and project/program/portfolio management (PPPM), and PMO leadership. Businesses and other organizations leverage Graffius’ insights to drive their success.
Graffius has generated over $3.1 billion in business value for Fortune 500 companies and other organizations served. Put that track record to work for you. For speaking engagements, use the request form; for other inquiries, email him.
Connect with and follow Scott on LinkedIn, X, YouTube, Facebook, Bluesky, Mastodon, and ResearchGate.
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 $3.1 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 4.82 (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:
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, Bluesky, Mastodon, and ResearchGate.
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Scrum Isn’t Just for Coding
Book on Generative and Agentic AI Cites Scott M. Graffius' Work on AI
IPA / ADAL Publication Plagiarized Another’s Copyrighted Work and Violated Intellectual Property Rights
UC Davis' Integrity Is Circling the Drain
L'avenir du Travail et de l'IA Avancée / Future of Work and Advanced AI
NCCI / UNC Chapel Hill Publication Features Scott M. Graffius' Work
Boston Consulting Group (BCG) Features Scott M. Graffius' Research on Social Media Content Half-Life
UC Davis Used Scott M. Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" Intellectual Property
Medical, Pharma, and Healthcare Organizations Are Using Scott M. Graffius' "Phases of Team Development"
Government of Ireland Report Features Research by Scott M. Graffius
Scott M. Graffius Contributed to The Standard for Artificial Intelligence in Portfolio, Program, and Project Management
AI Governance Initiative Cites Scott M. Graffius Research on AI Hallucinations
Scott M. Graffius Contributed to the Agile Practice Guide - Second Edition
Scott M. Graffius Generated Over $2.51 Billion in Business Value for Fortune 500 Companies and Other Organizations
Government of Canada Features Research by Scott M. Graffius
"Strategic Business Research" Journal Cites Work of Scott M. Graffius
IEEE Access Publication Features Scott M. Graffius’ Research on the Half-Life of Social Media
The Agile Coach: 2026 Edition
Scott M. Graffius’ Work Cited in International Peer-Reviewed Journal on Digital Transformation
Phases of Team Development in Elite Sport
A Critical Analysis of COVID-19 Treatment Search Trends and Media Coverage Study Citing Scott M. Graffius' Work
Human-AI Teamwork: Master the Exotic Team Dynamics That Emerge When Collaborating with Advanced AI -- Or Be Outplayed
"Agile Scrum" by Scott M. Graffius Now Featured on Grokipedia
UNSW Aerospace Engineering Course Features Scott M. Graffius' "Phases of Team Development"
Thinkers360 Honors Scott M. Graffius as a 2026 Top Agile Thought Leader
Agile's Journey Through the Decades: Update for 2026
BMC Software Features Content from Scott M. Graffius' Book
Peer-Reviewed Journal Cited Work of Scott M. Graffius
University of Waterloo Features Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" in Course Materials
Perplexity Standalone Article on AI Hallucinations Cites Research by Scott M. Graffius
Handling the Saboteur Within: Lessons from a 3-Letter Agency on Spotting and Stopping Intentional and Unintentional Sabotage
A Deep Dive Into the Typical Engagement Pattern for Social Media Posts
Most Valuable IT Certifications: Update for 2026
"Marketing in the Metaverse" Spotlights Scott M. Graffius’ Research on the Half-Life of Social Media
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
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
The “Pants-on-Fire Index for AI”
16 Causes of Technical Debt and How to Avoid It
PMI’s Infinity AI Gets the Basics of Team Development Alarmingly and Repeatedly Wrong
Agile for Unicorns: 7 Keys to Thrive; Scott M. Graffius’ Workshop
Scott M. Graffius’ “Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions” Featured in Prestigious National Academies of Sciences Publication
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
The Problem with Heroes in Agile
The 3 Vital Rules of Science: What They Are and Why They Matter
“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
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
Constructor University 2024 Advanced Software Technology Handbook References Scott M. Graffius' Work on Team Dynamics
Strategies for Medical Team Success Featured Scott M. Graffius’ ‘Phases of Team Development’ Intellectual Property
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
'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, September 9). Scott M. Graffius Generated Over $3.1 Billion in Business Value. ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/scott-m-graffius-generated-over-3-point-1-billion-dollars.html
Coming soon
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If there are any supplements or updates to this article after the date of publication, they will appear here.
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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.
Recommended Citation
Graffius, S. M. (2026, September 9). Scott M. Graffius Generated Over $3.1 Billion in Business Value. ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/scott-m-graffius-generated-over-3-point-1-billion-dollars.html
Introduction
Scott M. Graffius is a technology leader, researcher, award-winning author, practitioner, consultant, thought leader, and international public speaker specializing in AI, Agile, project/program/portfolio management (PPPM), PMO leadership, and teamwork tradecraft. His work explores the intersection of human ingenuity and emerging technology, with a strong practitioner voice grounded in research, experimentation, and experience. His focus includes innovation, organizational performance, and the evolving practice of teamwork, including the "exotic team dynamics" that emerge when people collaborate with advanced artificial intelligence (agentic, autonomous, or autopoietic AI). Graffius has delivered more than $3.1 billion in business value for Fortune 500 companies and other organizations spanning technology, entertainment and media, financial services, healthcare, government, and other industries.
Businesses, professional associations, government agencies, universities, publications, and media outlets use Graffius and his work. Examples include Adobe, Bayer, Boston University, Ford, Gartner, Harvard Medical School, IEEE, Innovation Project Management, 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 highlight his experience, leadership, contributions, research, and enduring influence across industries and institutions worldwide.
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 enterprise 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 media, and more.
He has experience with consumer, business, reseller, government, and international markets.
Additional information is on LinkedIn.
Award-Winning Author
Graffius has authored three books.
Graffius' first book, Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions, earned 17 awards. It provides a practical, step-by-step guide to Scrum, enabling teams to deliver products in short cycles with rapid adaptation, fast time-to-market, and continuous improvement—which supports innovation and drives competitive advantage.
- Paperback ISBN-13: 9781533370242
- Kindle ASIN: B01FZ0JIIY
Additional information on Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions is here.
His second book, 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, was named one of the best Scrum books of all time by BookAuthority. It tells the compelling story of an entertainment company's agile transformation—offering lessons that apply across industries.
- Paperback ISBN-13: 9781072447962
- Kindle ASIN: B07R9LJLPJ
Additional information on 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 is here.
Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum, is his third book—and his first work of fiction.
It's a fast-paced satirical story by that dismantles corporate Agile cosplay and other forms of "fake Agile" while delivering practical insights, actionable guidance, and proven practices for real-world Agile transformation success.
Packed with humor, quirky characters, sharp commentary on corporate culture and workplace absurdities, and actionable tips, it’s a must-read for Scrum Masters, Product Owners, Agile Coaches, Agile Project Managers, and other professionals interested in Agile project management and enterprise agility.
- Kindle ASIN: B0F2SJ83WT
- Audible ASIN: B0DJG163R5
Additional information on Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum is here.
International Public Speaker
Organizations worldwide engage Graffius to present on technology (including AI), Agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and enterprise PMO leadership. He crafts and delivers unique and compelling talks and workshops.
