Here's What Businesses are Doing with Artificial Intelligence

Disruption from artificial intelligence (AI) is here, but many leaders don't have clear expectations about AI or how it fits into their business. This brief article focuses on the disparity in understanding and implementation.
There are four organizational maturity clusters:
- Pioneers (19% of organizations): Businesses that both understand and have incorporated AI into their offerings and internal processes.
- Investigators (32%): Businesses that understand AI but are not deploying it beyond the pilot stage.
- Experimenters (13%): Organizations that are piloting AI without deep understanding.
- Passives (36%): Organizations with limited/no understanding of AI and no piloting/adoption.
Only 19% understand AI and have adopted it. Barriers for the remaining 81% may include issues with business cases, leadership, talent with AI expertise, and technology.

Data source: https://sloanreview.mit.edu/projects/reshaping-business-with-artificial-intelligence.

© Copyright 2017 Scott M. Graffius. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the express written permission of Scott M. Graffius.

AI is a Team Sport: A Confluence of Diverse Technical and Soft Skills are Crucial for Success

Select here to download this article as a PDF.
This article covers the significance of well-rounded AI teams, including how both soft and technical skills are critical and fuel success. It’s informed by Graffius' work on AI projects as well as research and coverage from DARPA, Exceptional Agility, IBM, IEEE, Intel, MIT, Microsoft, Nvidia, Samsung, Software Engineering Institute, Stanford University, United States Artificial Intelligence Institute, and others (all listed in the bibliography section of this article).

Introduction
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative force across a growing number of industries, revolutionizing how we live, work, and interact. From autonomous vehicles and virtual assistants to personalized recommendations and medical diagnoses, AI systems have become integral to our daily lives. Behind these cutting-edge, life-changing solutions are AI teams that possess a combination of soft skills—also known as core skills, interpersonal skills, people skills, power skills, transferable skills, or transversal skills—and technical expertise.
This article highlights the synergy between soft skills and technical skills in the world of AI. While technical skills provide the general foundation for AI development, it’s the soft skills that elevate AI projects to new heights. From effective communication and critical thinking to leadership and teamwork, soft skills play a pivotal role in translating technical knowledge and capabilities into real-world applications.
The thesis of this article is that the successful development and application of AI requires a combination of soft skills and technical expertise. Technical competencies alone are not enough. Rather, it’s the combination and integration of soft and technical skills that truly unlocks the power of AI.
Next, this article focuses on the importance of soft skills in the AI landscape, highlighting how they complement and enhance technical abilities. The collaboration between these skill sets drives AI innovation.

Understanding Soft Skills in AI Teams
In the realm of AI, technical expertise often takes center stage. However, soft skills advance the successful outcomes of AI projects, as they facilitate effective communication, foster collaboration, and promote critical thinking. Soft skills are powerful facilitators of success.
Soft skills encompass a range of interpersonal and cognitive abilities that enable teams to work harmoniously, adapt to evolving challenges, and solve complex problems. In the AI landscape, where multidisciplinary teams come together to create innovative solutions, these soft skills are essential.
Effective communication stands at the forefront of soft skills in AI. AI teams must articulate complex technical concepts in a manner that is understandable to diverse stakeholders, including non-technical staff and internal or external customers/users. Clear communication promotes collaboration and ensures alignment of purpose and objectives throughout the AI development lifecycle.
Soft skills such as problem-solving and critical thinking are vital as well. AI teams frequently encounter multifaceted challenges, and it is through these soft skills that teams can identify potential bottlenecks, navigate complexities, and devise innovative solutions. By leveraging critical thinking, AI team members can evaluate different approaches, consider ethical implications, and make informed decisions that shape the development and application of AI systems.
Leadership and teamwork skills are also paramount. AI projects involve team members from diverse backgrounds, including data scientists, engineers, domain experts, designers, and others. Effective leadership enables the coordination of efforts and guides the project towards success. Similarly, teamwork skills foster an environment of trust and respect, promoting synergy among team members and enhancing overall productivity.
Recognizing the importance of soft skills in AI is crucial for fostering a balanced and effective team dynamic. It ensures that AI teams possess the interpersonal and cognitive abilities necessary to bring AI projects to fruition. The integration of soft skills alongside technical expertise sets the stage for a cohesive team capable of tackling complex AI challenges with agility and innovation.
The role of technical skills—including how they intersect with soft skills to create a powerful combination that drives success—are covered next.
The Role of Technical Skills in AI Teams
Technical skills provide the tools and knowledge required to design, build, and implement AI systems. This section explores the role that technical skills play in AI and their specific applications in various stages of AI projects.
- Programming Languages and Algorithms: Proficiency in programming languages such as Python, Java, or R is essential. These languages enable team members to write efficient code, manipulate and analyze data, and implement machine learning algorithms. Understanding algorithms, from classic ones like linear regression to cutting-edge deep learning models, empowers AI professionals to leverage mathematical principles and statistical techniques to train and optimize AI systems.
- Data Analysis and Management: AI relies on data, making data analysis and management skills crucial. AI team members need to be adept at collecting, cleaning, and preprocessing data, ensuring its quality and relevance. They must possess the knowledge of statistical methods, data visualization techniques, and data engineering practices to extract insights from complex datasets and prepare them for AI model training.
- Machine Learning and Neural Networks: Technical skills in machine learning are at the heart of AI systems. Understanding machine learning algorithms, such as decision trees, support vector machines, or convolutional neural networks, enables AI team members to create models that can learn from data and make intelligent predictions or decisions. Expertise in neural networks and deep learning architectures equips professionals with the ability to develop complex models capable of handling tasks like image recognition, natural language processing, and reinforcement learning.
- AI Frameworks and Tools: Proficiency in AI frameworks and tools (such as TensorFlow, Keras, PyTorch, Caffe, Scikit-learn, and others) are essential for building AI systems efficiently. These frameworks provide pre-built modules, libraries, and APIs that simplify the implementation of AI algorithms and models. Technical skills in utilizing these tools effectively enable AI team members to accelerate the development process, streamline model training, and optimize system performance.
- Domain Knowledge and Application-Specific Skills: Technical skills also encompass domain knowledge and application-specific expertise. Understanding the nuances of the industry or problem domain in which AI is being applied allows professionals to tailor AI solutions to meet specific requirements. For example, healthcare-focused AI projects may require knowledge of medical terminologies and regulatory considerations, while AI solutions for financial services may demand expertise in risk assessment and fraud detection.
Technical skills are essential for AI projects. They enable team members to translate concepts, theories, and algorithms into practical applications. However, technical skills alone are not sufficient for success. The collaborative nature of AI development and the need for a well-rounded AI team—including the synergy between technical skills and soft skills—is covered next.
The Power of Synergy: Soft Skills and Technical Skills in AI Teams

The convergence of technical and soft skills is where true innovation and breakthroughs occurs. The successful development and application of AI systems rely not only on technical expertise but also on the harmonious integration of soft skills. Here’s some examples of the power of synergy between these skill sets, including how they work together to drive AI advancement:
- Effective Communication and Technical Expertise: Communication bridges the gap between AI professionals and others who may not possess technical backgrounds. AI experts with strong communication skills can articulate complex technical concepts in plain English, ensuring that everyone involved understands the goals, challenges, and progress of the project. By effectively conveying ideas, AI professionals foster collaboration, gather valuable insights, and create a shared vision for AI initiatives.
- Collaboration and Problem-Solving: Collaboration is at the core of AI development, and soft skills such as teamwork, empathy, and active listening facilitate effective collaboration among diverse team members. AI teams with strong collaboration skills can effectively pool their technical expertise, brainstorm ideas, and solve complex problems together. By leveraging their collective intelligence and diverse perspectives, AI teams can overcome challenges, refine AI models, and optimize the performance of AI solutions.
- Critical Thinking and Technical Innovation: Critical thinking, coupled with technical expertise, leads to innovative AI solutions. AI professionals with strong critical thinking skills can evaluate different approaches, challenge assumptions, and identify potential shortcomings or biases in AI models. They can think creatively to address issues such as data biases or fairness concerns, ensuring that AI systems are developed responsibly and ethically.
- Leadership and Team Empowerment: Effective leadership in AI projects involves establishing and maintaining a collaborative and inclusive environment, empowering team members, and harnessing their full potential. AI leaders with exceptional interpersonal abilities can inspire and motivate their team, foster a culture of continuous learning, and provide guidance in navigating complex technical challenges. They encourage interdisciplinary collaboration, respect diverse perspectives, and drive the team towards achieving AI objectives.
The synergy between soft skills and technical skills is the catalyst that drives AI projects towards success. It enables AI teams to go beyond technical expertise and develop AI systems that address real-world problems effectively. By embracing a holistic approach that values both soft skills and technical skills, organizations can foster an environment where AI thrives, resulting in innovative solutions that have a positive impact on society.
Strategies for developing and nurturing soft skills are covered next.
Developing and Advancing Soft Skills in AI Teams
AI teams need soft skills to be successful. Organizations and teams should prioritize the development and advancement of these skills. Here are some strategies to enhance soft skills and foster a well-rounded AI workforce:
- Training Programs and Workshops: Implement specialized training programs and workshops focused on enhancing soft skills. Offer courses in effective communication, leadership (including how to navigate the phases of team development), problem-solving, critical thinking, and collaboration. These programs can provide AI professionals with the necessary tools and techniques to effectively apply soft skills in their work.
- Interdisciplinary Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing: Encourage interdisciplinary collaboration by creating opportunities for AI team members to work alongside experts from diverse fields such as psychology, design, ethics, and business. This collaboration allows for cross-pollination of ideas, encourages different perspectives, and broadens the skill set of AI teams. Foster a culture of knowledge sharing, where professionals can learn from each other and leverage their collective experiences and expertise.
- Real-World Project Engagement: Provide AI team members with opportunities to work on (other) real-world projects, allowing them to apply their soft skills in practical scenarios. Engaging in projects that involve interaction with clients, end-users, and stakeholders helps AI team members develop effective communication, problem-solving, and teamwork skills.
- Continuous Learning and Professional Development: Encourage AI team members to engage in continuous learning and professional development activities. This can include attending conferences, participating in webinars, reading industry publications, and pursuing certifications in relevant areas. Promote a growth mindset among AI team members, emphasizing the importance of lifelong learning and staying current with the latest developments in both technical and soft skills domains.
- Mentorship and Coaching: Establish mentorship and coaching programs where experienced AI professionals guide and support individuals with less experience. Mentors can provide valuable insights, share their experiences, and offer guidance on developing skills. Regular feedback and coaching sessions help AI professionals identify areas for improvement and provide targeted development opportunities.
By implementing these strategies, organizations can cultivate a workforce that excels not only in technical skills but also in the essential soft skills required for AI success. Nurturing well-rounded AI professionals creates a collaborative and adaptive environment, where AI teams can effectively address complex challenges, drive innovation, and deliver impactful solutions.
The next section wraps up this exploration.


Conclusion
The successful development and application of AI systems rely on the synergy between soft skills and technical skills. While technical expertise forms the foundation, it's the integration of soft skills that elevates AI projects to new heights. Effective communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and leadership are among the key soft skills that enable AI teams to excel.
This article explored the significance of soft skills in AI, emphasizing their role in fostering effective teamwork, problem-solving, and innovation. It also acknowledged the indispensable role of technical skills in AI development, including programming languages, algorithms, data analysis, domain knowledge, and more.
Organizations can create well-rounded AI teams with a holistic set of abilities by embracing the power of synergy between soft skills and technical skills. AI team members with strong soft skills can effectively communicate their ideas, collaborate seamlessly, think critically, and provide leadership that empowers their teams.
To advance soft skills among AI professionals, organizations should invest in training programs, promote interdisciplinary collaboration, encourage continuous learning, and foster mentorship and coaching relationships. These efforts will help AI professionals develop the interpersonal and cognitive abilities necessary to thrive in the dynamic and collaborative AI landscape.
AI is a team sport that thrives on the confluence of soft skills and technical skills. By recognizing and embracing this synergy, organizations can unlock the full potential of AI, delivering innovative solutions that address real-world challenges and have a positive impact on the world.