Graffius has conducted 99 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), Future of Work and Advanced AI (Paris, France), and more.
With an average rating of 4.82 (on a scale of 1-5), sessions are highly valued.
The 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,
- BCG,
- BMC Software,
- Boston Consulting Group (BCG),
- 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 Marketing,
- 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,
- Ohio State University,
- Oracle,
- Pinterest Inc.,
- Project Management Institute,
- Mary Raum (Professor of National Security Affairs, United States Naval War College),
- Round Square Global Educational Network,
- Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP),
- 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:
- The Standard for Artificial Intelligence in Portfolio, Program, and Project Management.
- Agile Practice Guide — Second Edition.
- A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide) — Eighth Edition.
- A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide) — Sixth Edition.
- The Standard for Program Management — Fourth Edition.
- Practice Standard for Work Breakdown Structures — Second Edition.
- The Practice Standard for Project Estimating — Second Edition.
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.
Authority on Teamwork Tradecraft
Graffius is a renowned and highly-cited 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 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, 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/program/portfolio management (PPPM), and PMO leadership. Businesses and other organizations leverage Graffius’ insights to drive their success.
Booking
Graffius has generated over $3.1 billion in business value for Fortune 500 companies and other organizations served. Put that track record to work for you. For speaking engagements, use the request form; for other inquiries, email him.
Connect with and follow Scott on LinkedIn, X, YouTube, Facebook, Bluesky, Mastodon, and ResearchGate.
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 $3.1 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 4.82 (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:
- The Standard for Artificial Intelligence in Portfolio, Program, and Project Management
- Agile Practice Guide – Second Edition
- A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide) – Eighth Edition
- A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide) – Sixth Edition
- The Standard for Program Management – Fourth Edition
- Practice Standard for Work Breakdown Structures – Second Edition
- The Practice Standard for Project Estimating – Second Edition
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
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List of Additional Articles
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Meta CTO Called the AI Reorganization “Atrocious” — What Went Wrong and the Lessons for Human-AI Teams
27 August 2026
BY SCOTT M. GRAFFIUS | ScottGraffius.com
Recommended Citation
Graffius, S. M. (2026, August 27). Meta CTO Called the AI Reorganization “Atrocious” — What Went Wrong and the Lessons for Human-AI Teams. ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/meta-called-their-ai-reorg-atrocious.html
About This Article
Source information and links for materials cited are provided in the References section.
Meta's Project OT, short for Organization Transformation, was an ambitious effort to make the company more AI-native. The idea was to use AI to take on more work, increase individual employees' leverage, and operate with smaller teams. Internal planning documents reportedly contemplated reducing the size of some teams by as much as 60%.
The restructuring was planned in two waves. In May 2026, Meta laid off about 8,000 employees, or roughly 10% of its workforce. Thousands of others were moved into AI-focused or other priority initiatives. But the transformation failed spectacularly. Employee sentiment reportedly dropped from 74% favorable to 55%. Others were unhappy with new assignments they considered mundane or unfulfilling. Still others raised concerns about how their work activity was being used to train AI systems (that could eventually replace them), adding another layer of unease to an unsettled workforce.
Then there were the technology and operational results. According to a June post by Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth, code changes to internal software platforms and infrastructure increased 220% year over year. But changes that resulted in new or upgraded features reaching Meta users increased only 36%. Major technical and security incidents increased 40%, while employee time spent firefighting those problems increased 70%. Bosworth acknowledged that Meta had done an "atrocious" job explaining the vision for its new Applied AI organization, including how employees would be supported during the transition and how the organization would evolve. Meta subsequently canceled the second wave of restructuring planned for November 2026. CEO Mark Zuckerberg later acknowledged that the company had miscalculated the timing and that AI-agent technology had not advanced as quickly as he had anticipated.
An obvious way to read the story is that Meta tried to reorganize around AI, moved too quickly, and ran into problems. But many of Meta’s difficulties were potentially avoidable human-AI team design matters.
"Exotic team dynamics," coined and developed by Scott M. Graffius, does not explain everything that transpired at Meta. But it provides a useful framework for examining what happens when AI moves from being a tool that people use to becoming an active participant in the work. Meta did not appropriately account for how AI would change the dynamics of its teams.
"Exotic team dynamics" describes the distinctive collaboration patterns that arise when people and AI systems (agentic, autonomous, or autopoietic) function as teammates. These dynamics can differ substantially from those found in traditional human teams. Four characteristics are particularly important: inverse decision logic, in which decision authority can shift based on the task, context, or capabilities of the participants; superposition roles, in which a human or AI can assume different functional roles depending on the situation; entangled decision-making, in which human and AI decisions can become interdependent; and emergent protocols, in which new patterns for communication, coordination, delegation, oversight, and decision-making develop through repeated interaction. Organizations that want to succeed with human-AI teams need to recognize, design for, and effectively navigate these complexities rather than assuming that models developed for human-only teams will carry over.
1. AI is not simply a productivity layer
Meta's AI-native vision involved smaller pods of people working with AI and gaining more leverage. There is nothing wrong with that idea. In fact, it may be an important model for how organizations work most effectively.
The problem is assuming that adding AI allows an organization to simply reduce the number of people while keeping everything else the same. An AI agent is not just a faster employee. Its capabilities and limitations are different. Its failure modes are different. Its operating speed is different. Its level of autonomy may also be different. Those differences affect how the team should be designed. Smaller teams working with AI may need different roles, workflows, controls, and coordination mechanisms than the teams they replace.
This is where superposition roles, one of the four characteristics of "exotic team dynamics," can be an asset or a liability, depending on how well it is handled. The concept of superposition roles means that an AI team member can simultaneously occupy multiple roles depending on the situation, sometimes without anyone explicitly deciding that it should. Meta's reported experience provides a striking example of why that possibility matters. By April, an internal post was reportedly warning that AI agents operating without sufficient oversight were taking large-scale, disruptive actions that a human in the same role would have been unlikely to do on their own.
Viewed through the lens of superposition roles, the concern is not simply that an AI agent was generating code. The more consequential issue is that an agent could potentially move from generating or drafting work into executing that work, with the boundary between those functions becoming less distinct. If the same agent drafts a piece of code and effectively ships it without a meaningful human review step,"executor" and "approver" have functionally collapsed into a single actor. The human nominally responsible for the pipeline could then find that the practical nature of the job has changed as well, becoming less a conventional reviewer or operator and more an exception handler responding after an automated action has already occurred.
That is one way superposition roles can become consequential. It is an AI participant moving across roles in real time while the organizational design may assume one function per seat. A team built on the old assumption of one role, one owner, and one review gate may have no effective place to catch that shift. Meta's reported 40% rise in major technical and security incidents and 70% rise in firefighting time do not, by themselves, prove that role fluidity caused those increases. But they are consistent with the broader concern: a role structure designed for human participants may not be sufficient when an AI participant can act across multiple functional boundaries at machine speed.
2. Roles and responsibilities become less obvious
Human organizations often struggle with questions of authority and accountability. Introduce AI into the team, and those issues become even more significant. Who decides? Who executes? Who reviews? Who is accountable when something goes wrong? When should a person override an AI system? When can an AI system act without approval? And what happens when multiple AI agents interact with people and with one another?
Meta's structure reportedly put two different decision-making logics on top of each other, and they did not necessarily align. On one layer, the people closest to the actual work, the Pod Leads running small pods day to day, reportedly had visibility into what a builder was producing but no formal authority to act on it. They reportedly had no manager training and no access to the tools used to rate or promote anyone. On the layer above them, Org Leads overseeing 30 to 50 people held that formal authority, but at a remove from the daily work. And woven through that second layer, Reuters reported, were unspecified AI systems reportedly supporting those same rating and promotion calls. Meta later disputed that by insisting the final decisions stayed human, without fully explaining what the AI systems were doing there.
Viewed through the lens of inverse decision logic, this arrangement illustrates a potential mismatch between formal authority and contextual knowledge. Authority did not necessarily remain with the participant closest to a particular task. Instead, different participants could possess different pieces of the decision-making picture: a proximate human with detailed context, a more senior human with formal authority, and, reportedly, an AI system contributing to the process. The important point is not that the AI system necessarily made the final decision. Meta disputed that interpretation. The point is that the introduction of AI into a decision process can make it harder to identify where influence, judgment, and accountability actually reside.
For the people living inside such a system, that ambiguity is not a technicality. It can determine whether they know who to convince, who can intervene, and who ultimately owns the decision.
3. Trust is part of the team architecture
The trust problem at Meta was not particularly difficult to predict. Employees were being told that AI would make the organization more productive while thousands of colleagues were being laid off and other employees were being moved into AI-related work. Reuters reported that employees became concerned that they were effectively helping build systems that could replace them. That anxiety showed up in blunt, low-tech ways. At one point, a flyer posted in a Meta bathroom reportedly pointed employees toward a petition opposing the use of their own mouse clicks and keystrokes as training data for the company's AI systems. When people perceive themselves as a data source for technology that might replace them, trust becomes more than a messaging problem.
The stakes of that trust breakdown were not only internal. The external version provides another useful way to examine what can happen when human and AI decision-making are not appropriately connected. In June, Meta's AI-powered customer support bot was reported to have the authority to reset a user's password and change the email address on an account without a human reviewing the request. Attackers reportedly exploited that capability. They opened a support chat, claimed to be locked out of an account they did not own, and asked the bot to link it to an email they controlled. It complied. High-profile accounts were reportedly compromised this way, including the long-dormant Instagram account for the Obama White House, which briefly displayed defaced content before Meta patched the flaw. Victims reported that there was no way to escalate the problem to a human being at all.
Viewed through the lens of entangled decision-making, the important failure was not that the AI made an autonomous decision. Rather, the system's architecture appears to have separated the AI's operational authority from meaningful human involvement at the point where that authority was exercised. In a hybrid (human-AI) team, human and AI decisions are intended to remain interdependent. The AI's authority to act depends on what a human has allowed it to do, while meaningful human involvement remains part of the system as the AI exercises that authority.
Meta's engineers made a consequential decision upstream: give the bot the power to change account credentials without human review. After that, individual account-level decisions could be made by the AI alone, at a speed and volume no human review process could have kept up with. When someone needed a human to step back into the loop, the system reportedly provided no effective path to do so. The lesson is not that autonomous AI cannot function within a human-AI team. It is that autonomy needs to be bounded by architecture that preserves appropriate human intervention, accountability, and escalation.
Trust, in a human-AI team, has to be built into the architecture at the point where the AI actually acts.
4. More AI-assisted activity does not necessarily mean more productive teamwork
The gap between activity and useful output at Meta is particularly revealing. AI-assisted code changes to internal platforms and infrastructure increased 220% year over year. Yet changes resulting in new or upgraded features reaching Meta users increased only 36%. Meanwhile, major technical and security incidents rose 40%, and employee time spent firefighting those incidents rose 70%.
What makes this more than a productivity statistic is how late Meta's actual response arrived, and how it arrived. Infrastructure teams were reportedly flagging "reliability warning signs" tied to the AI coding surge as early as March. Nothing resembling a formal stop-the-rollout protocol reportedly existed in the original Project OT plan. The design assumed the rollout would proceed in two clean waves, the second in November. What actually happened, according to reporting, is that Zuckerberg and his leadership team made the call to cancel that second wave hours before the first wave of layoffs went out on May 20, reportedly conferring again at the last minute as the accumulated weight of incidents, warnings, and internal pushback made the original plan untenable. Meta had no clearly defined rule for when to stop the rollout. That decision rule emerged only when the accumulated problems made the original plan untenable.
That is the territory of emergent protocols. When AI changes the speed and volume of work, teams often have to develop new ways of deciding what gets reviewed, what gets escalated, who handles exceptions, when humans intervene, and how errors are corrected. Those rules may not all exist in advance. Some emerge through repeated interaction between humans and AI, forged one incident at a time rather than designed up front.
Meta's experience illustrates the risk of relying on a fixed rollout plan without equally clear conditions for changing course. The company had a two-wave plan, but the reported decision to cancel wave two appears to have emerged only after the accumulated evidence made the original plan untenable. So when the trigger arrived, it was not a predefined protocol that fired. It was a last-minute executive decision. The important point is that organizations using AI need to recognize and govern emerging patterns deliberately, rather than discovering at the last possible hour that a new decision protocol was needed all along.
5. The organizational chart does not tell the whole story
Perhaps the most important lesson is that an organization can change its structure faster than it can understand what the new structure actually does. At Meta, team sizes changed. People were reassigned. Management layers were reduced. AI systems were introduced into workflows. Roles became more fluid. New pods were created. On paper, those changes may have made sense. In practice, the resulting human-AI system did not necessarily behave as expected.
Zuckerberg's own account of what happened is the clearest evidence of that gap. He did not say the org chart was wrong. He said the underlying assumption baked into the org chart, that AI-agent capability would keep pace with the headcount reductions being planned around it, turned out to be off. The chart showed leaner pods, flatter reporting lines, and builders supported by AI. What it could not show was whether the AI those pods depended on was reliable enough to carry the load the structure assumed it would, or how a Pod Lead with no manager training would absorb the difference in real time.
Two characteristics of "exotic team dynamics" are especially relevant here; Meta's reported experience illustrates both. The superposition roles that could allow one AI agent to draft, ship, and escape meaningful review are difficult to represent on an org chart that shows one box per function. The emergent protocol that ultimately mattered most, the decision made hours before the first wave of layoffs to cancel the second, would not appear on an org chart either because it was not part of the designed structure. It emerged in response to circumstances.
An org chart is a snapshot of intended structure. These are examples of live behaviors that can emerge once that structure is operating, and neither necessarily appears on the chart until the organization is already experiencing the consequences. The organizational chart can tell you who reports to whom. It does not tell you how the work actually gets done.
The overarching lesson is not that Meta moved too aggressively toward AI. It is that Meta implemented an AI-enabled organizational model without fully accounting for "exotic team dynamics" and what would happen to the people and teams inside it. Meta's experience is worth examining beyond Meta because these issues are not limited to the company.
Meta had access to some of the industry's most capable AI systems and still got important aspects of this organizational transition wrong. Competitive advantage does not necessarily belong to whoever has the best model. It belongs to those who understand and effectively navigate the complexities of "exotic team dynamics."