References/Sources
All of the supplied links were functional when this article was published.
- Accenture (2023, March 30). Accenture Technology Vision 2023: Generative AI to Usher in a Bold New Future for Business, Merging Physical and Digital Worlds. Available at: https://newsroom.accenture.com/news/accenture-technology-vision-2023-generative-ai-to-usher-in-a-bold-new-future-for-business-merging-physical-and-digital-worlds.htm.
- Alsever, Jennifer (2020, January 20). Medicine by Machine: Is A.I. the Cure for the World’s Ailing Drug Industry? Fortune. Available at: https://fortune.com/longform/ai-artificial-intelligence-medicine-healthcare-pharmaceutical-industry.
- Anthropic (2023, March 14). Introducing Claude. Available at: https://www.anthropic.com/news/introducing-claude.
- Berlin School of Business and Innovation (2022, September 22). How Do Technical Abilities Combined with Leadership Skills Fuel Career Growth? Available at: https://www.berlinsbi.com/blog/career-advice/how-do-technical-abilities-combined-with-leadership-skills-fuel-career-growth.
- Bhatti, Shawaiz, Demir, Mustafa, Cooke, Nancy J., & Johnson, Craig J. (2021). Assessing Communication and Trust in an AI Teammate in a Dynamic Task Environment. In: 2021 IEEE 2nd International Conference on Human-Machine Systems (ICHMS): 1–6. DOI: 10.1109/ICHMS53169.2021.9582626.
- Brooks, David (2023, February 2). In the Age of A.I., Major in Being Human. The New York Times. Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/02/opinion/ai-human-education.html.
- C3.ai (n.d.). Best Practices in Prototyping: Cross-Functional Teams. Available at: https://c3.ai/introduction-what-is-machine-learning/cross-functional-teams/.
- Crampton, Natasha (2021, January 19). The Building Blocks of Microsoft’s Responsible AI Program. Microsoft. Available at: https://blogs.microsoft.com/on-the-issues/2021/01/19/microsoft-responsible-ai-program.
- Dolev, Niva, & Itzkovich, Yariv (2020). In the AI Era, Soft Skills are the New Hard Skills. In: Artificial Intelligence and Its Impact on Business, pp. 55-77. Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing.
- Dzombak, Rachel, & Palat, Jay (2021, August 30). 5 Ways to Start Growing an AI-Ready Workforce. Pittsburgh, PA: Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University.
- Elliott, Joshua (n.d.). Artificial Social Intelligence for Successful Teams (ASIST). Arlington, VA: Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
- Exceptional Agility (2023, April 10). What's the Future of Agile? Available at: https://exceptionalagility.com/blog/files/the-future.html.
- Fountaine, Tim, McCarthy, Brian, & Saleh, Tamim (2019). Building the AI-Powered Organization. Harvard Business Review, 97 (4): 62–73.
- Gartner (2020, December 15). How to Staff Your AI Team. Available at: https://www.gartner.com/smarterwithgartner/how-to-staff-your-ai-team.
- Gong, Michelle; and Zhernov, Anton (2019, November 18). Advanced Machine Learning Helps Play Store Users Discover Personalised Apps. Google DeepMind. Available at: https://deepmind.google/discover/blog/advanced-machine-learning-helps-play-store-users-discover-personalised-apps/.
- Gorman, Austin (2023, April 27). How to Strengthen Your Soft Skills for AI and the Future of Work. Fast Company. Available at: https://www.fastcompany.com/90887540/how-to-strengthen-your-soft-skills-for-ai-and-the-future-of-work.
- GovExec Events (2020, July 1). Human Machine Team: The Intersection of Diverse Skill Sets [Video]. Defense One. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93wbNLKpbxg&t=1s.
- Graffius, Scott M. (2023, May 1). Fueling the Development of Innovative and Life-Changing AI Solutions [Presentation]. Talk delivered to an audience of Technology professionals (including Data Scientists, Machine Learning Engineers, Data Engineers, AI Researchers, Project Managers, Business Analysts, UX Designers, Software Developers, Cloud Architects, Data Privacy and Security Specialists, and others involved or interested in AI) at a private event in Mountain View, California, United States. Digital Object Identifier (DOI): 10.13140/RG.2.2.27956.73601. DOI link: https://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.27956.73601.
- Graffius, Scott M. (2023, April 26). The Science of High-Performance Teams [Presentation]. Talk delivered at the DevOps Institute’s SKILup Day 2023 Conference. Digital Object Identifier (DOI): 10.13140/RG.2.2.15888.28169. DOI link: https://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.15888.28169.
- Graffius, Scott 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. Available at: https://scottgraffius.com. Digital Object Identifier (DOI): 10.13140/RG.2.2.10720.35846. DOI link: https://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.10720.35846.
- Graffius, Scott M. (2022, May 13). Want Happier and More Productive DevOps Teams? [Presentation]. Talk delivered at DevOpsDays Geneva, Switzerland 2022 Conference. Digital Object Identifier (DOI): 10.13140/RG.2.2.22252.85127. DOI link: https://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.22252.85127.
- Graffius, Scott M. (2021, October 5). Navigate the Phases of Team Development with Speed and Agility for Happier and More Productive Teams [Presentation]. Talk delivered at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers IEEE Day 2021 Conference. Digital Object Identifier (DOI): 10.13140/RG.2.2.20055.19365. DOI link: https://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.20055.19365.
- Graffius, Scott M. (2021, February 20). But First, the Team! [Presentation]. Talk delivered at the Brno, Czech Republic DevConf.CZ 2021 Conference. Digital Object Identifier (DOI): 10.13140/RG.2.2.29016.72964. DOI link: https://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.29016.72964.
- Gupta, Arun (2022). Non-Technical Skills Eat Technical Skills for Breakfast [Video]. Recording of Arun Gupta, VP and GM of the Open Ecosystem at Intel, speaking at the All Things Open Conference. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNPxRBhYNU4.
- Humpton, Barbara (n.d.). The Future of Jobs. Siemens. Available at: https://www.siemens.com/us/en/company/press/siemens-stories/ceo-perspective/the-future-of-jobs.html.
- IBM (2019, September 26). Assemble the Team to Support a Data-Driven Project. Available at: https://www.ibm.com/garage/method/practices/culture/assemble-team-for-data-driven-project.
- IBM (2019). Everyday Ethics for Artificial Intelligence. Available at: https://www.ibm.com/watson/assets/duo/pdf/everydayethics.pdf.
- Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) (2021, November 8). The IEEE Global Initiative on Ethics of Autonomous and Intelligent Systems. Available at: https://standards.ieee.org/industry-connections/ec/autonomous-systems.html.
- Kenan Institute (2023, February 20). The Must-Have Skills in the Era of Artificial Intelligence: How AI’s Democratization Will Impact Workers. Available at: https://kenaninstitute.unc.edu/commentary/the-must-have-skills-in-the-era-of-artificial-intelligence-how-ais-democratization-will-impact-workers.
- Lindzon, Jared (2017, February 28). How AI is Changing the Way Companies are Organized. Fast Company. Available at: https://www.fastcompany.com/3068492/how-ai-is-changing-the-way-companies-are-organized.
- Marr, Bernard (2023, March 20). Beyond The Hype: What You Really Need to Know About AI In 2023. Forbes. Available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2023/03/20/beyond-the-hype-what-you-really-need-to-know-about-ai-in-2023.
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Lincoln Laboratory (2023, January 17). Human-AI Performance Incubator. Available at: https://www.ll.mit.edu/r-d/projects/human-ai-performance-incubator.
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) (2021, January). Cognitive Science as a New People Science for the Future of Work. Available at: https://workofthefuture.mit.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/2021-Research-Brief-Polli-Kassir-Dolphin-Baker-Gabrieli.pdf.
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Sloan (2019, October 15). Winning With AI. MIT Sloan Management Review and Boston Consulting Group. Available at: https://sloanreview.mit.edu/projects/winning-with-ai.
- McNeese, Nathan J., Demir, Mustafa, Chiou, Erin K., & Cooke, Nancy J. (2021). Trust and Team Performance in Human–Autonomy Teaming. International Journal of Electronic Commerce, 25 (1): 51–72. DOI: 10.1080/10864415.2021.1846854.
- Mearian, Lucas (2023, February 24). Skills-Based Hiring Continues to Rise as Degree Requirements Fade. Computerworld. Available at: https://www.computerworld.com/article/3689170/skills-based-hiring-continues-to-rise-as-degree-requirements-fade.html.
- Meta (2017, October 11). Inventing the Future. Available at: https://www.meta.com/blog/quest/inventing-the-future/.
- Microsoft (2019, June 15). Is the Latest Technology the Key to Your Team’s Success, or is There Something Else? Available at: https://devblogs.microsoft.com/premier-developer/is-the-latest-technology-the-key-to-your-teams-success-or-is-there-something-else.
- New South Wales Technical and Further Education Commission (TAFE NSW) (2019). Soft vs. Hard Skills: Why Successful Australian Businesses Need Both. Ultimo, New South Wales: TAFE NSW.
- Nvidia (n.d.). Partner Innovation. Available at: https://www.nvidia.com/en-ph/self-driving-cars/partners/.
- O’Dea, Blathnaid (2023, February 17). These are the Top Skills AI and Analytics Professionals Need. Silicon Republic. Available at: https://www.siliconrepublic.com/advice/top-skills-ai-data-analytics-professionals-need.
- Olmstead, Brett (2023, February 15). Driving AI Success by Engaging a Cross-Functional Team. Available at: https://www.datarobot.com/blog/driving-ai-success-by-engaging-a-cross-functional-team/.
- Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) (n.d.). OECD Programme on AI in Work, Innovation, Productivity and Skills. Available at: https://oecd.ai/en/work-innovation-productivity-skills/key-themes/skills.
- Oswald, Andrew. J., Proto, Eugenio, & Sgroi, Daniel (2015). Happiness and Productivity. Journal of Labor Economics, 33 (4): 789-822.
- Project Management Institute (2020, March 10). Tomorrow's Teams Today: The Future of Teaming: Creative, Collaborative and Agile. Pulse of the Profession. Available at: https://www.pmi.org/learning/library/pulse-indepth-tomorrows-teams-today-11941.
- PwC (2017). Sizing the Prize: What’s the Real Value of AI for Your Business and How Can You Capitalise? PwC’s Global Artificial Intelligence Study: Exploiting the AI Revolution. Available at: https://www.pwc.com/gx/en/issues/data-and-analytics/publications/artificial-intelligence-study.html.
- Rayside, Derek (Ed.) (2023, March 29). Software Engineering Capstone Design Project Handbook (2023 Edition). Waterloo, Ontario, Canada: University of Waterloo.
- Romsey, Joseph (2020, November 30). 5 Tips to Help Workers Upskill and Adapt to Artificial Intelligence. Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). Available at: https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/hr-topics/technology/pages/how-hr-can-help-workers-upskill-and-adapt-to-artificial-intelligence-5-tips.aspx.
- Samsung (2017, May 4). Artificial Intelligence and the Role of Workers. Available at: https://insights.samsung.com/2017/05/04/artificial-intelligence-and-the-role-of-workers/.
- Stanford University (2019, September). Gathering Strength, Gathering Storms. Stanford, CA: Stanford University.
- Tredinnick, Luke (2017). Artificial Intelligence and Professional Roles. Business Information Review, 34 (1): 37–41.
- Ungerleider, Neal (2023, January 1). AI and Jobs: The Human Angle. Available at: https://www.sap.com/denmark/insights/viewpoints/ai-jobs-human-angle.html.
- United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) (2021, July 2). AI Ethics: Another Step Closer to the Adoption of UNESCO’s Recommendation. Available at: https://en.unesco.org/news/ai-ethics-another-step-closer-adoption-unescos-recommendation-0.
- United States Artificial Intelligence Institute (USAII) (2022). Factsheet: Fast-Track Your Artificial Intelligence Career in 2023. Stamford, CT: USAII.
- United States Congress Committee on Science, Space, and Technology (2019, September 24). Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Work. Report for the One Hundred Sixteenth Congress. Available at: https://www.congress.gov/116/chrg/CHRG-116hhrg37740/CHRG-116hhrg37740.pdf.
- University of Leeds (2023, March 2). The Top 5 AI Skills You Need to Land a Job in Artificial Intelligence. Available at: https://pg-online.leeds.ac.uk/blogs/5-skills-needed-for-ai.
- World Manufacturing Foundation (2020). 2020 World Manufacturing Report: Manufacturing in the Age of Artificial Intelligence. Available at: https://worldmanufacturing.org/wp-content/uploads/WorldManufacturingForum2020_Report.pdf.

How to Cite This Article
Graffius, Scott M. (2023, May 1). AI is a Team Sport: A Confluence of Diverse Technical and Soft Skills are Crucial for Success. Available at: https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/successful-ai-teams.html. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.20321.79200.



About Scott M. Graffius

Scott M. Graffius, PMP, SA, CSP-SM, CSP-PO, CSM, CSPO, SFE, ITIL, LSSGB is an agile project management practitioner, consultant, multi-award-winning author, and international keynote speaker. He is the Founder of Exceptional PPM and PMO Solutions™ and subsidiary Exceptional Agility™. He has generated over $1.9 billion of business value in aggregate for Global Fortune 500 businesses and other organizations he has served. Graffius and content from his books, talks, workshops, and more have been featured and used by businesses, professional associations, governments, and universities. Examples include Microsoft, Oracle, Broadcom, Cisco, Gartner, Project Management Institute, IEEE, Qantas, National Academy of Sciences, United States Department of Energy, New Zealand Ministry of Education, Yale University, Tufts University, and others. He has delighted audiences with dynamic and engaging talks and workshops on agile, project management, and technology leadership at 85 conferences and other events across 25 countries.
His full bio is available here.
Connect with Scott on:


About Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions

Shifting customer needs are common in today's marketplace. Businesses must be adaptive and responsive to change while delivering an exceptional customer experience to be competitive.
There are a variety of frameworks supporting the development of products and services, and most approaches fall into one of two broad categories: traditional or agile. Traditional practices such as waterfall engage sequential development, while agile involves iterative and incremental deliverables. Organizations are increasingly embracing agile to manage projects, and best meet their business needs of rapid response to change, fast delivery speed, and more.
With clear and easy to follow instructions, the multi award-winning Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions book by Scott M. Graffius (Chris Hare and Colin Giffen, Technical Editors) helps the reader:
- Implement and use the most popular agile framework―Scrum;
- Deliver products in short cycles with rapid adaptation to change, fast time-to-market, and continuous improvement; and
- Support innovation and drive competitive advantage.
Hailed by Literary Titan as “the book highlights the versatility of Scrum beautifully.”
Winner of 17 first place awards.
Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions is available in paperback and ebook/Kindle in the United States and around the world. Some links by country follow.
- 🇧🇷 Brazil
- 🇨🇦 Canada
- 🇨🇿 Czech Republic
- 🇩🇰 Denmark
- 🇫🇮 Finland
- 🇫🇷 France
- 🇩🇪 Germany
- 🇬🇷 Greece
- 🇭🇺 Hungary
- 🇮🇳 India
- 🇮🇪 Ireland
- 🇮🇱 Israel
- 🇮🇹 Italy
- 🇯🇵 Japan
- 🇱🇺 Luxembourg
- 🇲🇽 Mexico
- 🇳🇱 Netherlands
- 🇳🇿 New Zealand
- 🇳🇴 Norway
- 🇪🇸 Spain
- 🇸🇪 Sweden
- 🇨🇭 Switzerland
- 🇦🇪 UAE
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- 🇺🇸 United States

About 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

Thriving in today's marketplace frequently depends on making a transformation to become more agile. Those successful in the transition enjoy faster delivery speed and ROI, higher satisfaction, continuous improvement, and additional benefits.
Based on actual events, 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 provides a quick (60-90 minute) read about a successful agile transformation at a multinational entertainment and media company, told from the author's perspective as an agile coach.
The award-winning book by Scott M. Graffius is available in paperback and ebook/Kindle in the United States and around the world. Some links by country follow.
- 🇦🇺 Australia
- 🇦🇹 Austria
- 🇧🇷 Brazil
- 🇨🇦 Canada
- 🇨🇿 Czech Republic
- 🇩🇰 Denmark
- 🇫🇮 Finland
- 🇫🇷 France
- 🇩🇪 Germany
- 🇬🇷 Greece
- 🇮🇳 India
- 🇮🇪 Ireland
- 🇯🇵 Japan
- 🇱🇺 Luxembourg
- 🇲🇽 Mexico
- 🇳🇱 Netherlands
- 🇳🇿 New Zealand
- 🇪🇸 Spain
- 🇸🇪 Sweden
- 🇨🇭 Switzerland
- 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- 🇺🇸 United States

The short URL for this article is: https://bit.ly/ai-teams
© Copyright 2023 Scott M. Graffius. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the express written permission of Scott M. Graffius.

Scott M. Graffius Speaking at Quantum Computing Conference

Scott M. Graffius has delivered 86 talks and workshops at conferences and other events across 25 countries. His newest engagement will be at the Conf42 Quantum Computing 2023 Conference, where he'll present “What Successful AI Teams Have in Common.” The talk draws from his work on AI projects as well as research from the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence, Google, IBM, IEEE, Microsoft, MIT, Software Engineering Institute, United States Artificial Intelligence Institute, and many others.
The conference also includes talks by:
- Daniel Goldsmith,
- Michal Jankowski,
- Trista Pan,
- Myron Giannakis,
- Peter Den Haan,
- Roberto Magnani,
- Sara Marzella, and
- Alberto García García.
Details ↴
📍 Watch the Quantum Computing Conference online
🗓 June 29, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. PT | 5:00 p.m. GMT | 8:00 p.m. EET
🎟 Subscribe to watch at: https://bit.ly/1-signup




About Scott M. Graffius

Scott M. Graffius, PMP, SA, CSP-SM, CSP-PO, CSM, CSPO, SFE, ITIL, LSSGB is an agile project management practitioner, consultant, multi-award-winning author, and international keynote speaker. He is the Founder of Exceptional PPM and PMO Solutions™ and subsidiary Exceptional Agility™. He has generated over $1.9 billion of business value in aggregate for Global Fortune 500 businesses and other organizations he has served. Graffius and content from his books, talks, workshops, and more have been featured and used by businesses, professional associations, governments, and universities. Examples include Microsoft, Oracle, Broadcom, Cisco, Gartner, Project Management Institute, IEEE, Qantas, National Academy of Sciences, United States Department of Energy, New Zealand Ministry of Education, Yale University, Tufts University, and others. He has delighted audiences with dynamic and engaging talks and workshops on agile, project management, and technology (including AI) leadership at 86 conferences and other events across 25 countries.
His full bio is available here.
Connect with Scott on:


About Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions

Shifting customer needs are common in today's marketplace. Businesses must be adaptive and responsive to change while delivering an exceptional customer experience to be competitive.
There are a variety of frameworks supporting the development of products and services, and most approaches fall into one of two broad categories: traditional or agile. Traditional practices such as waterfall engage sequential development, while agile involves iterative and incremental deliverables. Organizations are increasingly embracing agile to manage projects, and best meet their business needs of rapid response to change, fast delivery speed, and more.
With clear and easy to follow instructions, the multi award-winning Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions book by Scott M. Graffius (Chris Hare and Colin Giffen, Technical Editors) helps the reader:
- Implement and use the most popular agile framework―Scrum;
- Deliver products in short cycles with rapid adaptation to change, fast time-to-market, and continuous improvement; and
- Support innovation and drive competitive advantage.
Hailed by Literary Titan as “the book highlights the versatility of Scrum beautifully.”
Winner of 17 first place awards.
Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions is available in paperback and ebook/Kindle in the United States and around the world. Some links by country follow.
- 🇧🇷 Brazil
- 🇨🇦 Canada
- 🇨🇿 Czech Republic
- 🇩🇰 Denmark
- 🇫🇮 Finland
- 🇫🇷 France
- 🇩🇪 Germany
- 🇬🇷 Greece
- 🇭🇺 Hungary
- 🇮🇳 India
- 🇮🇪 Ireland
- 🇮🇱 Israel
- 🇮🇹 Italy
- 🇯🇵 Japan
- 🇱🇺 Luxembourg
- 🇲🇽 Mexico
- 🇳🇱 Netherlands
- 🇳🇿 New Zealand
- 🇳🇴 Norway
- 🇪🇸 Spain
- 🇸🇪 Sweden
- 🇨🇭 Switzerland
- 🇦🇪 UAE
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- 🇺🇸 United States

About 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

Thriving in today's marketplace frequently depends on making a transformation to become more agile. Those successful in the transition enjoy faster delivery speed and ROI, higher satisfaction, continuous improvement, and additional benefits.
Based on actual events, 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 provides a quick (60-90 minute) read about a successful agile transformation at a multinational entertainment and media company, told from the author's perspective as an agile coach.
The award-winning book by Scott M. Graffius is available in paperback and ebook/Kindle in the United States and around the world. Some links by country follow.
- 🇦🇺 Australia
- 🇦🇹 Austria
- 🇧🇷 Brazil
- 🇨🇦 Canada
- 🇨🇿 Czech Republic
- 🇩🇰 Denmark
- 🇫🇮 Finland
- 🇫🇷 France
- 🇩🇪 Germany
- 🇬🇷 Greece
- 🇮🇳 India
- 🇮🇪 Ireland
- 🇯🇵 Japan
- 🇱🇺 Luxembourg
- 🇲🇽 Mexico
- 🇳🇱 Netherlands
- 🇳🇿 New Zealand
- 🇪🇸 Spain
- 🇸🇪 Sweden
- 🇨🇭 Switzerland
- 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- 🇺🇸 United States

The short URL for this article is: https://bit.ly/conf42
© Copyright 2023 Scott M. Graffius. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the express written permission of Scott M. Graffius.

Top 5 Roles on AI Teams

Select here to download a PDF of this article.