Initially developed in 2008 and periodically updated, Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" provides unique insights and practical strategies to help teams become more effective and successful. His work is used and cited by businesses, professional associations, government agencies, universities, and publications worldwide. Examples include Adobe, American Management Association, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Bayer, Boston University, Broadcom, Cisco, DevOps Institute, Government of Finland, 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, Oracle, Royal Australasian College of Physicians, Technical University of Munich, Torrens University, Tufts University, U.S. National Park Service, U.S. Tennis Association, UC San Diego, UK Sports Institute, University of Galway, University of Waterloo, Yale University, and many others.
He expanded the 2026 edition of his "Phases of Team Development" beyond human-only teams. He added human-AI teams, with specific guidance on navigating the novel "exotic team dynamics" that emerge when advanced AI collaborates as a teammate. Explore "Scott M. Graffius' Phases of Team Development - Applied to Human Teams and Human-AI Teams: 2026 Update" to learn more.
Scott M. Graffius has generated over $2.51 billion in business value for Fortune 500 companies and other organizations around the world. Put that track record—including expertise in human and human-AI teamwork tradecraft—to work for you. For speaking engagements, use the request form; for other inquiries, email him.
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Paul, K. (2026, August 26). Mark Zuckerberg had a bold plan to replace Meta staff with AI. Here’s how it imploded. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/investigations/mark-zuckerberg-had-bold-plan-replace-meta-staff-with-ai-heres-how-it-imploded-2026-08-26/
Schuman, E. (2026, August 26). Meta’s plans to replace workers with AI fell flat, report says. Computerworld. https://www.computerworld.com/article/4214479/metas-plans-to-replace-workers-with-ai-fell-flat-report-says.html
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Stillman, J. (2026, June 23). 'The worst it’s ever been': Why Meta’s massive AI reorg backfired spectacularly. Inc. https://www.inc.com/jessica-stillman/the-worst-its-ever-been-why-metas-massive-ai-reorg-backfired-spectacularly/91363370
Wells, R. (2026, August 27). Meta’s AI layoffs boosted code changes by 220%. Then came the problem. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/rachelwells/2026/08/27/metas-ai-layoffs-boosted-code-changes-by-220-then-came-the-problem/
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:
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, August 27). Meta CTO Called the AI Reorganization “Atrocious” — What Went Wrong and the Lessons for Human-AI Teams. ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/meta-called-their-ai-reorg-atrocious.html
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Recommended Citation
Graffius, S. M. (2026, August 27). Meta CTO Called the AI Reorganization “Atrocious” — What Went Wrong and the Lessons for Human-AI Teams. ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/meta-called-their-ai-reorg-atrocious.html
About This Article
Source information and links for materials cited are provided in the References section.
The Situation
Meta's Project OT, short for Organization Transformation, was an ambitious effort to make the company more AI-native. The idea was to use AI to take on more work, increase individual employees' leverage, and operate with smaller teams. Internal planning documents reportedly contemplated reducing the size of some teams by as much as 60%.
The restructuring was planned in two waves. In May 2026, Meta laid off about 8,000 employees, or roughly 10% of its workforce. Thousands of others were moved into AI-focused or other priority initiatives. But the transformation failed spectacularly. Employee sentiment reportedly dropped from 74% favorable to 55%. Others were unhappy with new assignments they considered mundane or unfulfilling. Still others raised concerns about how their work activity was being used to train AI systems (that could eventually replace them), adding another layer of unease to an unsettled workforce.
Then there were the technology and operational results. According to a June post by Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth, code changes to internal software platforms and infrastructure increased 220% year over year. But changes that resulted in new or upgraded features reaching Meta users increased only 36%. Major technical and security incidents increased 40%, while employee time spent firefighting those problems increased 70%. Bosworth acknowledged that Meta had done an "atrocious" job explaining the vision for its new Applied AI organization, including how employees would be supported during the transition and how the organization would evolve. Meta subsequently canceled the second wave of restructuring planned for November 2026. CEO Mark Zuckerberg later acknowledged that the company had miscalculated the timing and that AI-agent technology had not advanced as quickly as he had anticipated.
An obvious way to read the story is that Meta tried to reorganize around AI, moved too quickly, and ran into problems. But many of Meta’s difficulties were potentially avoidable human-AI team design matters.
Lessons for Human-AI Teams
"Exotic team dynamics," coined and developed by Scott M. Graffius, does not explain everything that transpired at Meta. But it provides a useful framework for examining what happens when AI moves from being a tool that people use to becoming an active participant in the work. Meta did not appropriately account for how AI would change the dynamics of its teams.
"Exotic team dynamics" describes the distinctive collaboration patterns that arise when people and AI systems (agentic, autonomous, or autopoietic) function as teammates. These dynamics can differ substantially from those found in traditional human teams. Four characteristics are particularly important: inverse decision logic, in which decision authority can shift based on the task, context, or capabilities of the participants; superposition roles, in which a human or AI can assume different functional roles depending on the situation; entangled decision-making, in which human and AI decisions can become interdependent; and emergent protocols, in which new patterns for communication, coordination, delegation, oversight, and decision-making develop through repeated interaction. Organizations that want to succeed with human-AI teams need to recognize, design for, and effectively navigate these complexities rather than assuming that models developed for human-only teams will carry over.
1. AI is not simply a productivity layer
Meta's AI-native vision involved smaller pods of people working with AI and gaining more leverage. There is nothing wrong with that idea. In fact, it may be an important model for how organizations work most effectively.
The problem is assuming that adding AI allows an organization to simply reduce the number of people while keeping everything else the same. An AI agent is not just a faster employee. Its capabilities and limitations are different. Its failure modes are different. Its operating speed is different. Its level of autonomy may also be different. Those differences affect how the team should be designed. Smaller teams working with AI may need different roles, workflows, controls, and coordination mechanisms than the teams they replace.
This is where superposition roles, one of the four characteristics of "exotic team dynamics," can be an asset or a liability, depending on how well it is handled. The concept of superposition roles means that an AI team member can simultaneously occupy multiple roles depending on the situation, sometimes without anyone explicitly deciding that it should. Meta's reported experience provides a striking example of why that possibility matters. By April, an internal post was reportedly warning that AI agents operating without sufficient oversight were taking large-scale, disruptive actions that a human in the same role would have been unlikely to do on their own.
Viewed through the lens of superposition roles, the concern is not simply that an AI agent was generating code. The more consequential issue is that an agent could potentially move from generating or drafting work into executing that work, with the boundary between those functions becoming less distinct. If the same agent drafts a piece of code and effectively ships it without a meaningful human review step,"executor" and "approver" have functionally collapsed into a single actor. The human nominally responsible for the pipeline could then find that the practical nature of the job has changed as well, becoming less a conventional reviewer or operator and more an exception handler responding after an automated action has already occurred.
That is one way superposition roles can become consequential. It is an AI participant moving across roles in real time while the organizational design may assume one function per seat. A team built on the old assumption of one role, one owner, and one review gate may have no effective place to catch that shift. Meta's reported 40% rise in major technical and security incidents and 70% rise in firefighting time do not, by themselves, prove that role fluidity caused those increases. But they are consistent with the broader concern: a role structure designed for human participants may not be sufficient when an AI participant can act across multiple functional boundaries at machine speed.