Effective Artificial Intelligence (AI) teams leverage critical hard skills and soft skills to develop and deliver successful AI products, including innovative solutions that address real-world challenges and have a positive impact on the world. (If you’d like to learn about the critical skills leveraged by effective AI teams, select here for our popular article on the topic.) This article focuses on the roles on AI teams.

The composition (size and roles) of AI teams varies by organization based on the respective company’s needs, the nature of the AI endeavor including complexity, and other factors. However, AI teams commonly include (at least these) five positions. Here are the five along with brief descriptions, listed in alphabetical order:
- AI Research Scientist: AI research scientists are responsible for conducting research and developing cutting-edge AI algorithms and models.
- AI Software Engineer: AI software engineers are responsible for integrating AI components into software applications. They bridge the gap between AI research and practical implementation, making AI systems usable by end-users.
- Data Engineer: Data engineers are responsible for building and managing the data pipelines that feed AI models. They ensure that data is collected, cleaned, and prepared in a format suitable for analysis and model training.
- Data Scientist: Data scientists are experts in data analysis and interpretation. They preprocess, analyze, and extract valuable insights from data, which is vital for training and improving AI models.
- Machine Learning Engineer: Machine learning engineers focus on implementing and deploying machine learning models into practical applications. They work to ensure that AI models are integrated into software systems effectively.
The above five roles collectively cover key aspects of AI development — from research and model creation to data management and software integration. Depending on requirements and characteristics (such as degree of complexity), additional positions may be needed.
An expanded list of 20 roles common to AI teams follow. Here are the aforementioned 5 and 15 additional positions, listed in alphabetical order:
- AI DevOps Engineer: Combines development and operations skills to streamline AI model deployment. They automate tasks.
- AI Ethicist: Ensures that AI systems are developed and used responsibly and ethically.
- AI Infrastructure Engineer: Builds and maintains the infrastructure required for AI model deployment and scalability.
- AI Legal and Compliance Specialist: Ensures AI projects comply with legal and regulatory requirements.
- AI Marketing Specialist: Promotes and markets AI products and solutions to customers and stakeholders.
- AI Operations (AIOps) Specialist: Focuses on the operational aspects of AI, including monitoring, maintenance, and troubleshooting.
- AI Product Manager: Oversees the development and deployment of AI products.
- AI Project Manager: Leverages general and specialized hard skills and soft skills, and applies their understanding of many aspects of artificial intelligence (such as machine learning, deep learning, automation, robotics, and natural language processing) to manage the planning, execution, and delivery of AI projects. Note: Titles vary by organization; the position may be called an AI Project Manager, AI Program Manager, Agile Project Manager, Technical Project Manager, Scrum Master, or another related designation.
- AI QA Engineer: Ensures the quality and reliability of AI models through testing and validation.
- AI Research Scientist: Conducts research to develop new AI algorithms and models.
- AI Software Engineer: Builds and maintains software systems that incorporate AI components.
- AI Trainer/Annotator: Prepares and labels data for training AI models, especially for supervised learning.
- AI UX/UI Designer: Designs user interfaces and experiences for AI-powered applications.
- Computer Vision Engineer: Specializes in developing AI models for image and video analysis.
- Data Analyst: Examines data to uncover trends and insights that can guide AI projects.
- Data Engineer: Manages data pipelines and prepares data for analysis and model training.
- Data Scientist: Analyzes and interprets data to extract insights and inform AI models.
- Deep Learning Engineer: Focuses on deep neural networks and architectures.
- Machine Learning Engineer: Focuses on implementing and deploying machine learning models.
- Natural Language Processing (NLP) Engineer: Specializes in working with text and language-related AI tasks.
The composition (size and roles) of AI teams varies, based on the complexity of the AI project and other factors. On smaller teams, individuals often ‘wear multiple hats.’ On larger teams, individuals typically have more specialized roles.

This article covered the roles common to AI teams. Listings are not exhaustive of all potential positions. Additionally, as the field of AI continues to evolve and advance, new roles may materialize to address emerging challenges and opportunities.
(If you’d like to learn about the critical skills leveraged by successful AI teams, select here for our popular article on the topic.)

References/Sources
All of the supplied links were functional when this article was published.
- Apple (n.d.). Careers at Apple: Machine Learning and AI. Available at: https://www.apple.com/careers/us/machine-learning-and-ai.html.
- C3.ai (n.d.). Best Practices in Prototyping: Cross-Functional Teams. Available at: https://c3.ai/introduction-what-is-machine-learning/cross-functional-teams/.
- Deloitte AI Institute (2021). Building Successful AI Teams. Available at: https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/us/Documents/deloitte-analytics/us-ai-institute-building-successful-AI-teams.pdf.
- Gartner (2020, December 15). Staff AI Teams with Various Roles and Skills for Success. Available at: https://www.gartner.com/smarterwithgartner/how-to-staff-your-ai-team.
- General Services Administration (GSA) Centers of Excellence (CoE) (n.d.). AI Guide for Government. Available at: https://coe.gsa.gov/coe/ai-guide-for-government/understanding-ai-job-roles-career-path/.
- Google Quantum AI (n.d.). Careers. Available at: https://quantumai.google/team/careers.
- Graffius, Scott M. (2023, May 1). AI is a Team Sport: A Confluence of Diverse Technical and Soft Skills are Crucial for Success. Available at: https://www.scottgraffius.com/blog/files/successful-ai-teams.html.
- Graffius, Scott M. (2023). What Successful AI Teams Have in Common [Video]. Graffius’ talk at the 2023 Conf42 Quantum Computer Conference. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2qRKFbSKYE.
- IBM (n.d.). Assemble the Team to Support a Data-Driven Project. Available at: https://www.ibm.com/garage/method/practices/culture/assemble-team-for-data-driven-project/.
- Intel (n.d.). Artificial Intelligence Teams: Careers. Available at: https://jobs.intel.com/en/search-jobs/artificial+intelligence/599/1.
- Intuit (2020, December 8). How to avoid conflicts and delays in the AI development process (Part I). Available at: https://blogs.intuit.com/2020/12/08/how-to-avoid-conflicts-and-delays-in-the-ai-development-process-part-i/.

How to Cite This Article
Graffius, Scott M. (2023, October 9). Top 5 Roles on AI Teams. Available at: https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/ai-team-roles.html. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.34857.57449.



About Scott M. Graffius

Scott M. Graffius, PMP, SA, CSP-SM, CSP-PO, CSM, CSPO, SFE, ITIL, LSSGB is an agile project management practitioner, consultant, multi-award-winning author, and international keynote speaker. He is the Founder of Exceptional PPM and PMO Solutions™ and subsidiary Exceptional Agility™. He has generated over $1.9 billion of business value in aggregate for Global Fortune 500 businesses and other organizations he has served. Graffius and content from his books, talks, workshops, and more have been featured and used by businesses, professional associations, governments, and universities. Examples include Microsoft, Oracle, Broadcom, Cisco, Gartner, Project Management Institute, IEEE, Qantas, National Academy of Sciences, United States Department of Energy, New Zealand Ministry of Education, Yale University, Tufts University, and others. He has delighted audiences with dynamic and engaging talks and workshops on agile, project management, and technology (including AI, GameDev, and more) leadership at 87 conferences and other events across 25 countries.
His full bio is available here.
Connect with Scott on:


About Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions

Shifting customer needs are common in today's marketplace. Businesses must be adaptive and responsive to change while delivering an exceptional customer experience to be competitive.
There are a variety of frameworks supporting the development of products and services, and most approaches fall into one of two broad categories: traditional or agile. Traditional practices such as waterfall engage sequential development, while agile involves iterative and incremental deliverables. Organizations are increasingly embracing agile to manage projects, and best meet their business needs of rapid response to change, fast delivery speed, and more.
With clear and easy to follow instructions, the multi award-winning Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions book by Scott M. Graffius (Chris Hare and Colin Giffen, Technical Editors) helps the reader:
- Implement and use the most popular agile framework―Scrum;
- Deliver products in short cycles with rapid adaptation to change, fast time-to-market, and continuous improvement; and
- Support innovation and drive competitive advantage.
Hailed by Literary Titan as “the book highlights the versatility of Scrum beautifully.”
Winner of 17 first place awards.
Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions is available in paperback and ebook/Kindle in the United States and around the world. Some links by country follow.
- 🇧🇷 Brazil
- 🇨🇦 Canada
- 🇨🇿 Czech Republic
- 🇩🇰 Denmark
- 🇫🇮 Finland
- 🇫🇷 France
- 🇩🇪 Germany
- 🇬🇷 Greece
- 🇭🇺 Hungary
- 🇮🇳 India
- 🇮🇪 Ireland
- 🇮🇱 Israel
- 🇮🇹 Italy
- 🇯🇵 Japan
- 🇱🇺 Luxembourg
- 🇲🇽 Mexico
- 🇳🇱 Netherlands
- 🇳🇿 New Zealand
- 🇳🇴 Norway
- 🇪🇸 Spain
- 🇸🇪 Sweden
- 🇨🇭 Switzerland
- 🇦🇪 UAE
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- 🇺🇸 United States

About 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

Thriving in today's marketplace frequently depends on making a transformation to become more agile. Those successful in the transition enjoy faster delivery speed and ROI, higher satisfaction, continuous improvement, and additional benefits.
Based on actual events, 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 provides a quick (60-90 minute) read about a successful agile transformation at a multinational entertainment and media company, told from the author's perspective as an agile coach.
The award-winning book by Scott M. Graffius is available in paperback and ebook/Kindle in the United States and around the world. Some links by country follow.
- 🇦🇺 Australia
- 🇦🇹 Austria
- 🇧🇷 Brazil
- 🇨🇦 Canada
- 🇨🇿 Czech Republic
- 🇩🇰 Denmark
- 🇫🇮 Finland
- 🇫🇷 France
- 🇩🇪 Germany
- 🇬🇷 Greece
- 🇮🇳 India
- 🇮🇪 Ireland
- 🇯🇵 Japan
- 🇱🇺 Luxembourg
- 🇲🇽 Mexico
- 🇳🇱 Netherlands
- 🇳🇿 New Zealand
- 🇪🇸 Spain
- 🇸🇪 Sweden
- 🇨🇭 Switzerland
- 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- 🇺🇸 United States

The short link for this article is: https://bit.ly/ai-roles.
© Copyright 2023 Scott M. Graffius. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the express written permission of Scott M. Graffius.

IEEE Xplore Publication Featured Scott M. Graffius' 'Phases of Team Development' Work

The scientific paper, “Exploring the Dynamics of Team Formation in Human-Artificial Intelligence Collaboration,” referenced and discussed Scott M. Graffius’ ‘Phases of Team Development’ work.
“Exploring the Dynamics of Team Formation in Human-Artificial Intelligence Collaboration” — a scientific paper and presentation at the 2023 International Conference on Decision Aid Sciences and Applications — referenced and discussed Graffius’ ‘Phases of Team Development.’ Here’s an excerpt: “This is evident in Graffius’ work which shows Graffius’ modifications on the phases of team development, highlighting the characteristics of Tuckman’s stages and presenting strategies to overcome their challenges.”
IEEE Xplore published the paper (here). Here’s the citation information:
Alfateh, Maryam Ali Abu; Messaadia, Mourad; and Ali, Mazen (2023, September). Exploring the Dynamics of Team Formation in Human-Artificial Intelligence Collaboration. In 2023 International Conference on Decision Aid Sciences and Applications (DASA), pp. 384-388. DOI: 10.1109/DASA59624.2023.10286788.
About Scott M. Graffius’ ‘Phases of Team Development’

Informed by the research of Bruce W. Tuckman and Mary Ann C. Jensen, over 100 subsequent studies, and Graffius’ first-hand professional experience with, and analysis of, team leadership and performance, 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.
With permission/a license from Graffius, his ‘Phases of Team Development’ work is used by businesses, professional associations, governments, and universities around the world. Examples include Yale University, IEEE, Torrens University Australia, UK Sports Institute, Adobe, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Academic Cooperation Association, Boston University, U.S. National Park Service, Bayer, Hasso Plattner Institute (Hasso-Plattner-Institut für Digital Engineering GmbH), Singapore University of Social Sciences, New Zealand Government, University of Galway Ireland, and many more.
Visit https://bit.ly/teams-23 for details, including permission request information and more.
Graffius’ ‘Phases of Team Development’ (visual and text) is copyright © Scott M. Graffius. All rights reserved.
About the IEEE
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) is the world’s largest professional organization advancing innovation and technological excellence for the benefit of humanity. IEEE and its members (which includes Graffius) inspire a global community to innovate for a better tomorrow through its highly cited publications, conferences, technology standards, and professional and educational activities. IEEE is the trusted “voice” for engineering, computing, and technology information around the globe. Visit https://ieee.org to learn more.
IEEE name, mark, and content are the property of the IEEE.
About IEEE Xplore
IEEE Xplore is the flagship digital platform for discovery and access to scientific and technical content published by the IEEE and its publishing partners. Visit https://innovate.ieee.org to learn more.
IEEE Xplore name, mark, and content are the property of the IEEE.



About Scott M. Graffius

Scott M. Graffius, PMP, SA, CSP-SM, CSP-PO, CSM, CSPO, SFE, ITIL, LSSGB is an agile project management practitioner, consultant, multi-award-winning author, and international keynote speaker. He is the Founder of Exceptional PPM and PMO Solutions™ and subsidiary Exceptional Agility™. He has generated over $1.9 billion of business value in aggregate for Global Fortune 500 businesses and other organizations he has served. Graffius and content from his books, talks, workshops, and more have been featured and used by businesses, professional associations, governments, and universities. Examples include Microsoft, Oracle, Broadcom, Cisco, Gartner, Project Management Institute, IEEE, Qantas, National Academy of Sciences, United States Department of Energy, New Zealand Ministry of Education, Yale University, Tufts University, and others. He has delighted audiences with dynamic and engaging talks and workshops at 88 conferences and other events across 25 countries.
His full bio is available here.
Connect with Scott on:


About Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions

Shifting customer needs are common in today's marketplace. Businesses must be adaptive and responsive to change while delivering an exceptional customer experience to be competitive.
There are a variety of frameworks supporting the development of products and services, and most approaches fall into one of two broad categories: traditional or agile. Traditional practices such as waterfall engage sequential development, while agile involves iterative and incremental deliverables. Organizations are increasingly embracing agile to manage projects, and best meet their business needs of rapid response to change, fast delivery speed, and more.
With clear and easy to follow instructions, the multi award-winning Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions book by Scott M. Graffius (Chris Hare and Colin Giffen, Technical Editors) helps the reader:
- Implement and use the most popular agile framework―Scrum;
- Deliver products in short cycles with rapid adaptation to change, fast time-to-market, and continuous improvement; and
- Support innovation and drive competitive advantage.
Hailed by Literary Titan as “the book highlights the versatility of Scrum beautifully.”
Winner of 17 first place awards.
Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions is available in paperback and ebook/Kindle in the United States and around the world. Some links by country follow.
- 🇧🇷 Brazil
- 🇨🇦 Canada
- 🇨🇿 Czech Republic
- 🇩🇰 Denmark
- 🇫🇮 Finland
- 🇫🇷 France
- 🇩🇪 Germany
- 🇬🇷 Greece
- 🇭🇺 Hungary
- 🇮🇳 India
- 🇮🇪 Ireland
- 🇮🇱 Israel
- 🇮🇹 Italy
- 🇯🇵 Japan
- 🇱🇺 Luxembourg
- 🇲🇽 Mexico
- 🇳🇱 Netherlands
- 🇳🇿 New Zealand
- 🇳🇴 Norway
- 🇪🇸 Spain
- 🇸🇪 Sweden
- 🇨🇭 Switzerland
- 🇦🇪 UAE
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- 🇺🇸 United States

About 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

Thriving in today's marketplace frequently depends on making a transformation to become more agile. Those successful in the transition enjoy faster delivery speed and ROI, higher satisfaction, continuous improvement, and additional benefits.
Based on actual events, 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 provides a quick (60-90 minute) read about a successful agile transformation at a multinational entertainment and media company, told from the author's perspective as an agile coach.
The award-winning book by Scott M. Graffius is available in paperback and ebook/Kindle in the United States and around the world. Some links by country follow.
- 🇦🇺 Australia
- 🇦🇹 Austria
- 🇧🇷 Brazil
- 🇨🇦 Canada
- 🇨🇿 Czech Republic
- 🇩🇰 Denmark
- 🇫🇮 Finland
- 🇫🇷 France
- 🇩🇪 Germany
- 🇬🇷 Greece
- 🇮🇳 India
- 🇮🇪 Ireland
- 🇯🇵 Japan
- 🇱🇺 Luxembourg
- 🇲🇽 Mexico
- 🇳🇱 Netherlands
- 🇳🇿 New Zealand
- 🇪🇸 Spain
- 🇸🇪 Sweden
- 🇨🇭 Switzerland
- 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- 🇺🇸 United States

© Copyright 2023 Scott M. Graffius. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the express written permission of Scott M. Graffius.