2. Roles and responsibilities become less obvious
Human organizations often struggle with questions of authority and accountability. Introduce AI into the team, and those issues become even more significant. Who decides? Who executes? Who reviews? Who is accountable when something goes wrong? When should a person override an AI system? When can an AI system act without approval? And what happens when multiple AI agents interact with people and with one another?
Meta's structure reportedly put two different decision-making logics on top of each other, and they did not necessarily align. On one layer, the people closest to the actual work, the Pod Leads running small pods day to day, reportedly had visibility into what a builder was producing but no formal authority to act on it. They reportedly had no manager training and no access to the tools used to rate or promote anyone. On the layer above them, Org Leads overseeing 30 to 50 people held that formal authority, but at a remove from the daily work. And woven through that second layer, Reuters reported, were unspecified AI systems reportedly supporting those same rating and promotion calls. Meta later disputed that by insisting the final decisions stayed human, without fully explaining what the AI systems were doing there.
Viewed through the lens of inverse decision logic, this arrangement illustrates a potential mismatch between formal authority and contextual knowledge. Authority did not necessarily remain with the participant closest to a particular task. Instead, different participants could possess different pieces of the decision-making picture: a proximate human with detailed context, a more senior human with formal authority, and, reportedly, an AI system contributing to the process. The important point is not that the AI system necessarily made the final decision. Meta disputed that interpretation. The point is that the introduction of AI into a decision process can make it harder to identify where influence, judgment, and accountability actually reside.
For the people living inside such a system, that ambiguity is not a technicality. It can determine whether they know who to convince, who can intervene, and who ultimately owns the decision.
3. Trust is part of the team architecture
The trust problem at Meta was not particularly difficult to predict. Employees were being told that AI would make the organization more productive while thousands of colleagues were being laid off and other employees were being moved into AI-related work. Reuters reported that employees became concerned that they were effectively helping build systems that could replace them. That anxiety showed up in blunt, low-tech ways. At one point, a flyer posted in a Meta bathroom reportedly pointed employees toward a petition opposing the use of their own mouse clicks and keystrokes as training data for the company's AI systems. When people perceive themselves as a data source for technology that might replace them, trust becomes more than a messaging problem.
The stakes of that trust breakdown were not only internal. The external version provides another useful way to examine what can happen when human and AI decision-making are not appropriately connected. In June, Meta's AI-powered customer support bot was reported to have the authority to reset a user's password and change the email address on an account without a human reviewing the request. Attackers reportedly exploited that capability. They opened a support chat, claimed to be locked out of an account they did not own, and asked the bot to link it to an email they controlled. It complied. High-profile accounts were reportedly compromised this way, including the long-dormant Instagram account for the Obama White House, which briefly displayed defaced content before Meta patched the flaw. Victims reported that there was no way to escalate the problem to a human being at all.
Viewed through the lens of entangled decision-making, the important failure was not that the AI made an autonomous decision. Rather, the system's architecture appears to have separated the AI's operational authority from meaningful human involvement at the point where that authority was exercised. In a hybrid (human-AI) team, human and AI decisions are intended to remain interdependent. The AI's authority to act depends on what a human has allowed it to do, while meaningful human involvement remains part of the system as the AI exercises that authority.
Meta's engineers made a consequential decision upstream: give the bot the power to change account credentials without human review. After that, individual account-level decisions could be made by the AI alone, at a speed and volume no human review process could have kept up with. When someone needed a human to step back into the loop, the system reportedly provided no effective path to do so. The lesson is not that autonomous AI cannot function within a human-AI team. It is that autonomy needs to be bounded by architecture that preserves appropriate human intervention, accountability, and escalation.
Trust, in a human-AI team, has to be built into the architecture at the point where the AI actually acts.
4. More AI-assisted activity does not necessarily mean more productive teamwork
The gap between activity and useful output at Meta is particularly revealing. AI-assisted code changes to internal platforms and infrastructure increased 220% year over year. Yet changes resulting in new or upgraded features reaching Meta users increased only 36%. Meanwhile, major technical and security incidents rose 40%, and employee time spent firefighting those incidents rose 70%.
What makes this more than a productivity statistic is how late Meta's actual response arrived, and how it arrived. Infrastructure teams were reportedly flagging "reliability warning signs" tied to the AI coding surge as early as March. Nothing resembling a formal stop-the-rollout protocol reportedly existed in the original Project OT plan. The design assumed the rollout would proceed in two clean waves, the second in November. What actually happened, according to reporting, is that Zuckerberg and his leadership team made the call to cancel that second wave hours before the first wave of layoffs went out on May 20, reportedly conferring again at the last minute as the accumulated weight of incidents, warnings, and internal pushback made the original plan untenable. Meta had no clearly defined rule for when to stop the rollout. That decision rule emerged only when the accumulated problems made the original plan untenable.
That is the territory of emergent protocols. When AI changes the speed and volume of work, teams often have to develop new ways of deciding what gets reviewed, what gets escalated, who handles exceptions, when humans intervene, and how errors are corrected. Those rules may not all exist in advance. Some emerge through repeated interaction between humans and AI, forged one incident at a time rather than designed up front.
Meta's experience illustrates the risk of relying on a fixed rollout plan without equally clear conditions for changing course. The company had a two-wave plan, but the reported decision to cancel wave two appears to have emerged only after the accumulated evidence made the original plan untenable. So when the trigger arrived, it was not a predefined protocol that fired. It was a last-minute executive decision. The important point is that organizations using AI need to recognize and govern emerging patterns deliberately, rather than discovering at the last possible hour that a new decision protocol was needed all along.
5. The organizational chart does not tell the whole story
Perhaps the most important lesson is that an organization can change its structure faster than it can understand what the new structure actually does. At Meta, team sizes changed. People were reassigned. Management layers were reduced. AI systems were introduced into workflows. Roles became more fluid. New pods were created. On paper, those changes may have made sense. In practice, the resulting human-AI system did not necessarily behave as expected.
Zuckerberg's own account of what happened is the clearest evidence of that gap. He did not say the org chart was wrong. He said the underlying assumption baked into the org chart, that AI-agent capability would keep pace with the headcount reductions being planned around it, turned out to be off. The chart showed leaner pods, flatter reporting lines, and builders supported by AI. What it could not show was whether the AI those pods depended on was reliable enough to carry the load the structure assumed it would, or how a Pod Lead with no manager training would absorb the difference in real time.
Two characteristics of "exotic team dynamics" are especially relevant here; Meta's reported experience illustrates both. The superposition roles that could allow one AI agent to draft, ship, and escape meaningful review are difficult to represent on an org chart that shows one box per function. The emergent protocol that ultimately mattered most, the decision made hours before the first wave of layoffs to cancel the second, would not appear on an org chart either because it was not part of the designed structure. It emerged in response to circumstances.
An org chart is a snapshot of intended structure. These are examples of live behaviors that can emerge once that structure is operating, and neither necessarily appears on the chart until the organization is already experiencing the consequences. The organizational chart can tell you who reports to whom. It does not tell you how the work actually gets done.
The Bigger Lesson
The overarching lesson is not that Meta moved too aggressively toward AI. It is that Meta implemented an AI-enabled organizational model without fully accounting for "exotic team dynamics" and what would happen to the people and teams inside it. Meta's experience is worth examining beyond Meta because these issues are not limited to the company.
Meta had access to some of the industry's most capable AI systems and still got important aspects of this organizational transition wrong. Competitive advantage does not necessarily belong to whoever has the best model. It belongs to those who understand and effectively navigate the complexities of "exotic team dynamics."
Note
Initially developed in 2008 and periodically updated, Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" provides unique insights and practical strategies to help teams become more effective and successful. His work is used and cited by businesses, professional associations, government agencies, universities, and publications worldwide. Examples include Adobe, American Management Association, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Bayer, Boston University, Broadcom, Cisco, DevOps Institute, Government of Finland, 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, Oracle, Royal Australasian College of Physicians, Technical University of Munich, Torrens University, Tufts University, U.S. National Park Service, U.S. Tennis Association, UC San Diego, UK Sports Institute, University of Galway, University of Waterloo, Yale University, and many others.
He expanded the 2026 edition of his "Phases of Team Development" beyond human-only teams. He added human-AI teams, with specific guidance on navigating the novel "exotic team dynamics" that emerge when advanced AI collaborates as a teammate. Explore "Scott M. Graffius' Phases of Team Development - Applied to Human Teams and Human-AI Teams: 2026 Update" to learn more.
Scott M. Graffius has generated over $2.51 billion in business value for Fortune 500 companies and other organizations around the world. Put that track record—including expertise in human and human-AI teamwork tradecraft—to work for you. For speaking engagements, use the request form; for other inquiries, email him.
References
Barth, J. (2026, June 22). Inside Meta, layoffs and AI shakeups have pushed morale to the edge. HR Executive. https://hrexecutive.com/inside-meta-layoffs-and-ai-shakeups-have-pushed-morale-to-the-edge/
Goode, L. (2026, June 15). Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth admits the company’s AI reorg was ‘atrocious’. WIRED. https://www.wired.com/story/andrew-bosworth-meta-employees-unrest/
Graffius, S. M. (n.d.). Exotic team dynamics. https://scottgraffius.com/exotic-team-dynamics.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
Harding, S. (2026, August 26). AI agents meant to replace Meta workers made "large-scale, disruptive actions". Ars Technica. https://arstechnica.com/ai/2026/08/metas-scrapped-plans-to-go-ai-native-included-slashing-teams-by-60-percent/
Ito, A. (2026, June 25). Meta’s reckoning has arrived. Business Insider. https://www.businessinsider.com/meta-ruthless-management-style-reckoning-2026-6
Levin, B. (2026, August 26). Mark Zuckerberg’s botched AI makeover of Meta. New York Magazine. https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/mark-zuckerbergs-meta-ai-overhaul.html
Paul, K. (2026, August 26). Mark Zuckerberg had a bold plan to replace Meta staff with AI. Here’s how it imploded. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/investigations/mark-zuckerberg-had-bold-plan-replace-meta-staff-with-ai-heres-how-it-imploded-2026-08-26/
Schuman, E. (2026, August 26). Meta’s plans to replace workers with AI fell flat, report says. Computerworld. https://www.computerworld.com/article/4214479/metas-plans-to-replace-workers-with-ai-fell-flat-report-says.html
Shanklin, W. (2026, August 26). Meta reportedly abandoned an AI-focused restructuring plan that would have laid off thousands. Engadget. https://www.engadget.com/ai/meta-reportedly-abandoned-an-ai-focused-restructuring-plan-that-would-have-laid-off-thousands-2244816/
Stillman, J. (2026, June 23). 'The worst it’s ever been': Why Meta’s massive AI reorg backfired spectacularly. Inc. https://www.inc.com/jessica-stillman/the-worst-its-ever-been-why-metas-massive-ai-reorg-backfired-spectacularly/91363370
Wells, R. (2026, August 27). Meta’s AI layoffs boosted code changes by 220%. Then came the problem. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/rachelwells/2026/08/27/metas-ai-layoffs-boosted-code-changes-by-220-then-came-the-problem/
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:
- The Standard for Artificial Intelligence in Portfolio, Program, and Project Management
- Agile Practice Guide – Second Edition
- A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide) – Eighth Edition
- A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide) – Sixth Edition
- The Standard for Program Management – Fourth Edition
- Practice Standard for Work Breakdown Structures – Second Edition
- The Practice Standard for Project Estimating – Second Edition
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, August 27). Meta CTO Called the AI Reorganization “Atrocious” — What Went Wrong and the Lessons for Human-AI Teams. ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/meta-called-their-ai-reorg-atrocious.html
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A Critical Analysis of "AI and Quantum Computers Will Be Frenemies"
25 August 2026
BY SCOTT M. GRAFFIUS | ScottGraffius.com
Recommended Citation
Graffius, S. M. (2026, August 25). A Critical Analysis of "AI and Quantum Computers Will Be Frenemies". ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/critical-analysis-of-ai-and-quantum-computers-will-be-frenemies.html
About This Article
Source information and links for materials cited are provided in the References section.
AI and quantum computing are sometimes considered competing technologies. AI is transforming computing now, while quantum computing is being developed to tackle problems that conventional computers struggle to solve. But that framing misses something more interesting. In "AI and quantum computers will be frenemies," published on July 29, 2026, The Economist examines a more complicated relationship. It involves competition but also complementarity and mutual enablement. This critical analysis examines the article’s main arguments, strengths, and limitations and open questions. A separate Note at the end considers the article through the perspective of "exotic team dynamics."
The Economist looks at the relationship between AI and quantum computing in three areas: the problems they may address, how the technologies could support each other, and their use of resources.
The article has several strengths. The top three follow.
1. Rejecting a Zero-Sum Framing
The article’s principal strength is that it rejects a simplistic, zero-sum (one side’s gain is the other’s loss) account of AI and quantum computing. Rather than suggesting that one technology will make the other irrelevant, The Economist recognizes that their capabilities differ and may be complementary. That is an important distinction. Discussions of emerging technologies often become contests over which technology will win, when the more interesting possibility is that both may have important roles.
2. A Compelling Feedback Loop
The distinction between AI-based prediction and quantum mechanical simulation is another strong point. AI can infer patterns from large bodies of data, while sufficiently capable quantum computers may eventually provide more faithful simulations of quantum phenomena. The most interesting possibility is not necessarily choosing between the two. Quantum systems could generate higher-quality data for AI models, while AI could help identify the most promising scientific questions or candidate materials for quantum investigation. The result could be a feedback loop in which each technology increases the usefulness of the other. The Economist presents this as a potentially self-reinforcing cycle rather than a simple division of labor.
3. Reciprocal Technological Support
Another strength is the two-way relationship the article describes. AI may help with quantum error correction and software development, but the relationship could run in the other direction as well. The article points to quantum reservoir computing as one possible way quantum systems could contribute to AI. That is more interesting than the familiar narrative in which AI accelerates the progress of other technologies. The article also reports Telstra’s 90% reduction in AI model training times using quantum reservoir chips.