Scott M. Graffius Speaking on Successful AI at DevDays Europe 2024 Conference

Agile leader, consultant, creator, multi-award-winning author, and international public speaker Scott M. Graffius delights audiences around the world with talks and workshops on AI, Innovation, Agile, Project Management, High Performance Teams, Video Game Development, Tech Leadership, Strategic Alignment, and more. He uses everyday language and vibrant custom visuals to make complex topics clear and understandable, and he provides audiences with practical information they can use. His sessions are highly rated by attendees and organizers alike.
Conference organizers, businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities around the world invite Scott to speak. He’s presented 89 talks and workshops at conferences and other events (public and private/corporate) across 25 countries.
Scott's newest engagement will be the DevDays Europe 2024 Conference, where he'll present “What Successful AI Development Teams Have in Common.” His talk draws from his work on AI projects as well as research from DARPA, Google, IBM, IEEE, Microsoft, Nvidia, Oracle, Software Engineering Institute, USAII, and other organizations.
💡 AI
ℹ️ https://bit.ly/dde2024
📍 Vilnius, Lithuania | Online
🗓 Tuesday, 21 May 2024
🕙 10:00 a.m. Eastern European Time
🎟 https://devdays.lt
About the DevDays Europe 2024 Conference
DevDays Europe brings together internationally recognized speakers and developers to encourage excellence and innovation in the software development community. The conference will cover emerging technologies and best practices in the software development industry — regardless of technological platform or language — without commercial hype. It will run from May 20-21, 23-24. Conference sessions will take place in the dynamic ambiance of movie theater halls at the Multikino Ozas (Multikino, Ozo str. 18, Vilnius, Lithuania). Visit https://devdays.lt to learn more.




About Scott M. Graffius

Scott M. Graffius, PMP, SA, CSP-SM, CSP-PO, CSM, CSPO, ITIL, LSSGB is an agile project management practitioner, consultant, thinker, creator, multi-award-winning author, and international public speaker. Founder and CEO of Exceptional PPM and PMO Solutions™ and subsidiary Exceptional Agility™, he has generated over $1.9 billion for Global Fortune 500 businesses and other organizations he has served. Graffius and content from his books, talks, workshops, and more have been featured and used by Microsoft, Oracle, Broadcom, Cisco, Gartner, Project Management Institute, IEEE, National Academy of Sciences, United States Department of Energy, Yale University, Tufts University, and others. He delights audiences with dynamic and engaging talks and workshops on agile project management, AI, Tech leadership, video game development, strategic alignment, the science of high performance teams, and more. To date, he's presented sessions at 89 conferences and other events across 25 countries.
His full bio is available here.
Connect with Scott on:



About Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions

Shifting customer needs are common in today's marketplace. Businesses must be adaptive and responsive to change while delivering an exceptional customer experience to be competitive.
There are a variety of frameworks supporting the development of products and services, and most approaches fall into one of two broad categories: traditional or agile. Traditional practices such as waterfall engage sequential development, while agile involves iterative and incremental deliverables. Organizations are increasingly embracing agile to manage projects, and best meet their business needs of rapid response to change, fast delivery speed, and more.
With clear and easy to follow step-by-step instructions, Scott M. Graffius's award-winning Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions helps the reader:
- Implement and use the most popular agile framework―Scrum;
- Deliver products in short cycles with rapid adaptation to change, fast time-to-market, and continuous improvement; and
- Support innovation and drive competitive advantage.
Hailed by Literary Titan as “the book highlights the versatility of Scrum beautifully.”
Winner of 17 first place awards.
Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions is available in paperback and ebook/Kindle in the United States and around the world. Some links by country follow.
- 🇧🇷 Brazil
- 🇨🇦 Canada
- 🇨🇿 Czech Republic
- 🇩🇰 Denmark
- 🇫🇮 Finland
- 🇫🇷 France
- 🇩🇪 Germany
- 🇬🇷 Greece
- 🇭🇺 Hungary
- 🇮🇳 India
- 🇮🇪 Ireland
- 🇮🇱 Israel
- 🇮🇹 Italy
- 🇯🇵 Japan
- 🇱🇺 Luxembourg
- 🇲🇽 Mexico
- 🇳🇱 Netherlands
- 🇳🇿 New Zealand
- 🇳🇴 Norway
- 🇪🇸 Spain
- 🇸🇪 Sweden
- 🇨🇭 Switzerland
- 🇦🇪 UAE
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- 🇺🇸 United States

About 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

Thriving in today's marketplace frequently depends on making a transformation to become more agile. Those successful in the transition enjoy faster delivery speed and ROI, higher satisfaction, continuous improvement, and additional benefits.
Based on actual events, 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 provides a quick (60-90 minute) read about a successful agile transformation at a multinational entertainment and media company, told from the author's perspective as an agile coach.
The award-winning book by Scott M. Graffius is available in paperback and ebook/Kindle in the United States and around the world. Some links by country follow.
- 🇦🇺 Australia
- 🇦🇹 Austria
- 🇧🇷 Brazil
- 🇨🇦 Canada
- 🇨🇿 Czech Republic
- 🇩🇰 Denmark
- 🇫🇮 Finland
- 🇫🇷 France
- 🇩🇪 Germany
- 🇬🇷 Greece
- 🇮🇳 India
- 🇮🇪 Ireland
- 🇯🇵 Japan
- 🇱🇺 Luxembourg
- 🇲🇽 Mexico
- 🇳🇱 Netherlands
- 🇳🇿 New Zealand
- 🇪🇸 Spain
- 🇸🇪 Sweden
- 🇨🇭 Switzerland
- 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- 🇺🇸 United States

Short link for this article: https://bit.ly/dev-ai
DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.24313.07529
© Copyright 2024 Scott M. Graffius. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the express written permission of Scott M. Graffius.

Scott M. Graffius Speaking on Agile, AI, and Innovation at a Private Event in Dubai


Scott M. Graffius will present "Leverage Agile and AI to Innovate at the Speed of Light" at a private/corporate event in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on 3 May 2024. This will be his 90th speaking engagement.
Here's a short description of the session:
Agile approaches foster collaboration, responsiveness to change, and continuous improvement. And AI advances automation, efficiency, decision-making, and accuracy. Together, Agile and AI help organizations drive innovation by navigating complex landscapes with agility and precision, accelerating the pace of technological progress. Graffius' talk — "Leverage Agile and AI to Innovate at the Speed of Light" — provides unique material on the relationship between Agile and AI including how their convergence propels innovation. Most importantly, the talk provides actionable insights event delegates can use.

Conference organizers, businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities invite Graffius to speak and share actionable insights on topics related to Agile Project Management, Business, and Technology. He has delivered talks and workshops at conferences and other events — public and private/corporate — across 25 countries. Graffius uses everyday language and vibrant custom content to make complex topics clear and understandable, and he provides audiences with practical information they can use. His sessions are highly rated by attendees and organizers alike.
To learn more, visit his Public Speaker page. To book Graffius for your conference or other event — for this new session ("Leverage Agile and AI to Innovate at the Speed of Light"), one of the top five sessions (read on for details), or another topic — complete a speaker engagement request form or email him.
The five most popular talks and workshops are highlighted next.

High Performance Teams
High Performance Teams is first on the list. Scott customizes each session to the audience and other factors, so each one is unique. The following provides a general overview.
- Title: Talks or workshops on High Performance Teams may be called “Navigate the Phases of Team Development with Speed and Agility” or “Want Happier and More Productive Teams?” or another title.
- Description: Help your teams go farther, faster! Perhaps you’re heard about the phases of team development: Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing, and Adjourning. But are you aware of the unique behaviors specific to each phase? What exactly should you do during each phase to help the team (Agile or otherwise) tackle challenges, make progress, and become successful? If you are a leader (or aspire to be one), a member of a team (or may be in one in the future), or are just looking to develop your skills, this talk (with a fresh angle: 0% theory, 100% real-world-based) will give you a practical framework with actionable tips for working in and leading teams successfully. You'll learn about the five phases—Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing, and Adjourning—including detailed descriptions of each along with proven strategies for addressing challenges or issues which may occur along the way. You'll understand how to use the model to your advantage by effectively navigating all of the phases with speed and agility, from team set-up to the after-party! The presentation draws on the speaker’s first-hand, real-world experience, with his guidance supported by additional research, recommendations, and coverage from the Project Management Institute, IEEE, Google, NASA, and others.
- Key learning benefits: This talk will help you develop and enhance the contributions you make to your organization by being able to: (1) Understand the five stages of team development: Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing, and Adjourning. (2) Learn the characteristics of each phase. (3) Apply proven strategies to help handle challenges or issues experienced by the team. By doing so, you'll advance the team's happiness, productivity, and success.
- Information sheet: https://scottgraffius.com/resources/Scott-M-Graffius---Public-Speaker---Example-Session---Team-Development---v24012907.pdf.

Strategic Alignment
Strategic Alignment is second on the list of the top five topics. Scott customizes each session to the audience and other factors, so each one is unique. A general overview follows.
- Title: Talks or workshops on Strategic Alignment may be called “10 Ways to Score and Prioritize Project Proposals Based on Multiple Factors, Including Strategic Alignment” or “10 Ways to Achieve and Sustain Strategic Alignment” or another title.
- Description: How does your organization assess proposals for new projects? Is there a well-defined scoring and prioritization process—based on alignment with the business’ strategic objectives and other key factors—to quickly and easily identify the objective value of each proposal (including how important it is relative to other initiatives)? If the answer is “no,” keep reading. If the answer is “yes,” you are likely to find practical information and examples in this talk to adapt and adopt to improve the process at your organization.
- Key learning benefits: This talk will help you develop and enhance the contributions you make to your organization by being able to: (1) Understand the benefits of scoring and prioritizing project proposals based on strategic alignment and other key factors. (2) Identify selection and prioritization criteria appropriate for your unique organization, leveraging the flexible framework and some or all of the 10 factors presented during the talk. (3) Put the practical, actionable information presented to use. During the session, we will run an example project proposal through the process, step-by-step. And you will receive a summary "cheat sheet" digital download that you can reference as a guide to help implement or improve this process at your organization.
- Information sheet: https://scottgraffius.com/resources/Scott-M-Graffius---Public-Speaker---Example-Session---10-Ways-Strategic-Alignment---v24012907.pdf.

Agile
Agile is third on the list of the top five topics. Scott customizes each session to the audience and other factors, so each one is unique. A general overview follows.
- Title: Talks or workshops on Agile may be called “Are You Realizing All the Benefits from Agile?” or “Agile Scrum Helps Innovators, Disruptors, and Entrepreneurs Develop and Deliver Products at Astounding Speed Which Drives Competitive Advantage” or another title.
- Description: Organizations are increasingly embracing Agile to best meet their shifting business needs and successfully manage projects. Potential business benefits from Agile include faster delivery and ROI, rapid response to change, higher satisfaction, and continuous improvement. All of which supports innovation and helps drive competitive advantage. Are you realizing all of the benefits? This session will cover the full lifecycle of the most popular Agile approach, Scrum. You will be presented with practical information including top factors from successful implementations—based on the speaker's first-hand experience and 116 sources, including the PMI, IEEE, Google, Agile Alliance, and others—you can use to gain more benefits from Agile.
- Key learning benefits: How you will benefit: (1) Gain a high-level understanding of the Scrum framework-from vision through release. (2) Learn the roles, responsibilities, tools, and techniques unique to Scrum. (3) All of which are inclusive of top factors from successful implementations, which you can put to use to help you get more benefits from Agile.
- Information sheet: https://scottgraffius.com/resources/Scott-M-Graffius---Public-Speaker---Example-Session---Agile-Benefits---v24012907.pdf.

AI Development
Successful AI Development is fourth on the list of the top five topics. Scott customizes each session to the audience and other factors, so each one is unique. A general overview follows.
- Title: Talks or workshops on Successful AI Development may be called “What Successful AI Development Teams Have in Common” or “Fueling the Development of Innovative and Life-Changing AI Solutions” or another title.
- Description: Artificial Intelligence has emerged as a transformative force across a growing number of industries, revolutionizing how we live, work, and interact. From improved medical diagnoses to self-driving cars, and more, AI systems have become integral to our daily lives. Behind these cutting-edge, life-changing solutions are AI teams with a combination of skills. This session reveals exactly how the fusion of technical skills and soft skills within AI teams fuels the successful development of innovative and effective solutions. Informed by “In the AI era, soft skills are the new hard skills” (from Artificial Intelligence and Its Impact on Business), “Soft skills are becoming a key focus” (from Computerworld), “Don’t underestimate the power of a team dynamic – your product becomes the result of it” (from Microsoft), and “Competencies like teamwork are crucial” (from MIT), this talk also delivers a deep-dive on essential team development skills based on the science of high-performing teams. Scott’s talk draws from his work with AI development teams as well as research and coverage from the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence, Google, IBM, IEEE, Microsoft, Software Engineering Institute, and many others. The usable information can provide you, your teams, and your organization with a competitive advantage.
- Key learning benefits: How you will benefit: (1) Understand technical skills and soft skills leveraged by successful AI teams to develop innovative and effective solutions. (2) Understand the essential team development skills based on the science of high-performing teams. (3) Understand specific techniques including how to apply them to advance the happiness, productivity, and success of teams.
- Information sheet: https://scottgraffius.com/resources/Scott-M-Graffius---Public-Speaker---Example-Session---AI---v24012907.pdf.

Video Game Development
Successful Video Game Development is fifth on the list of the top five topics. Scott customizes each session to the audience and other factors, so each one is unique. A general overview follows.
- Title: Talks or workshops on Successful Video Game Development may be called “The Science of High-Performance Video Game Development Teams” or “Level-Up Your Team: Science-Backed Strategies for High-Performance Video Game Development” or another title.
- Description: Behind every great video game is a team of creative and technical wizards. Creators, storytellers, designers, artists, developers, testers, and others collaborate and leverage a diverse range of hard skills (also known as technical skills) and soft skills (also known as interpersonal skills) to craft an exceptional end-product. Of the many skills, one — a soft skill — is paramount. Activision Blizzard and other premiere developers and publishers of entertainment experiences identify teamwork as critical for the successful development of video games. Informed by Scott’s first-hand work with video game development teams as well as research and coverage from Activision Blizzard, Gameloft, International Game Developers Association, Microsoft, Rockstar Games, Sony Interactive Entertainment, Ubisoft, and others, this talk delivers a deep-dive on the essential teamwork skill based on the science of high- performing teams. The information can provide you, your teams, and your organization with a competitive advantage!
- Key learning benefits: How you will benefit: (1) Understand that a confluence of both hard skills and soft skills (notably, teamwork) are crucial. (2) Learn the five phases of team development and recognize the identifiable characteristics of each phase. (3) Learn how to apply strategies to improve teams' efficacy, happiness, and success.
- Information sheet: https://scottgraffius.com/resources/Scott-M-Graffius---Public-Speaker---Example-Session---Video-Game-Development---v24012907.pdf.
Those are the top five topics for talks and workshops.


Before concluding this article, we’ll also point out a new topic which is becoming increasingly popular. It's "Agile for Unicorns." This session is for privately-held companies valued (or soon to be valued) at US $1 billion or more, and it’s limited to small groups at private/corporate events. To learn more, check out the information sheet: https://scottgraffius.com/resources/Scott-M-Graffius---Public-Speaker---Example-Session---Agile-for-Unicorns---v24012907.pdf.
Visit Scott’s Public Speaker page for a detailed listing of events, testimonials, and more.
Scott speaks around the world. To book him for your conference or other event, complete a speaker engagement request form or email him.




About Scott M. Graffius

Scott M. Graffius, PMP, SA, CSP-SM, CSP-PO, CSM, CSPO, SFE, ITIL, LSSGB is an agile project management practitioner, consultant, thinker, creator, multi-award-winning author, and international public speaker. Founder and CEO of Exceptional PPM and PMO Solutions™ and subsidiary Exceptional Agility™, he has generated over $1.9 billion for Global Fortune 500 businesses and other organizations he has served. Graffius and content from his books, talks, workshops, and more have been featured and used by Microsoft, Oracle, Broadcom, Cisco, Gartner, Project Management Institute, IEEE, National Academy of Sciences, United States Department of Energy, Yale University, Tufts University, and others. He delights audiences with dynamic and engaging talks and workshops on agile project management, AI, Tech leadership, video game development, strategic alignment, the science of high performance teams, and more. To date, he's presented sessions at 89 conferences and other events across 25 countries.
His full bio is available here.
Connect with Scott on:



About Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions

Shifting customer needs are common in today's marketplace. Businesses must be adaptive and responsive to change while delivering an exceptional customer experience to be competitive.
There are a variety of frameworks supporting the development of products and services, and most approaches fall into one of two broad categories: traditional or agile. Traditional practices such as waterfall engage sequential development, while agile involves iterative and incremental deliverables. Organizations are increasingly embracing agile to manage projects, and best meet their business needs of rapid response to change, fast delivery speed, and more.
With clear and easy to follow step-by-step instructions, Scott M. Graffius's award-winning Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions helps the reader:
- Implement and use the most popular agile framework―Scrum;
- Deliver products in short cycles with rapid adaptation to change, fast time-to-market, and continuous improvement; and
- Support innovation and drive competitive advantage.
Hailed by Literary Titan as “the book highlights the versatility of Scrum beautifully.”
Winner of 17 first place awards.
Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions is available in paperback and ebook/Kindle in the United States and around the world. Some links by country follow.
- 🇧🇷 Brazil
- 🇨🇦 Canada
- 🇨🇿 Czech Republic
- 🇩🇰 Denmark
- 🇫🇮 Finland
- 🇫🇷 France
- 🇩🇪 Germany
- 🇬🇷 Greece
- 🇭🇺 Hungary
- 🇮🇳 India
- 🇮🇪 Ireland
- 🇮🇱 Israel
- 🇮🇹 Italy
- 🇯🇵 Japan
- 🇱🇺 Luxembourg
- 🇲🇽 Mexico
- 🇳🇱 Netherlands
- 🇳🇿 New Zealand
- 🇳🇴 Norway
- 🇪🇸 Spain
- 🇸🇪 Sweden
- 🇨🇭 Switzerland
- 🇦🇪 UAE
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- 🇺🇸 United States

About 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

Thriving in today's marketplace frequently depends on making a transformation to become more agile. Those successful in the transition enjoy faster delivery speed and ROI, higher satisfaction, continuous improvement, and additional benefits.
Based on actual events, 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 provides a quick (60-90 minute) read about a successful agile transformation at a multinational entertainment and media company, told from the author's perspective as an agile coach.
The award-winning book by Scott M. Graffius is available in paperback and ebook/Kindle in the United States and around the world. Some links by country follow.
- 🇦🇺 Australia
- 🇦🇹 Austria
- 🇧🇷 Brazil
- 🇨🇦 Canada
- 🇨🇿 Czech Republic
- 🇩🇰 Denmark
- 🇫🇮 Finland
- 🇫🇷 France
- 🇩🇪 Germany
- 🇬🇷 Greece
- 🇮🇳 India
- 🇮🇪 Ireland
- 🇯🇵 Japan
- 🇱🇺 Luxembourg
- 🇲🇽 Mexico
- 🇳🇱 Netherlands
- 🇳🇿 New Zealand
- 🇪🇸 Spain
- 🇸🇪 Sweden
- 🇨🇭 Switzerland
- 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- 🇺🇸 United States

DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.30790.48960
© Copyright 2024 Scott M. Graffius. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the express written permission of Scott M. Graffius.

Broadcom Features Scott M. Graffius' Intellectual Property


Scott M. Graffius' 'Phases of Team Development' Intellectual Property
Informed by the research of Bruce W. Tuckman and Mary Ann C. Jensen, over 100 subsequent studies, and Scott M. Graffius' first-hand professional experience with, and analysis of, team leadership and performance, 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.
Graffius' intellectual property (IP) is registered with the United States Copyright Office.
Graffius initially developed his ‘Phases of Team Development’ unique material in 2008, and he periodically refreshes it.
For reference, the visual for the current (2024) edition is below and the details are here.

Organizations around the world engage Graffius to deliver compelling talks and workshops. To date, he's presented sessions at 91 conferences and other events across 25 countries: Armenia, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Ireland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and the United States.

Graffius ‘Phases of Team Development’ IP is central and key to many of those sessions. His rate card and a listing of his engagements are at https://scottgraffius.com/resources/Exceptional-PPM-and-PMO-Solutions-Rate-Card-for-2024-2025-v24071607.pdf and https://scottgraffius.com/publicspeaker.html, respectively.

Graffius' 'Phases of Team Development' Intellectual Property Is Used By Organizations Around The World — And Broadcom Was Added To The List
With an authorization/license from Graffius, his ‘Phases of Team Development’ IP is featured and used by businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities around the globe. Examples include Boston University, Cisco, IEEE, Johns Hopkins University, Microsoft, Oracle, UC San Diego, UK Sports Institute, Yale University, and many more.
Broadcom was added to the list.
Here's email 1 of 3: The request from Broadcom to Graffius. (Personal, sensitive, or confidential information is redacted throughout.)

Here's email 2 of 3: Graffius' response to Broadcom.

Here's email 3 of 3: Broadcom's response to Graffius.

To learn more about Graffius' 'Phases of Team Development' intellectual property, visit here.

About Broadcom
Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ: AVGO) is a global technology leader that designs, develops, manufactures, and supplies a broad range of semiconductor, enterprise software, and security solutions. Broadcom's category-leading product portfolio serves critical markets including cloud, data center, networking, broadband, wireless, storage, industrial, and enterprise software. Its solutions include service provider and enterprise networking and storage, mobile device and broadband connectivity, mainframe, cybersecurity, and private and hybrid cloud infrastructure. Broadcom is headquartered in Palo Alto, California. For more information, visit https://www.broadcom.com.

About Scott M. Graffius

Scott M. Graffius, PMP, SA, CSP-SM, CSP-PO, CSM, CSPO, ITIL, LSSGB is an agile project management expert practitioner, consultant, creator, global authority on teamwork tradecraft, award-winning author, and international public speaker.
He's generated over $1.9 billion of business value in aggregate for Global Fortune 500 businesses and other organizations he's served. Businesses and industries range from consumer products to advanced technology (including AI, R&D), e-commerce, music, streaming/OTT video, television, film, video games, financial services, government, and more.
Graffius and content from his books (Agile Scrum and Agile Transformation), talks, workshops, and more have been featured and used by businesses, professional associations, governments, and universities around the world. Examples include Adobe, American Management Association, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Bayer, Boston University, Broadcom, Cisco, Deimos Aerospace, DevOps Institute, EU's European Commission, Ford Motor Company, Hasso Plattner Institute Germany, IEEE, Johns Hopkins University, London South Bank University, Microsoft, National Academy of Sciences, New Zealand Government, Oracle, Project Management Institute, Torrens University Australia, UC San Diego, TBS Switzerland, UK Sports Institute, University of Galway Ireland, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. National Park Service, U.S. Tennis Association, Virginia Tech, Warsaw University of Technology, Yale University, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, and many others.
He delights audiences around the world with dynamic and engaging talks and workshops. He's presented sessions at 91 conferences and other events across 25 countries. Visit here to learn more and here to ask Scott to speak at your event.



About Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions

Shifting customer needs are common in today's marketplace. Businesses must be adaptive and responsive to change while delivering an exceptional customer experience to be competitive.
There are a variety of frameworks supporting the development of products and services, and most approaches fall into one of two broad categories: traditional or agile. Traditional practices such as waterfall engage sequential development, while agile involves iterative and incremental deliverables. Organizations are increasingly embracing agile to manage projects, and best meet their business needs of rapid response to change, fast delivery speed, and more.
With clear and easy to follow step-by-step instructions, Scott M. Graffius's award-winning Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions helps the reader:
- Implement and use the most popular agile framework―Scrum;
- Deliver products in short cycles with rapid adaptation to change, fast time-to-market, and continuous improvement; and
- Support innovation and drive competitive advantage.
Hailed by Literary Titan as “the book highlights the versatility of Scrum beautifully.”
Winner of 17 first place awards.
Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions is available in paperback and ebook/Kindle in the United States and around the world. Some links by country follow.
- 🇧🇷 Brazil
- 🇨🇦 Canada
- 🇨🇿 Czech Republic
- 🇩🇰 Denmark
- 🇫🇮 Finland
- 🇫🇷 France
- 🇩🇪 Germany
- 🇬🇷 Greece
- 🇭🇺 Hungary
- 🇮🇳 India
- 🇮🇪 Ireland
- 🇮🇱 Israel
- 🇮🇹 Italy
- 🇯🇵 Japan
- 🇱🇺 Luxembourg
- 🇲🇽 Mexico
- 🇳🇱 Netherlands
- 🇳🇿 New Zealand
- 🇳🇴 Norway
- 🇪🇸 Spain
- 🇸🇪 Sweden
- 🇨🇭 Switzerland
- 🇦🇪 UAE
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- 🇺🇸 United States

About 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

Thriving in today's marketplace frequently depends on making a transformation to become more agile. Those successful in the transition enjoy faster delivery speed and ROI, higher satisfaction, continuous improvement, and additional benefits.
Based on actual events, 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 provides a quick (60-90 minute) read about a successful agile transformation at a multinational entertainment and media company, told from the author's perspective as an agile coach.
The award-winning book by Scott M. Graffius is available in paperback and ebook/Kindle in the United States and around the world. Some links by country follow.
- 🇦🇺 Australia
- 🇦🇹 Austria
- 🇧🇷 Brazil
- 🇨🇦 Canada
- 🇨🇿 Czech Republic
- 🇩🇰 Denmark
- 🇫🇮 Finland
- 🇫🇷 France
- 🇩🇪 Germany
- 🇬🇷 Greece
- 🇮🇳 India
- 🇮🇪 Ireland
- 🇯🇵 Japan
- 🇱🇺 Luxembourg
- 🇲🇽 Mexico
- 🇳🇱 Netherlands
- 🇳🇿 New Zealand
- 🇪🇸 Spain
- 🇸🇪 Sweden
- 🇨🇭 Switzerland
- 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- 🇺🇸 United States


How to Cite This Article
Graffius, Scott M. (2024, September 10). Broadcom Features Scott M. Graffius' Intellectual Property. Available at: https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/broadcom.html. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.20077.19686.


Post-Publication Notes
If there are any supplements or updates to this article after the date of publication, they will appear here.

A PDF of this article is here
The short link for this article is https://bit.ly/avgo-1
© Copyright 2024 Scott M. Graffius. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the express written permission of Scott M. Graffius.

FINAT (Fédération Internationale des Fabricants et Transformateurs d'Adhésifs et Thermocollants sur Papiers et Autres Supports) Features Scott M. Graffius’ Intellectual Property


Scott M. Graffius' Intellectual Property on Teamwork Tradecraft
Informed by the research of Bruce W. Tuckman and Mary Ann C. Jensen, over 100 subsequent studies, and Scott M. Graffius' first-hand professional experience with, and analysis of, team leadership and performance, 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.
Graffius' intellectual property (IP) is registered with the United States Copyright Office.
Graffius initially developed his ‘Phases of Team Development’ unique material in 2008, and he periodically refreshes it.
For reference, the visual for the current (2024) edition is below and the details are here.

Organizations around the world engage Graffius to deliver compelling talks and workshops. To date, he's presented sessions at 91 conferences and other events across 25 countries: Armenia, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Ireland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and the United States.

Graffius ‘Phases of Team Development’ IP is central and key to many of those sessions. His rate card and a listing of his engagements are at https://scottgraffius.com/resources/Exceptional-PPM-and-PMO-Solutions-Rate-Card-for-2024-2025-v24071607.pdf and https://scottgraffius.com/publicspeaker.html, respectively.

Graffius' 'Phases of Team Development' Intellectual Property Is Used By Organizations Around The World — And FINAT Was Added To The List
With an authorization/license from Graffius, his ‘Phases of Team Development’ IP is featured and used by businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities around the globe. Examples include:
- Adobe,
- American Management Association,
- Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute,
- Bayer,
- Boston University,
- Broadcom,
- Cisco,
- Deimos Aerospace,
- DevOps Institute,
- Erste Group Bank AG (Austria),
- Ford Motor Company,
- FSU College of Medicine,
- Hasso Plattner Institute,
- IEEE,
- James Madison University,
- Johns Hopkins University,
- LeadingEng,
- London South Bank University,
- Manufacturers Alliance,
- Microsoft,
- New Zealand Government,
- Oracle,
- Royal Australasian College of Physicians,
- TBS Switzerland,
- Torrens University Australia,
- Tufts University,
- U.S. National Park Service,
- U.S. Tennis Association,
- UC San Diego,
- UK Sports Institute,
- University of Galway Ireland,
- Victorian Institute of Technology (Australia),
- Virginia Tech,
- Warsaw University,
- Western Sydney University,
- World Resources Institute,
- Yale University,
- ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences,
- and many others.
FINAT — the international association for the label industry’s development, education, and innovation — was added to the list.
The following visual shows a post from FINAT on LinkedIn with text about and pictures (including one featuring Graffius’ IP) from the FINAT Committee Summit in May 2024 in Amsterdam.

The following visual includes a picture from FINAT on LinkedIn. It shows Graffius’ 'Phases of Team Development' IP displayed on-screen in a talk at the FINAT Committee Summit in May 2024 in Amsterdam.

To learn more about FINAT, read on.
To learn more about Graffius' 'Phases of Team Development' intellectual property, visit here.

This article uses limited excerpts from FINAT (a post shared by FINAT on LinkedIn, and a picture from the same post featuring Graffius’ IP), attributed to FINAT and used under fair use for news reporting and analysis. FINAT name, mark, and content are the property of FINAT. Graffius’ ‘Phases of Team Development’ is copyright © Scott M. Graffius. All rights reserved.

About FINAT
FINAT is the international association for the label industry’s development, education, and innovation.
FINAT is an abbreviation for Fédération Internationale des Fabricants et Transformateurs d'Adhésifs et Thermocollants sur Papiers et Autres Supports. In English: International Federation of Manufacturers and Processors of Adhesives and Heat-Sealable Materials on Paper and Other Supports.
FINAT’s mission involves empowering the label industry by being the uniting platform that helps the international label industry excel in their daily business. FINAT's scope is to:
- Provide a global communication and networking platform for converters and direct and indirect suppliers.
- Represent members' interests.
- Provide a central source for industry information.
- Produce and distribute related educational and technical publications.
- Represent the industry's views at the EU level.
- Establish and maintain industry-related best practices, standards, and test methods.
To learn more, visit https://www.finat.com.

About Scott M. Graffius

Scott M. Graffius is a global leader in agile project management, an expert on teamwork tradecraft, an authority on temporal dynamics on social media platforms, a creator, a consultant, a trainer, an award-winning author, and an international public speaker.
He's generated over $1.9 billion of business value in aggregate for Global Fortune 500 businesses and other organizations he's served. Businesses and industries range from consumer products to advanced technology (including AI, R&D), e-commerce, music, streaming/OTT video, television, film, video games, financial services, government, and more.
Graffius and content from his books (Agile Scrum and Agile Transformation), talks, workshops, and more have been featured and used by businesses, professional associations, governments, and universities around the world. Examples include Adobe, American Management Association, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Bayer, Boston University, Broadcom, Cisco, Deimos Aerospace, DevOps Institute, EU's European Commission, Ford Motor Company, Hasso Plattner Institute Germany, IEEE, Johns Hopkins University, London South Bank University, Microsoft, National Academy of Sciences, New Zealand Government, Oracle, Project Management Institute, Torrens University Australia, UC San Diego, TBS Switzerland, UK Sports Institute, University of Galway Ireland, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. National Park Service, U.S. Tennis Association, Virginia Tech, Warsaw University of Technology, Yale University, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, and many others.
He delights audiences around the world with dynamic and engaging talks and workshops. He's presented sessions at 91 conferences and other events across 25 countries. Visit here to learn more and here to ask Scott to speak at your event.



About Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions

Shifting customer needs are common in today's marketplace. Businesses must be adaptive and responsive to change while delivering an exceptional customer experience to be competitive.
There are a variety of frameworks supporting the development of products and services, and most approaches fall into one of two broad categories: traditional or agile. Traditional practices such as waterfall engage sequential development, while agile involves iterative and incremental deliverables. Organizations are increasingly embracing agile to manage projects, and best meet their business needs of rapid response to change, fast delivery speed, and more.
With clear and easy to follow step-by-step instructions, Scott M. Graffius's award-winning Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions helps the reader:
- Implement and use the most popular agile framework―Scrum;
- Deliver products in short cycles with rapid adaptation to change, fast time-to-market, and continuous improvement; and
- Support innovation and drive competitive advantage.
Hailed by Literary Titan as “the book highlights the versatility of Scrum beautifully.”
Winner of 17 first place awards.
Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions is available in paperback and ebook/Kindle in the United States and around the world. Some links by country follow.
- 🇧🇷 Brazil
- 🇨🇦 Canada
- 🇨🇿 Czech Republic
- 🇩🇰 Denmark
- 🇫🇮 Finland
- 🇫🇷 France
- 🇩🇪 Germany
- 🇬🇷 Greece
- 🇭🇺 Hungary
- 🇮🇳 India
- 🇮🇪 Ireland
- 🇮🇱 Israel
- 🇮🇹 Italy
- 🇯🇵 Japan
- 🇱🇺 Luxembourg
- 🇲🇽 Mexico
- 🇳🇱 Netherlands
- 🇳🇿 New Zealand
- 🇳🇴 Norway
- 🇪🇸 Spain
- 🇸🇪 Sweden
- 🇨🇭 Switzerland
- 🇦🇪 UAE
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- 🇺🇸 United States

About 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

Thriving in today's marketplace frequently depends on making a transformation to become more agile. Those successful in the transition enjoy faster delivery speed and ROI, higher satisfaction, continuous improvement, and additional benefits.
Based on actual events, 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 provides a quick (60-90 minute) read about a successful agile transformation at a multinational entertainment and media company, told from the author's perspective as an agile coach.
The award-winning book by Scott M. Graffius is available in paperback and ebook/Kindle in the United States and around the world. Some links by country follow.
- 🇦🇺 Australia
- 🇦🇹 Austria
- 🇧🇷 Brazil
- 🇨🇦 Canada
- 🇨🇿 Czech Republic
- 🇩🇰 Denmark
- 🇫🇮 Finland
- 🇫🇷 France
- 🇩🇪 Germany
- 🇬🇷 Greece
- 🇮🇳 India
- 🇮🇪 Ireland
- 🇯🇵 Japan
- 🇱🇺 Luxembourg
- 🇲🇽 Mexico
- 🇳🇱 Netherlands
- 🇳🇿 New Zealand
- 🇪🇸 Spain
- 🇸🇪 Sweden
- 🇨🇭 Switzerland
- 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- 🇺🇸 United States


How to Cite This Article
Graffius, Scott M. (2024, September 12). FINAT (Fédération Internationale des Fabricants et Transformateurs d'Adhésifs et Thermocollants sur Papiers et Autres Supports) Features Scott M. Graffius’ Intellectual Property. Available at: https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/finat.html. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.16446.50244.