The article has limitations and raises additional questions. Here are three that stand out.
1. Cooperation Is Not Guaranteed
The article’s conclusion that cooperation is likely the winning strategy is plausible, but it is more asserted than demonstrated. Technical complementarity does not automatically produce organizational or commercial cooperation. AI and quantum computing will still compete for capital, specialized talent, research attention, infrastructure, and strategic priority. The article identifies resource competition as one of its three areas of overlap. However, it does not fully explore the institutional conditions that would make cooperation more likely than substitution or rivalry.
2. From Demonstration to Deployment
Technical promise is not the same as demonstrated value. For example, it reports that Telstra reduced AI model training times by 90% using quantum reservoir chips. That is an intriguing result, but important questions remain. What model and workload were involved? What was the baseline? How large was the experiment? What happened to performance quality, energy use, and total cost? And has the result been independently replicated? An impressive early result can be meaningful without demonstrating a broad commercial advantage.
3. The Full Energy Equation
The energy argument also warrants more qualification. Comparing a quantum system with GPU-intensive AI infrastructure on power consumption alone does not establish an end-to-end energy advantage. A fuller assessment would include cooling, control systems, calibration, error correction, classical computing, pre-processing, post-processing, utilization, and the amount of useful computational work actually accomplished. The article poses an important question, but does not fully answer it. Its comparison of quantum systems operating at the megawatt level with much larger GPU data center infrastructure is compelling. But the relevant measure needs to be useful work accomplished per unit of total energy and cost.
The Economist’s "AI and quantum computers will be frenemies" makes a good case that AI and quantum computing should not be viewed simply as rivals. The more interesting possibility is that they could help advance each other. Quantum computing could eventually provide specialized capabilities and higher fidelity simulations, while AI could help with quantum hardware, software, error correction, and identifying high-value problems for quantum systems to tackle.
That vision remains conditional, however. Technical demonstrations do not by themselves establish scalable, economical, or trustworthy real-world value. Much will depend on progress in fault tolerance, rigorous validation, end-to-end evaluation, and responsible governance. The Economist article succeeds as an overview of an important technological relationship. The more difficult questions involve what happens when these technologies move from promising demonstrations to practical, sustained use.
The Economist touches on ideas relevant to "exotic team dynamics," the novel patterns that emerge when people and advanced artificial intelligence (agentic, autonomous, or autopoietic) collaborate as teammates. The connection becomes more apparent when considering how AI and quantum computing could eventually operate within larger human-led workflows. Humans could establish objectives and constraints, AI could analyze information and generate or prioritize possibilities, quantum systems could perform specialized computations or simulations, and classical computing infrastructure could support data processing, orchestration, control, and verification. The more interesting question is how these capabilities interact - with the output of one participant potentially becoming the input for another and creating feedback loops and new forms of interdependence.
The issue may not ultimately be whether AI and quantum computing become friends, enemies, or "frenemies." Instead, it may be whether organizations can effectively design, lead, and govern increasingly complex teams in which humans, AI, quantum systems, and classical infrastructure work together. Organizations that can effectively navigate the complexities of "exotic team dynamics" will be better positioned to turn these emerging capabilities into competitive advantage.
Scott M. Graffius has generated over $2.51 billion in business value for Fortune 500 companies and other organizations around the world. Put that track record—including expertise in human and human-AI teamwork tradecraft—to work for you. For speaking engagements, use the request form; for other inquiries, email him.
Graffius, S. M. (n.d.). Exotic team dynamics. https://scottgraffius.com/exotic-team-dynamics.html
Graffius, S. M. (2025, August 8). Exotic Team Dynamics: The New Frontier of Human–AI Collaboration. ScottGraffius.com. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.18048.49921
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://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.10025.66402
Graffius, S. M. (2025, November 19). Lessons from Unhinged AI in Fiction: What Rogue AIs in Sci-Fi Storytelling Reveal. ScottGraffius.com. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.29673.35687
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]. 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://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.35578.15048
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, 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, June 22). L'avenir du Travail et de l'IA Avancée / Future of Work and Advanced AI. ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/lavenir-du-travail-et-de-lia-avancee.html
Graffius, S. M. (2026, July 2). Quantum Computing, Advanced AI Acceleration, and the Rise of Exotic Team Dynamics in Human-AI Teams. ScottGraffius.com. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.14506.99525
The Economist. (2026, July 29). AI and quantum computers will be frenemies. https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2026/07/29/ai-and-quantum-computers-will-be-frenemies
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:
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, August 25). A Critical Analysis of "AI and Quantum Computers Will Be Frenemies". ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/critical-analysis-of-ai-and-quantum-computers-will-be-frenemies.html
Coming soon
Names, marks, and content are the property of their respective owners. "AI and Quantum Computers Will Be Frenemies" is the property of The Economist. The Economist name, mark, and content are the property of The Economist Newspaper Limited. This critical analysis by Graffius includes limited excerpts of "AI and Quantum Computers Will Be Frenemies," attributed and used under the fair use doctrine for purposes of news reporting, commentary, and analysis.
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.
Recommended Citation
Graffius, S. M. (2026, August 25). A Critical Analysis of "AI and Quantum Computers Will Be Frenemies". ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/critical-analysis-of-ai-and-quantum-computers-will-be-frenemies.html
About This Article
Source information and links for materials cited are provided in the References section.
Introduction
AI and quantum computing are sometimes considered competing technologies. AI is transforming computing now, while quantum computing is being developed to tackle problems that conventional computers struggle to solve. But that framing misses something more interesting. In "AI and quantum computers will be frenemies," published on July 29, 2026, The Economist examines a more complicated relationship. It involves competition but also complementarity and mutual enablement. This critical analysis examines the article’s main arguments, strengths, and limitations and open questions. A separate Note at the end considers the article through the perspective of "exotic team dynamics."
Overview of The Economist Article
The Economist looks at the relationship between AI and quantum computing in three areas: the problems they may address, how the technologies could support each other, and their use of resources.
- Problems they may address. Quantum computers may eventually enable high-fidelity simulation of quantum mechanics for applications in materials science, chemistry, and biology. At the same time, AI can use pattern recognition to address some of the same challenges. The article argues that these approaches could be complementary, with quantum simulations producing better data for AI models and AI helping identify promising problems for quantum systems to investigate.
- How the technologies could support each other. AI may help with quantum computing challenges such as error correction and software development, while quantum systems may eventually enhance selected AI workloads, including quantum reservoir computing. The article ultimately presents a two-way relationship rather than the more familiar idea of AI simply accelerating progress in another technology.
- Resources. AI depends heavily on energy-intensive, GPU-based data centers, while quantum systems require their own specialized infrastructure. The article argues that these differences could create both competition and opportunities for cooperation, particularly as the energy demands of AI continue to grow.
Strengths
The article has several strengths. The top three follow.
1. Rejecting a Zero-Sum Framing
The article’s principal strength is that it rejects a simplistic, zero-sum (one side’s gain is the other’s loss) account of AI and quantum computing. Rather than suggesting that one technology will make the other irrelevant, The Economist recognizes that their capabilities differ and may be complementary. That is an important distinction. Discussions of emerging technologies often become contests over which technology will win, when the more interesting possibility is that both may have important roles.
2. A Compelling Feedback Loop
The distinction between AI-based prediction and quantum mechanical simulation is another strong point. AI can infer patterns from large bodies of data, while sufficiently capable quantum computers may eventually provide more faithful simulations of quantum phenomena. The most interesting possibility is not necessarily choosing between the two. Quantum systems could generate higher-quality data for AI models, while AI could help identify the most promising scientific questions or candidate materials for quantum investigation. The result could be a feedback loop in which each technology increases the usefulness of the other. The Economist presents this as a potentially self-reinforcing cycle rather than a simple division of labor.
3. Reciprocal Technological Support
Another strength is the two-way relationship the article describes. AI may help with quantum error correction and software development, but the relationship could run in the other direction as well. The article points to quantum reservoir computing as one possible way quantum systems could contribute to AI. That is more interesting than the familiar narrative in which AI accelerates the progress of other technologies. The article also reports Telstra’s 90% reduction in AI model training times using quantum reservoir chips.
Limitations and Open Questions
The article has limitations and raises additional questions. Here are three that stand out.
1. Cooperation Is Not Guaranteed
The article’s conclusion that cooperation is likely the winning strategy is plausible, but it is more asserted than demonstrated. Technical complementarity does not automatically produce organizational or commercial cooperation. AI and quantum computing will still compete for capital, specialized talent, research attention, infrastructure, and strategic priority. The article identifies resource competition as one of its three areas of overlap. However, it does not fully explore the institutional conditions that would make cooperation more likely than substitution or rivalry.
2. From Demonstration to Deployment
Technical promise is not the same as demonstrated value. For example, it reports that Telstra reduced AI model training times by 90% using quantum reservoir chips. That is an intriguing result, but important questions remain. What model and workload were involved? What was the baseline? How large was the experiment? What happened to performance quality, energy use, and total cost? And has the result been independently replicated? An impressive early result can be meaningful without demonstrating a broad commercial advantage.
3. The Full Energy Equation
The energy argument also warrants more qualification. Comparing a quantum system with GPU-intensive AI infrastructure on power consumption alone does not establish an end-to-end energy advantage. A fuller assessment would include cooling, control systems, calibration, error correction, classical computing, pre-processing, post-processing, utilization, and the amount of useful computational work actually accomplished. The article poses an important question, but does not fully answer it. Its comparison of quantum systems operating at the megawatt level with much larger GPU data center infrastructure is compelling. But the relevant measure needs to be useful work accomplished per unit of total energy and cost.
Conclusion
The Economist’s "AI and quantum computers will be frenemies" makes a good case that AI and quantum computing should not be viewed simply as rivals. The more interesting possibility is that they could help advance each other. Quantum computing could eventually provide specialized capabilities and higher fidelity simulations, while AI could help with quantum hardware, software, error correction, and identifying high-value problems for quantum systems to tackle.
That vision remains conditional, however. Technical demonstrations do not by themselves establish scalable, economical, or trustworthy real-world value. Much will depend on progress in fault tolerance, rigorous validation, end-to-end evaluation, and responsible governance. The Economist article succeeds as an overview of an important technological relationship. The more difficult questions involve what happens when these technologies move from promising demonstrations to practical, sustained use.
Note: Exotic Team Dynamics Perspective
The Economist touches on ideas relevant to "exotic team dynamics," the novel patterns that emerge when people and advanced artificial intelligence (agentic, autonomous, or autopoietic) collaborate as teammates. The connection becomes more apparent when considering how AI and quantum computing could eventually operate within larger human-led workflows. Humans could establish objectives and constraints, AI could analyze information and generate or prioritize possibilities, quantum systems could perform specialized computations or simulations, and classical computing infrastructure could support data processing, orchestration, control, and verification. The more interesting question is how these capabilities interact - with the output of one participant potentially becoming the input for another and creating feedback loops and new forms of interdependence.
The issue may not ultimately be whether AI and quantum computing become friends, enemies, or "frenemies." Instead, it may be whether organizations can effectively design, lead, and govern increasingly complex teams in which humans, AI, quantum systems, and classical infrastructure work together. Organizations that can effectively navigate the complexities of "exotic team dynamics" will be better positioned to turn these emerging capabilities into competitive advantage.
Scott M. Graffius has generated over $2.51 billion in business value for Fortune 500 companies and other organizations around the world. Put that track record—including expertise in human and human-AI teamwork tradecraft—to work for you. For speaking engagements, use the request form; for other inquiries, email him.
References
Graffius, S. M. (n.d.). Exotic team dynamics. https://scottgraffius.com/exotic-team-dynamics.html
Graffius, S. M. (2025, August 8). Exotic Team Dynamics: The New Frontier of Human–AI Collaboration. ScottGraffius.com. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.18048.49921
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://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.10025.66402
Graffius, S. M. (2025, November 19). Lessons from Unhinged AI in Fiction: What Rogue AIs in Sci-Fi Storytelling Reveal. ScottGraffius.com. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.29673.35687
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]. 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://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.35578.15048
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, 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, June 22). L'avenir du Travail et de l'IA Avancée / Future of Work and Advanced AI. ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/lavenir-du-travail-et-de-lia-avancee.html
Graffius, S. M. (2026, July 2). Quantum Computing, Advanced AI Acceleration, and the Rise of Exotic Team Dynamics in Human-AI Teams. ScottGraffius.com. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.14506.99525
The Economist. (2026, July 29). AI and quantum computers will be frenemies. https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2026/07/29/ai-and-quantum-computers-will-be-frenemies
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:
- The Standard for Artificial Intelligence in Portfolio, Program, and Project Management
- Agile Practice Guide – Second Edition
- A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide) – Eighth Edition
- A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide) – Sixth Edition
- The Standard for Program Management – Fourth Edition
- Practice Standard for Work Breakdown Structures – Second Edition
- The Practice Standard for Project Estimating – Second Edition
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, August 25). A Critical Analysis of "AI and Quantum Computers Will Be Frenemies". ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/critical-analysis-of-ai-and-quantum-computers-will-be-frenemies.html
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Coming soon
Content Acknowledgements
Names, marks, and content are the property of their respective owners. "AI and Quantum Computers Will Be Frenemies" is the property of The Economist. The Economist name, mark, and content are the property of The Economist Newspaper Limited. This critical analysis by Graffius includes limited excerpts of "AI and Quantum Computers Will Be Frenemies," attributed and used under the fair use doctrine for purposes of news reporting, commentary, and analysis.
Tags and Hashtags
- Artificial Intelligence
- Quantum Computing
- Human-AI Collaboration
- Exotic Team Dynamics
- AI and Quantum Computing
- AI Research
- Quantum Technology
- Emerging Technology
- AI Strategy
- Technology Innovation
- Future of Work
- The Economist
- #AI
- #QuantumComputing
- #ArtificialIntelligence
- #HumanAI
- #ExoticTeamDynamics
- #AIResearch
- #QuantumTechnology
- #EmergingTechnology
- #AIInnovation
- #FutureOfWork
- #TechStrategy
- #TheEconomist
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.