Post-Publication Notes
If there are any supplements or updates to this article after the date of publication, they will appear here.

A PDF of this article is here
The short link for this article is https://bit.ly/finat-24
© Copyright 2024 Scott M. Graffius. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the express written permission of Scott M. Graffius.

'Maximizing LinkedIn for Business Growth' Book References and Incorporates Scott M. Graffius' 'Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts' Research


Maximizing LinkedIn for Business Growth by Neal Schaffer References and Incorporates Scott M. Graffius' 'Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts' Research
When content is published online, relevance and engagement have a limited lifespan. An advantageous objective metric is half-life. It’s the time it takes for a post to receive half of its total engagement (such as likes, shares, and comments). Data can help inform strategic and tactical decisions, such as the frequency and scheduling of posts.
Reports by others related to the shelf life of social media are often outdated or based on the experience of one person, one organization, or one limited set of data. With any of those common limitations, findings are at risk of being non-representative, inaccurate, or unreliable.
It’s important to have a large dataset from multiple sources. In addition to generating results that are more likely to be appropriately representative, accurate, and reliable, this approach provides a more complete picture and helps identify trends.
In 2018, Scott M. Graffius first published data on the average lifespan (half-life) of posts on Snapchat, X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, Pinterest, and blogs based on a large dataset comprised of multiple, diverse sources. Algorithms and other factors on platforms change over time. For that reason, Graffius periodically updates the analysis.
The visual for the current (2024) edition of his ‘Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts’ is shown below and the details are here.

Scientists, researchers, journalists, academics, YouTubers, podcasters, digital marketing experts, businesses, government agencies, and others around the world have featured and used Scott M. Graffius’ ‘Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts’ research. Here are some examples:
- Bensley, Robert J., & Brookins-Fisher, Jodi (2023, December 14). Community and Public Health Education Methods: A Practical Guide—Fifth Edition. Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning. [The authors cover Graffius’ work in Chapter 10 (Using Social Media) and list Graffius’ work as reference number 84 on page 256. A link to the publication at Google Books is here: https://bit.ly/cphem-5.]
- Berkessel, Juergen (2021, October 27). How Evergreen Posting on Social Media for Podcasters Creates Growth. Season 1, Episode 9 of the Podcasting Strategy Show. Available at: https://polymash.com/evergreen-posting. [The podcast references Graffius’ research. Show notes include Graffius’ “Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts” visual as well as a hyperlink to Graffius’ full report.]
- Buffer (2024, February 7). 9 Ways to Grow Your Following on X/Twitter. Available at: https://buffer.com/resources/get-more-followers-on-twitter-x/. [It has a hyperlink to Graffius’ research.]
- Burton, Taylor (2022, November 2). Social Media Marketing: Leveraging LinkedIn. Pennsylvania Bar Institute. Available at: https://go.pbi.org/blog/social-media-marketing-leveraging-linkedin. [In the article, “LinkedIn posts are shown to have a longer lifespan” is hyperlinked to Graffius’ research.]
- Center for Direct Marketing (2024, March 25). Best Marketing Podcasts, Lifespan of Social Media and Blog Posts. Available at: https://dmcenter.com/march-2024/. [The article references, and has a link to, Graffius’ research.]
- Center for Direct Marketing (2022, September 27). What Is the Average Lifespan of a Blog or Social Media Post? Available at: https://dmcenter.com/lifespan-of-a-post. [The article includes data from Graffius and a hyperlink to his research.]
- Chowdhary, Tanish (2023, March 21). 13 Best Twitter Thread Tools to Go Viral in 2023. Geekflare. Available at: https://geekflare.com/best-twitter-thread-tools. [The article includes Graffius’ “Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts” visual and a hyperlink to Graffius’ research.]
- Confederation of European Waste-to-Energy Plants (CEWEP) (2023, June 15). The Power of Social Media and How to Use It. 10th CEWEP Waste-to-Energy Congress, 14th - 16th June 2023, Berlin. Available at: https://www.cewep.eu/congress2023presentations/ and https://www.cewep.eu/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/4.1-Monika-Michalska.pdf. [CEWEP Congress presentation slide 9 featured Graffius’ visual, representing a summary of his research findings.]
- Degraux, Xavier (2022, November 5). Quelle est la Durée d’un Post sur Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn. Available at: https://www.xavierdegraux.be/quelle-est-la-duree-dun-post-sur-twitter-instagram-linkedin. [In his article, Xavier Degraux — a social networks and content marketing consultant based in Belgium — discussed Graffius' work and provided a hyperlink to the research. Here's the title in English: How Long is a Post on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn.]
- Encompass Online Marketing (2023, March 15). How Often Should You Publish New Content? Available at: https://encompassonline.ca/blog/how-often-should-you-publish-new-content. [Among other points, the article references the lifespan of tweets and has a hyperlink to Graffius’ research.]
- Fallah, Georges (2023, December 18). The Best Times to Post on Social Media. Available at: https://www.vbout.com/blog/the-best-times-to-post-on-social-media. [The article has hyperlinks to Graffius’ research.]
- Gebauer, Susanna (2022, October 25). Twitter Scheduling: How to Schedule Tweets for More Impact. Available at: https://susannagebauer.com/blog/twitter-scheduling/. [The article includes a link to Graffius' research.]
- Geyser, Werner (2023, September 20). 34 Mind-blowing Pinterest Stats for 2023. Influencer Marketing Hub. Available at: https://influencermarketinghub.com/pinterest-stats. [The article references the durations of “three months” and provides a hyperlink to Graffius’ research.]
- GoDaddy (2023, February 20). How to Do Social Media: A Guide for Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs. Available at: https://www.godaddy.com/resources/skills/how-to-do-social-media. [In discussing the lifespan of tweets, the article provides a hyperlink to Graffius’ research.]
- Gotch, Nathan (2023, December 4). How to Start an SEO Business (2024 Update). Available at: https://www.gotchseo.com/start-seo-company/. [The article includes Graffius’ “Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts” visual and a hyperlink to Graffius’ research.]
- Hawes, C. W. (2023, January 24). Social Media Half-Life. Available at: https://www.cwhawes.com/social-media-half-life. [The article identifies Graffius’ research and has a hyperlink to it.]
- Lin, Yunduan, & Wang, Mengxin, & Zhang, Heng, & Zhang, Renyu, & Shen, Zuo-Jun Max (2021, June 9; revised 2023, June 28). Content Promotion for Online Content Platforms with the Diffusion Effect. SSRN. Available at: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3863104 and https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3863104. [The scientific paper mentions Graffius’ work, and it delineates his research in the References section.]
- McErlain-Naylor, Stuart (2022, March 24). Social Media for Academia - All You Need to Know [Video]. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ka88MxZbU8o. [At timestamp 13:59 in the video, Dr. Stuart McErlain-Naylor displays a visual which summarizes the 2022 edition of Graffius’ research.]
- MeetEdgar (2023, April 2). Everything You Need to Know About Repeating Social Media Content. Available at: https://meetedgar.com/blog/repeating-social-media-content. [This article from social media management tool company MeetEdgar discusses the lifespan of posts and it has a hyperlink to Graffius’ research.]
- Memom, Alafiya (2023, June 14). Master the Art of Using Pinterest for Blogging in 2023. ContentStudio. Available at: https://blog.contentstudio.io/pinterest-for-blogging. [The article rounds up the half-life of Pinterest pins as “4 months” and it includes a hyperlink to Graffius’ research.]
- Metricool (2023, October 31). YouTube Marketing in 2023. Available at: https://metricool.com/youtube-marketing. [The article includes “According to Scott Graffius’s data ...” and a hyperlink to Graffius’ research.]
- Patel, Neil (2023, May 23). 18 Powerful Twitter Marketing Tips [That Actually Work]. Neil Patel. Available at: https://neilpatel.com/blog/twitter-marketing-tips. [In the article, “The average lifespan of one tweet” has a hyperlink to Graffius’ research.]
- Pitzalis, Josh (2022, November 21). Finding Social Media Calendar Ideas for Twitter. Chirr App. Available at: https://getchirrapp.com/how-to/find. [The article references the half-life of a tweet and has a hyperlink to Graffius’ research.]
- Pugalia, Akash, & Lalani, Farah (2023, September 29). Digital Safety: How a Multi-Faceted Approach Can Help Tackle Real-World Harm. World Economic Forum. Available at: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2023/09/digital-safety-multi-faceted-approach-tackle-real-world-harm. [The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) included data by Graffius on the half-life of social media. The World Economic Forum covered that PNAS study in their article.]
- Rainey, Clint (2023, August 15). Social Media’s Toxic Impact Can Last Up to 8 Days. This Behavioral Scientist’s Solution Might Surprise You. Available at: https://www.fastcompany.com/90939081/social-media-toxic-impact-content-moderation-solution-behavior-science. [The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) included Graffius’ research data on the half-life of social media. Fast Company covered that PNAS publication — and summarized Graffius’ data from it — in their article.]
- Rynek Pro (2023, June 26). Długość Życia Postów (Half-Life) w Mediach Społecznościowych w 2023 Roku. Available at: https://rynek.pro/half-life-dlugosc-zycia-postow/#pll_switcher. [Rynek Pro, a Poland-based advertising agency, featured Graffius’ research in their article. Here’s the title in English: Life Expectancy of Posts (Half-Life) in Social Media in 2023.]
- Schneider, Philipp J., & Rizoiu, Marian-Andrei (2023, August 22). The Effectiveness of Moderating Harmful Online Content. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 120 (34): e2307360120. Available at: https://www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1073/pnas.2307360120. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2307360120. [The scientific paper references Graffius’ “Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts” research and uses his data.]
- Strozyk, Kaylee (2023, November 3). 11 Tips on How to Use Pinterest for Real Estate. Fit Small Business. Available at: https://fitsmallbusiness.com/how-to-use-pinterest-for-real-estate-agents. [The article references that the half-life of Pinterest pins is “about 3.75 months.” Selecting the respective hyperlink brings up Graffius’ research.]
- Thailand TV News (2022, August 16). Half-Life of Each Social Media Post. Available at: https://thailandtv.news/half-life-of-each-social-media-post-thumbsup. [The article incorporates data from Graffius’ work and it has a hyperlink to his research.]
- The Tech Reps (2023, January 23). SEO or Social Media Marketing, Which is Better for Sales? [video]. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVmQdHDXCrw. [The Tech Reps used Graffius’ “Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts” visual as the background image in their video.]
- Two Rivers Marketing (2020, December 9). 8 Social Media Channels and Tactics to Consider Adding to Your Marketing Mix. Available at: https://www.tworiversmarketing.com/blog/8-social-media-channels-and-tactics-to-consider-adding-to-your-marketing-mix. [The article references the lifespan of posts and has a hyperlink to Graffius’ research.]
- Walters, Christy (2023, May 4). How To Curate Content for LinkedIn: Handpick Your Next Post. CopyPress. Available at: https://www.copypress.com/kb/social-media-promotion/curate-content-for-linkedin. [The article discusses the lifespan of a LinkedIn post and has a hyperlink to Graffius’ research.]
- What What SEO (2024, September 5). 5 bonnes raisons de créer un compte Pinterest si tu es entrepreneuse. (In English: 5 good reasons to create a Pinterest account if you are an entrepreneur). Available at: https://whatwhatseo.fr/creer-compte-pinterest-entreprise-avantages/. [The article incorporates Graffius’ research; to see the details, select 'Sources' located towards the end of the article.]
And many more.
Neal Schaffer's Maximizing LinkedIn for Business Growth: A Practical Guide to Building Your Brand and Driving Results is now also on the list. Some visuals follow.
Excerpt 1 is below. It shows the book cover image for Maximizing LinkedIn for Business Growth.

Excerpt 2 is next. It shows that the LinkedIn’s Content Visibility and Organic Reach section of Maximizing LinkedIn for Business Growth incorporates Graffius’ research (noted with citation “11” — which is delineated in the References section of the book).

Excerpt 3 is below. It shows the References section of Maximizing LinkedIn for Business Growth, indicating Graffius’ research.

Excerpt 4 is next. It shows the References section of Maximizing LinkedIn for Business Growth, indicating Graffius’ research (as a zoomed-in view).

Excerpt 5 is below. A snapshot of stats on 18 September 2024 (one day after the release of Maximizing LinkedIn for Business Growth) shows that Amazon.com ranked the book as #1 in multiple categories.

To learn more about Graffius' ‘Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts’ research, visit here.

This article uses limited excerpts from Maximizing LinkedIn for Business Growth: A Practical Guide to Building Your Brand and Driving Results and Amazon.com, attributed to Neal Schaffer and Amazon.com, respectively, and used under fair use for news reporting and analysis. Maximizing LinkedIn for Business Growth: A Practical Guide to Building Your Brand and Driving Results is copyright © Neal Schaffer. Content on Amazon.com is the property of Amazon.com, Inc. Graffius’ ‘Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts’ is copyright © Scott M. Graffius.

About Neal Schaffer
Neal Schaffer is a globally recognized digital marketing consultant, Fractional CMO, keynote speaker, corporate trainer, university educator, and author of six books, including Maximize Your Social: A One-Stop Guide to Building a Social Media Strategy for Marketing and Business Success, The Age of Influence: The Power of Influencers to Elevate Your Brand, Maximizing LinkedIn for Business Growth: A Practical Guide to Building Your Brand and Driving Results, and Digital Threads: The Small Business and Entrepreneur Playbook for Digital First Marketing. Visit https://nealschaffer.com to learn more about Neal.

About Maximizing LinkedIn for Business Growth: A Practical Guide to Building Your Brand and Driving Results
The following is based on description for the book on Amazon.com.
In today’s digital-first economy, LinkedIn has become the ultimate platform for professionals to grow their personal brands, generate leads, and establish industry authority. Whether you’re a salesperson, entrepreneur, small business owner, service provider, or content creator, Maximizing LinkedIn for Business Growth equips you with the actionable tools and proven strategies to fully leverage LinkedIn’s vast potential.

About Scott M. Graffius

Scott M. Graffius is a global leader in agile project management, an expert on teamwork tradecraft, an authority on temporal dynamics on social media platforms, a creator, a consultant, a trainer, an award-winning author, and an international public speaker.
He's generated over $1.9 billion of business value in aggregate for Global Fortune 500 businesses and other organizations he's served. Businesses and industries range from consumer products to advanced technology (including AI, R&D), e-commerce, music, streaming/OTT video, television, film, video games, financial services, government, and more.
Graffius and content from his books (Agile Scrum and Agile Transformation), talks, workshops, and more have been featured and used by businesses, professional associations, governments, and universities around the world. Examples include Adobe, American Management Association, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Bayer, Boston University, Broadcom, Cisco, Deimos Aerospace, DevOps Institute, EU's European Commission, Ford Motor Company, Hasso Plattner Institute Germany, IEEE, Johns Hopkins University, London South Bank University, Microsoft, National Academy of Sciences, New Zealand Government, Oracle, Project Management Institute, Torrens University Australia, UC San Diego, TBS Switzerland, UK Sports Institute, University of Galway Ireland, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. National Park Service, U.S. Tennis Association, Virginia Tech, Warsaw University of Technology, Yale University, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, and many others.
He delights audiences around the world with dynamic and engaging talks and workshops. He's presented sessions at 91 conferences and other events across 25 countries. Visit here to learn more and here to ask Scott to speak at your event.



About Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions

Shifting customer needs are common in today's marketplace. Businesses must be adaptive and responsive to change while delivering an exceptional customer experience to be competitive.
There are a variety of frameworks supporting the development of products and services, and most approaches fall into one of two broad categories: traditional or agile. Traditional practices such as waterfall engage sequential development, while agile involves iterative and incremental deliverables. Organizations are increasingly embracing agile to manage projects, and best meet their business needs of rapid response to change, fast delivery speed, and more.
With clear and easy to follow step-by-step instructions, Scott M. Graffius's award-winning Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions helps the reader:
- Implement and use the most popular agile framework―Scrum;
- Deliver products in short cycles with rapid adaptation to change, fast time-to-market, and continuous improvement; and
- Support innovation and drive competitive advantage.
Hailed by Literary Titan as “the book highlights the versatility of Scrum beautifully.”
Winner of 17 first place awards.
Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions is available in paperback and ebook/Kindle in the United States and around the world. Some links by country follow.
- 🇧🇷 Brazil
- 🇨🇦 Canada
- 🇨🇿 Czech Republic
- 🇩🇰 Denmark
- 🇫🇮 Finland
- 🇫🇷 France
- 🇩🇪 Germany
- 🇬🇷 Greece
- 🇭🇺 Hungary
- 🇮🇳 India
- 🇮🇪 Ireland
- 🇮🇱 Israel
- 🇮🇹 Italy
- 🇯🇵 Japan
- 🇱🇺 Luxembourg
- 🇲🇽 Mexico
- 🇳🇱 Netherlands
- 🇳🇿 New Zealand
- 🇳🇴 Norway
- 🇪🇸 Spain
- 🇸🇪 Sweden
- 🇨🇭 Switzerland
- 🇦🇪 UAE
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- 🇺🇸 United States

About 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

Thriving in today's marketplace frequently depends on making a transformation to become more agile. Those successful in the transition enjoy faster delivery speed and ROI, higher satisfaction, continuous improvement, and additional benefits.
Based on actual events, 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 provides a quick (60-90 minute) read about a successful agile transformation at a multinational entertainment and media company, told from the author's perspective as an agile coach.
The award-winning book by Scott M. Graffius is available in paperback and ebook/Kindle in the United States and around the world. Some links by country follow.
- 🇦🇺 Australia
- 🇦🇹 Austria
- 🇧🇷 Brazil
- 🇨🇦 Canada
- 🇨🇿 Czech Republic
- 🇩🇰 Denmark
- 🇫🇮 Finland
- 🇫🇷 France
- 🇩🇪 Germany
- 🇬🇷 Greece
- 🇮🇳 India
- 🇮🇪 Ireland
- 🇯🇵 Japan
- 🇱🇺 Luxembourg
- 🇲🇽 Mexico
- 🇳🇱 Netherlands
- 🇳🇿 New Zealand
- 🇪🇸 Spain
- 🇸🇪 Sweden
- 🇨🇭 Switzerland
- 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- 🇺🇸 United States


How to Cite This Article
Graffius, Scott M. (2024, September 18). 'Maximizing LinkedIn for Business Growth' Book References and Incorporates Scott M. Graffius' 'Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts' Research. Available at: https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/maximizing-linkedin.html. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.19040.08969.


Post-Publication Notes
If there are any supplements or updates to this article after the date of publication, they will appear here.

A PDF of this article is here
The short link for this article is https://bit.ly/in-max
© Copyright 2024 Scott M. Graffius. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the express written permission of Scott M. Graffius.

Dropbox Company (Nira) Taps into Scott M. Graffius’ Expertise in Strategic Planning

Introduction
In 2024, Dropbox, a leader in cloud storage and collaboration, broadened its vision by acquiring Nira, a company focused on boosting team productivity through innovative tools. This acquisition aligned with the launch of Dropbox Dash for Business, an AI-powered universal search tool designed to streamline workflows for over 1 billion knowledge workers worldwide.
Scott M. Graffius is honored that Dropbox company Nira has recognized his expertise in strategic planning by featuring his work in their article on retrospective meetings, credited as "Adapted by FYI from Scott Graffius" and "www.scottgraffius.com." Views follow.

This nod highlights the power of strategic planning in fostering clarity and impact—core values that resonate with Dropbox’s mission. This article explores how this recognition underscores the rising value of structured collaboration in today’s dynamic work landscape.
Main Body
Impact mapping turns abstract goals into actionable steps. It addresses four key questions—Why? Who? How? What?—to create a visual roadmap linking objectives, stakeholders, desired impacts, and deliverables. By charting the "shortest path" to success, it helps teams prioritize the most effective actions. Nira’s article on retrospective meetings—a process where teams reflect on past sprints/projects to improve future outcomes—demonstrates how impact mapping elevates this practice. By charting the effects of deliverables on key stakeholders, teams can identify what delivered value and where refinements are needed, transforming retrospectives into a springboard for progress.
Dropbox’s 2024 acquisition of Nira amplifies this emphasis on productivity and alignment. With Dash for Business, Dropbox addresses information overload by integrating search across platforms like Google Workspace and Asana, tapping into an $8 billion universal search market set to double in size. Impact mapping complements this innovation by offering strategic clarity, enabling teams to maximize tools. Nira’s inclusion of Graffius’ work signals how strategic planning bridges intent and execution, aligning with Dropbox’s aim to simplify collaboration.
Conclusion
For Graffius, recognition from Dropbox's Nira is a meaningful affirmation of universal relevance of strategic planning. He is eager to see how Dropbox continues to embed strategic clarity into its growing suite of solutions. This milestone strengthens his commitment to advancing strategic planning, shaping the future of collaboration with precision and purpose.
To learn more about impact mapping, read this article.
Read on for:
- About Nira,
- About Dropbox,
- About Scott M. Graffius,
- How to Cite This Article,
- and more.

About Nira
Nira, acquired by Dropbox, is a content governance platform that provides a suite of in-depth functionality to protect cloud files from unauthorized access. With Nira, Dropbox designed a custom solution built directly into Dash, so businesses can easily protect confidential documents in just a few clicks. Admins can now see everything that’s been shared in their company, across every major content platform, in one place. Then, they can identify sensitive content and manage bulk changes for any number of assets at once—eliminating a previously tedious and manual document-by-document process.

About Dropbox
Dropbox is the one place to keep life organized and keep work moving. With more than 700 million registered users across approximately 180 countries, it’s on a mission to design a more enlightened way of working. Dropbox is headquartered in San Francisco, California, and has employees around the world. For more information, visit https://dropbox.com.

About Scott M. Graffius

Scott M. Graffius sparks breakthroughs in AI, agile, and project management/PMO leadership as a globally recognized practitioner, researcher, thought leader, award-winning author, and international public speaker.
Graffius has generated more than USD $1.9 billion in business value for organizations served, including Fortune 500 companies. Businesses and industries range from technology (including R&D and AI) to entertainment, financial services, and healthcare, government, social media, and more.
Graffius leads the professional services firm Exceptional PPM and PMO Solutions, along with its subsidiary Exceptional Agility. These consultancies offer strategic and tactical advisory, training, embedded talent, and consulting services to 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 vice president 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.
He is the author of two award-winning books.
- His first book, Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions (ISBN-13: 9781533370242), received 17 awards.
- His second book is 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 (ISBN-13: 9781072447962). BookAuthority named it one of the best Scrum books of all time.
Prominent businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities have featured Graffius and his work including content from his books, talks, workshops, and more. 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,
- EU's European Commission,
- Ford Motor Company,
- 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,
- NASSCOM,
- National Academy of Sciences,
- New Zealand Government,
- Oracle,
- Pinterest Inc.,
- Project Management Institute,
- 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 Tennis Association,
- Veleučilište u Rijeci Croatia,
- Verizon,
- Virginia Tech,
- Warsaw University of Technology,
- Wrike,
- Yale University,
- and many others.
Graffius has been actively involved with the Project Management Institute (PMI) in the development of professional standards. He was a member of the team which produced the Practice Standard for Work Breakdown Structures—Second Edition. Graffius was a contributor and reviewer of A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge—Sixth Edition, The Standard for Program Management—Fourth Edition, and 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.
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).
He divides his time between Los Angeles and Paris, France.
Thought Leader | Public Speaker | Agile Scrum Book | Agile Transformation Book | Blog | Photo | X | LinkedIn | Email














Sign up for Miro—it's free!
(Want more features? You can always upgrade to a paid plan.)
How to Cite This Article
Graffius, Scott M. (2025, March 21). Reporting Errors in 'Frontiers in Public Health': A Case Study. Available at: https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/dropbox-taps-into-scott-m-graffius-expertise-in-strategic-planning.html.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
DOI: (coming soon)
Content Acknowledgements
This article includes brief excerpts from content ('12 Tricks for Running a Retrospective Meeting that People Actually Enjoy') by Dropbox company Nira, attributed and used under fair use for news reporting and analysis. Dropbox name and mark are the property of Dropbox Inc. Nira is the property of Dropbox Inc.
Post-Publication Notes
If there's an update after this article is published, the information 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 Recognized as a Top Thought Leader in Digital Disruption by Thinkers360


Scott M. Graffius has been named a Top Thought Leader in Digital Disruption by Thinkers360. This prestigious recognition highlights his ongoing, impactful contributions to the rapidly evolving landscape of digital transformation, innovation, and future-focused leadership.

Digital Disruption and Its Impact
Digital disruption continues to reshape industries, business models, and customer expectations at unprecedented speed. Powered by breakthroughs in artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, the Internet of Things (IoT), and blockchain, this transformation presents extraordinary challenges—and even greater opportunities—for organizations worldwide.
In this dynamic environment, thought leaders like Graffius play a vital role in providing clarity, strategic direction, and actionable insights to help businesses and leaders successfully navigate the accelerating pace of change.
Graffius' Ongoing Contributions
Scott M. Graffius has long been at the forefront of helping organizations thrive amidst digital disruption. His thought leadership spans AI, Agile, Project Management/PMO, innovation, and team development leadership—equipping companies with the tools, frameworks, and mindset needed to adapt and excel.
His written work is a testament to his influence:
- His first book, Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions, received 17 awards for its clear, practical, and highly useful approach to Agile/Scrum.
- 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 by BookAuthority as one of the best Scrum books of all time.
- His newest release—and his first work of fiction—Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum was just released and is already creating buzz.
Early reviews of Agile Protocol include, "Can’t believe no one’s done a satirical take on Agile before now. Glad Scott called out the madness and made it hilarious" and "A sharp, funny satire that sneaks legit Agile lessons into the hilarious story." Agile Protocol is a satirical adventure that doubles as a covert guide to Agile. It’s packed with insightful commentary on the misapplication of Agile, overcomplicated bureaucracy, and corporate cosplay—all wrapped in a fast-paced narrative that’s both entertaining and educational. It blends hilarious corporate parody with actionable Agile insights. It's a must-read for anyone interested or involved in Agile.
Thinkers360 Recognition and Continuing Leadership in Digital Innovation
The Thinkers360 recognition underscores Graffius’ growing influence as a thought leader in digital disruption and innovation. Through his speaking engagements, research, and writing—including Agile Protocol—Graffius continues to guide leaders and teams on how to embrace change, lead through disruption, and thrive in the future of work.
As organizations race to adapt to new technologies, shifting markets, and evolving cultural expectations, Graffius’ insights, resources, and sharp wit remain invaluable. His ability to make complex topics like Agile, AI, and transformation accessible, actionable, and even entertaining are some of the things that set him apart.

Read on for:
- About Thinkers360,
- About Scott M. Graffius,
- How to Cite This Article,
- and more.

About Thinkers360
Thinkers360 is the world’s first, largest, and premier open platform for thought leaders and influencers. It covers academics, advisors, analysts, authors, consultants, executives, speakers, and others. Thinkers360’s patent-pending approach to rating thought leaders and influencers factors each candidate’s diverse contributions and content such as articles, books, media coverage, podcasts, social media, speaking events, videos, and more. Thinkers360’s reach includes over 100 million followers on social media combined.

About Scott M. Graffius

Scott M. Graffius sparks breakthroughs in AI, agile, and project management/PMO leadership as a globally recognized practitioner, researcher, thought leader, award-winning author, and international public speaker.
Graffius has generated more than USD $1.9 billion in business value for organizations served, including Fortune 500 companies. Businesses and industries range from technology (including R&D and AI) to entertainment, financial services, and healthcare, government, social media, and more.
Graffius leads the professional services firm Exceptional PPM and PMO Solutions, along with its subsidiary Exceptional Agility. These consultancies offer strategic and tactical advisory, training, embedded talent, and consulting services to 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 vice president 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.
He is the author of three books.
- Graffius' first book, Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions (paperback ISBN-13: 9781533370242) (Kindle ebook ASIN: B01FZ0JIIY), received 17 awards.
- His second book is 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 (paperback ISBN-13: 9781072447962) (Kindle ebook ASIN: B07R9LJLPJ). BookAuthority named it one of the best Scrum books of all time.
- His third book—his first work of fiction—is Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum (Kindle ebook ASIN: B0F2SJ83WT) (Audible audiobook ASIN: B0DJG163R5). This article shares the news of its release.
Prominent businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities have featured Graffius and his work including content from his books, talks, workshops, and more. 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,
- EU's European Commission,
- Ford Motor Company,
- 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,
- NASSCOM,
- National Academy of Sciences,
- New Zealand Government,
- Oracle,
- Pinterest Inc.,
- Project Management Institute,
- 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 Tennis Association,
- Veleučilište u Rijeci Croatia,
- Verizon,
- Virginia Tech,
- Warsaw University of Technology,
- Wrike,
- Yale University,
- and many others.
Graffius has been actively involved with the Project Management Institute (PMI) in the development of professional standards. He was a member of the team which produced the Practice Standard for Work Breakdown Structures—Second Edition. Graffius was a contributor and reviewer of A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge—Sixth Edition, The Standard for Program Management—Fourth Edition, and 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.
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).
He divides his time between Los Angeles and Paris, France.
Thought Leader | Public Speaker | Agile Protocol Book | Agile Scrum Book | Agile Transformation Book | Blog | Photo | X | LinkedIn | Email
















Sign up for Miro—it's free!
(Want more features? You can always upgrade to a paid plan.)
How to Cite This Article
Graffius, Scott M. (2025, April 16). Scott M. Graffius Recognized as a Top Thought Leader in Digital Disruption by Thinkers360. Available at: https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/scott-m-graffius-recognized-as-a-thought-leader-in-digital-disruption-by-thinkers360-in-2025.html.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
DOI: (coming soon)
Content Acknowledgements
This article includes a brief excerpt from Thinkers360, attributed to Thinkers360 and used under fair use for news reporting and analysis.
Thinkers360 name and mark are the property of Thinkers360.
Top 5 Hashtags
#ThoughtLeader
#DigitalDisruption
#Innovation
#AgileLeadership
#ProjectManagement
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.
AI in Agile: Benefits, Risks, Outlook


Introduction
Artificial intelligence is evolving from a tool to an active collaborator in Agile project management. As AI becomes more integrated into workflows, it offers transformative benefits and introduces new challenges. To fully realize its potential, teams must ensure AI aligns with and supports Agile’s values. This article explores the pros, cons, and future trajectory of AI as a virtual teammate.
The Four Key Values of Agile
AI in Agile must honor Agile's values. The Agile Manifesto identifies four key values.
- Value 1 (🧑🤝🧑) - Individuals and interactions over processes and tools.
- Value 2 (💻) - Working software over comprehensive documentation.
- Value 3 (🤝) - Customer collaboration over contract negotiation.
- Value 4 (🔄) - Responding to change over following a plan.
These values emphasize people, working solutions, customer engagement, and adaptability. AI in Agile must honor them.
Benefits
Here's how AI can enhance Agile teams.
- Enhanced Decision-Making: AI excels at processing and analyzing large volumes of project data, providing actionable insights and forecasts that help Agile teams make smarter, faster decisions. This includes identifying potential risks, predicting delivery timelines, and suggesting optimal backlog priorities. (Supports 🔄.)
- Increased Productivity Through Automation: By automating repetitive tasks such as scheduling and status reporting, AI frees team members to focus on complex problem-solving and creative work. This automation speeds up delivery and reduces manual errors and administrative burdens. (Supports 🧑🤝🧑 and 💻.)
- Optimized Resource Management: AI can assess team capacity, monitor workloads, and recommend real-time adjustments to resource allocation, ensuring that sprints are balanced and no one is overloaded. (Supports 🧑🤝🧑 and 🔄.)
- Better Risk Management: Leveraging historical data, AI can detect early warning signs of project derailment and suggest mitigation strategies, helping teams stay ahead of potential issues. (Supports 🔄.)
- Improved Team Morale and Collaboration: AI’s conversational interfaces can potentially enhance team morale by facilitating smoother communication. AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants can augment communication and support collaboration across distributed teams. (Supports 🤝.)
Risks
Here are the risks, challenges, and limitations.
- Amplifying Existing Dysfunctions: If Agile fundamentals are weak—such as skipping retrospectives or treating Agile as a checklist—AI can inadvertently magnify these issues. For example, AI-generated code can introduce technical debt if not properly reviewed, and teams may overload sprints by mistaking increased speed for increased value. (Can undermine 🧑🤝🧑 and 💻.)
- Over-reliance and Loss of Human Judgment: AI is not a substitute for human expertise. It can struggle with complex decision-making, context-specific nuances, and creative problem-solving. Blindly following AI recommendations may lead to suboptimal outcomes, missed opportunities for innovation, or other problems. (Can undermine 🧑🤝🧑 and 🔄.)
- Quality and Security Risks: AI-generated outputs, especially code, can introduce unexpected bugs or security vulnerabilities. Without careful oversight and regular retrospectives, these risks can accumulate and threaten project stability. (Can undermine 💻.)
- Data and Cost Constraints: Effective AI integration requires access to high-quality data and can involve significant costs for tools and training. Not all organizations are equipped to meet these demands, particularly smaller teams or those with limited budgets. (Can undermine 🧑🤝🧑 and 🤝.)
Integrating Agile Values in the Age of AI
As AI becomes a more prominent “teammate” in Agile environments, it’s essential to ensure that its integration supports—not supplants—the foundational values of Agile. Let’s examine how each value can be honored (or threatened) as teams adopt AI.
- Value 1 (🧑🤝🧑) - Individuals and Interactions over Processes and Tools: AI can automate routine tasks and streamline workflows, but the heart of Agile remains the collaboration between people. Teams should use AI to enhance communication and free up time for meaningful interactions, not to replace human connection with automated processes.
- Value 2 (💻) - Working Software over Comprehensive Documentation: AI’s ability to accelerate development and automate testing can help teams deliver working software faster. However, teams must prioritize delivering value over generating outputs or reports. AI should be leveraged to support rapid iteration and feedback, not to create unnecessary complexity.
- Value 3 (🤝) - Customer Collaboration over Contract Negotiation: AI-powered analytics and chatbots can provide new ways to gather and analyze customer feedback. Still, Agile teams must ensure that these tools facilitate genuine collaboration with customers, keeping their needs and voices central to the process.
- Value 4 (🔄) - Responding to Change over Following a Plan: AI can help teams anticipate change by identifying trends and risks earlier, enabling more informed pivots. Yet, teams must remain flexible and avoid rigidly following AI-driven plans at the expense of adapting to new information or opportunities.
Outlook
Here's what's next for AI in Agile.
- Deeper Integration and Smarter Tools: Over the next one to five years, AI is expected to become an integral part of Agile project management, further enhancing sprint planning, backlog management, and risk analysis. AI-powered assistants will likely become more proactive, offering real-time coaching and adaptive workflow recommendations. (Will impact 🧑🤝🧑, 💻, and 🔄.)
- Focus on Adaptability and Learning: Agile teams will need to continuously adapt their practices to integrate AI effectively—using retrospectives to assess AI’s impact, refining processes, and ensuring that speed does not come at the expense of quality. (Supports 💻 and 🔄.)
- Human-AI Collaboration: The future of Agile lies in balancing AI’s analytical power with human creativity and judgment. Teams that leverage AI as a “collaborative teammate”—rather than a replacement—will unlock greater productivity, innovation, and job satisfaction. (Supports 🧑🤝🧑 and 🤝.)
Conclusion
AI is set to transform Agile project management, enhancing productivity, decision-making, and collaboration. However, achieving these benefits demands a thoughtful approach that mitigates risks while keeping Agile values central. Successful teams will embrace AI as a collaborative partner in continuous improvement, investing in ongoing training to empower individuals, deliver working solutions, collaborate closely with customers, and adapt swiftly to change.



Bibliography
Select bibliography:
- Beall, Justin L. (2024, March 15). Revolutionizing Agile Ceremonies with OpenAI. Available at: https://dev.to/dev3l/revolutionizing-agile-ceremonies-with-openai-a-game-changer-in-software-development-177p.
- Beck, K., Beedle, M., van Bennekum, A., Cockburn, A., Cunningham, W., Fowler, M., Grenning, J., Highsmith, J., Hunt, A., Jeffries, R., Kern, J., Marick, B., Martin, R. C., Mellor, S., Schwaber, K., Sutherland, J., & Thomas, D. (2001). Manifesto for Agile Software Development. Also known as the Agile Manifesto. Available at: https://agilemanifesto.org/.
- Berlin School of Business and Innovation (2022, September 22). How Do Technical Abilities Combined with Leadership Skills Fuel Career Growth? Available at: https://www.berlinsbi.com/blog/career-advice/how-do-technical-abilities-combined-with-leadership-skills-fuel-career-growth.
- Booklife by Publishers Weekly (n.d.). Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum. Available at: https://booklife.com/project/agile-protocol-the-transformation-ultimatum-100435.
- Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) (2024, September 27). Teaching AI What It Should and Shouldn’t Do. Available at: https://www.darpa.mil/news/2024/teaching-ai.
- Engineering Research Visioning Alliance (n.d.). Strategic Thinking for Engineering Research in the Era of Artificial Intelligence. Available at: https://www.ervacommunity.org/task-force/visioning-event-strategic-thinking-for-engineering-research-in-the-era-of-ai/.
- Graffius, Scott M. (2016). Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions. North Charleston, SC: CreateSpace.
- Graffius, Scott M. (2018, October 18). Agile Scrum Helps Innovators, Disruptors, and Entrepreneurs Develop and Deliver Products at Astounding Speed Which Drives Competitive Advantage [Presentation]. Talk delivered at Techstars Startup Week Conference. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.25009.12647.
- Graffius, Scott M. (2019). Agile Transformation: A Brief Story of How an Entertainment Company Developed New Capabilities and Unlocked Business Agility to Thrive in an Era of Rapid Change. Scotts Valley, CA: CreateSpace.
- Graffius, Scott M. (2020, November 27). Definition of Agile Culture. Available at: https://www.scottgraffius.com/blog/files/agile-culture.html.
- Graffius, Scott M. (2023, May 1). AI is a Team Sport: A Confluence of Diverse Technical and Soft Skills are Crucial for Success. Available at: https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/successful-ai-teams.html. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.20321.79200.
- Graffius, Scott M. (2023, October 9). Top 5 Roles on AI Teams. Available at: https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/ai-team-roles.html. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.34857.57449.
- Graffius, Scott M. (2023). What Successful AI Teams Have in Common [Video]. Graffius’ talk at the 2023 Conf42 Quantum Computer Conference. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2qRKFbSKYE.
- Graffius, Scott M. (2024, April 5). Cisco Features Scott M. Graffius' 'Phases of Team Development' Work' Available at: https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/cisco-2024.html. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.16689.60000.
- Graffius, Scott M. (2024, May 3). Leverage Agile and AI to Innovate at the Speed of Light. Talk at private event in Dubai, UAE. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.30790.48960.
- Graffius, Scott M. (2025, January 24). When Agile, AI, and Strategic Thinking Converge. Available at: https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/when-agile-ai-and-strategic-thinking-converge.html.
- Graffius, Scott M. (2025, January 7). Scott M. Graffius’ Phases of Team Development: 2025 Update. Available at: https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/phases-of-team-development-update-for-2025.html. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.33705.30564.
- Graffius, Scott M. (2025, May 13). Scott M. Graffius Delivering $2.3 Billion in Value Through AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Leadership. Available at: https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/scott-m-graffius-delivering-2-point-3-billion-dollars-in-impact-for-organizations.html.
- Graffius, Scott M. (2025). Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum. Seattle, WA: Amazon Digital Services.
- Hostinger (2025, May 25). Why Software Projects Fail and How to Avoid It. Available at: https://www.hostinger.com/tutorials/why-software-projects-fail.
- Kerzner, Harold (2022). Innovation Project Management: Methods, Case Studies, and Tools for Managing Innovation Projects—Second Edition. Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley.
- Kilby, Mark (2024, February 2). How AI Will Reshape Agile Development: Takeaways from a Recent Briefing. Agile Alliance. Available at: https://www.agilealliance.org/how-ai-will-reshape-agile-development-takeaways-from-a-recent-briefing/.
- Morsa, Luigi (2022, July 7). Agile. Creativity. Innovation. Available at: https://blog.iil.com/agile-creativity-innovation/.
- Prasad, Baba (2025, May 5). Interpreters, Challengers and Stewards: The Role of Agile Leaders in an AI World. Brown University. Available at: https://professional.brown.edu/news/2025-05-05/agile-leadership-ai-world.
- Tallman, Stephen, and Shenkar, Oded, & Wu, Jay Valerian. (2023). Culture Eats Strategy for Breakfast: Use and Abuse of Culture in International Strategy Research. Strategic Management Review, 4 (2): 193-229.

About the Main Visual
Here's information on the Benefits-Risks-Outlook visual at the top of this article:
- It was designed to be out-of-the box, visually striking, and memorable.
- It symbolizes stakes, decision-making, and risk management—all highly relevant to Agile and AI.
- It conveys: "This is a high-stakes game. Play it smart." That resonates strongly with the evolving intersection of AI and Agile.

More
Continue reading for:
- About Scott M. Graffius,
- How to Cite This Article,
- and more.

About Scott M. Graffius

Scott M. Graffius is an AI, Agile, and Project Management/PMO leader, researcher, author, and speaker. Along the way, he spearheaded initiatives that have generated over $2.3 billion in impact for organizations across tech, entertainment, finance, healthcare, and beyond. 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. To date, Graffius has conducted 93 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,
- NASSCOM,
- National Academy of Sciences,
- New Zealand Government,
- Oracle,
- Pinterest Inc.,
- Project Management Institute,
- Mary Raum (Professor of National Security Affairs, United States Naval War College),
- SANS Institute,
- SBG Neumark - Germany,
- Singapore Institute of Technology,
- Torrens University - Australia,
- TBS Switzerland,
- Tufts University,
- UC San Diego,
- UK Sports Institute,
- University of Galway - Ireland,
- US Department of Energy,
- US National Park Service,
- US Soccer,
- US Tennis Association,
- Verizon,
- Wrike,
- Yale University,
- and many others.
Graffius has played a key role in the Project Management Institute (PMI) in developing professional standards. He was a member of multiple teams that authored, reviewed, and produced:
- Practice Standard for Work Breakdown Structures—Second Edition.
- A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge—Sixth Edition.
- The Standard for Program Management—Fourth Edition.
- The Practice Standard for Project Estimating—Second Edition.
Additional details are here.
He was also a subject matter expert reviewer of content for the PMI’s Congress. Beyond the PMI, Graffius also served as a member of the review team for two of the Scrum Alliance’s Global Scrum Gatherings.
Acclaimed Authority on Teamwork Tradecraft
Graffius is a renowned authority on teamwork tradecraft. Informed by the research of Bruce W. Tuckman and Mary Ann C. Jensen, over 100 subsequent studies, and Graffius' first-hand professional experience with, and analysis of, team leadership and performance, Graffius created his 'Phases of Team Development' 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.
The 2025 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 the Center for Direct Marketing, Fast Company, GoDaddy, Pinterest Inc., and PNAS, among others, his research exemplifies methodological rigor and sustained significance in the field of digital informatics.
The 2025 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.
Thought Leader | Public Speaker | Agile Protocol Book | Agile Scrum Book | Agile Transformation Book | Blog | Photo | X | LinkedIn | Email














Sign up for Miro—it's free!
(Want more features? You can always upgrade to a paid plan.)
How to Cite This Article
Graffius, Scott M. (2025, May 27). AI in Agile: Benefits, Risks, Outlook. Available at: https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/ai-in-agile-benefits-risks-and-outlook-by-scott-m-graffius.html.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
DOI: (coming soon)
Content Acknowledgements
All names, marks, and content are the property of their respective owners.
Top 5 Hashtags
#AI
#ArtificialIntelligence
#Agile
#AIinAgile
#FutureOfAgile
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.
Meta and Anduril’s EagleEye and the Future of XR: How Gaming, AI, and Agile Are Transforming Defense

A glossary for select terms (AR, MR, NPC, Oculus, VR, and XR) follows the Supplement section of this article.

Introduction
Imagine slipping on a virtual reality (VR) headset for a thrilling video game. Now picture wearing an augmented reality (AR) headset for future battlefields, with real-time drone feeds and navigation cues guiding mission-critical decisions. EagleEye, an extended reality (XR) headset envisioned through Meta and Anduril’s partnership announced on 29 May 2025, aims to fuse gaming’s immersion with military precision for the U.S. Army.
It’s a groundbreaking collaboration blending Meta’s Reality Labs—known for innovations like Oculus and Quest—with Anduril’s defense-focused Lattice platform. Scott M. Graffius—drawing on his expertise in AI, Agile, hardware, software, and video game development (GameDev), and his experience in defense—sees EagleEye as a compelling example of cross-industry innovation. Not only does it bring gaming’s immersive capabilities into high-stakes defense scenarios, but it also demonstrates how military-grade rigor can influence the next generation of enterprise and consumer tech.
This article explores how the fusion of AI, Agile, and XR—rooted in the creative ingenuity of GameDev and the demands of defense—is reshaping immersive systems. It highlights EagleEye as a case study for how iterative development, real-time intelligence, and human-centered design can transform not only battlefield readiness, but also the future of training, simulation, and industrial applications across sectors.

Section 1: The Evolution of XR from Gaming to Defense
The journey of XR—encompassing VR and AR—began with gaming’s pursuit of immersion and has extended to defense applications. This evolution is traced from the Oculus Rift’s 2012 debut, which captivated gamers with immersive 3D worlds, to the just-announced 2025 EagleEye project, designed to equip soldiers with real-time AR overlays. Both applications rely on core XR technologies: high-resolution optics like pancake lenses, precise spatial tracking, and low-latency rendering. However, their priorities diverge sharply: gaming VR prioritizes visual fidelity and user comfort for extended play, while military XR demands rugged durability and seamless data integration for life-or-death scenarios.
EagleEye is pioneering a shift toward lightweight headsets designed to project critical battlefield intelligence—such as terrain maps, drone feeds, and enemy positions—directly into a soldier’s field of view. Unlike consumer VR’s focus on aesthetics, EagleEye emphasizes resilience in harsh conditions and rapid data processing, leveraging Meta’s Reality Labs hardware expertise and Anduril’s defense-focused innovations. There are multiple design challenges: balancing weight, battery life, and performance under extreme constraints parallels GameDev’s optimization challenges but with higher stakes. This convergence provides a roadmap for XR’s future, where gaming’s creative foundations inform defense applications, illustrating XR’s growing role across industries.
Section 2: AI as the Backbone of Next-Gen XR
Artificial intelligence (AI) drives the transformative potential of extended reality (XR), and the EagleEye project exemplifies this synergy on the battlefield. Meta’s AI capabilities integrate with Anduril’s Lattice platform to deliver real-time intelligence through EagleEye’s AR headsets. These systems process complex sensor data—such as drone feeds, satellite imagery, and battlefield telemetry—to provide soldiers with actionable overlays, including enemy positions and navigation cues. Unlike GameDev’s AI, which enhances virtual worlds with non-player characters (NPCs) or procedural environments, EagleEye’s AI focuses on real-time object recognition, predictive analytics, and data prioritization in extreme conditions.
The technical challenges are significant: low-latency AI processing is critical in resource-constrained environments, where battlefield headsets require compact, efficient computing power. EagleEye’s ability to filter and display critical data parallels GameDev’s focus on seamless user experiences but demands military-grade reliability. This convergence has broader implications: AI-driven XR could transform training simulations or industrial applications. For example, the AI techniques powering EagleEye’s threat detection could enhance VR games with smarter environments or enable medical AR for real-time diagnostics. By bridging gaming’s creative AI with defense’s precision, EagleEye sets a new benchmark for XR, inspiring technologists to reimagine AI’s role in immersive systems.
Section 3: Agile Development in High-Stakes XR Projects
The Meta-Anduril EagleEye project, developing advanced XR headsets for the U.S. Army, demonstrates how Agile methodologies accelerate innovation in defense technology. This partnership diverges from the traditionally slow and bureaucratic R&D processes of military projects. EagleEye’s rapid prototyping—privately funded and already in testing—parallels the iterative cycles in GameDev and software development. Meta’s Reality Labs, known for iterative hardware releases like the Quest series, collaborates with Anduril’s software-driven Lattice platform, integrating AI and AR through rapid feedback loops and cross-functional teams.
EagleEye’s success depends on navigating the phases of team development—forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning—under intense pressure. Hardware engineers, AI specialists, and others must align on stringent requirements, such as cybersecurity and battlefield durability while iterating rapidly. This contrasts with GameDev’s more flexible Agile environments but shares an emphasis on collaboration and adaptability. Compliance with military standards requires rigorous testing within Agile sprints. These lessons are universal: Agile’s speed and transparency can drive complex XR projects, whether for immersive games or mission-critical headsets, providing technologists a blueprint for managing high-stakes innovation.
Section 4: Bridging Gaming and Defense: Opportunities and Challenges
The EagleEye project bridges gaming and defense, revealing shared challenges and unique opportunities. Both gaming VR, such as Meta’s Quest 3, and military XR, like EagleEye, require lightweight designs, extended battery life, and low-latency rendering for seamless user experiences. However, EagleEye’s requirements diverge, emphasizing ruggedized hardware to withstand battlefield conditions and robust cybersecurity to protect sensitive data, in contrast to gaming’s focus on visual immersion and comfort.
The potential for cross-pollination is significant. Gaming innovations—such as advanced haptics and eye-tracking in VR headsets—could enhance EagleEye’s soldier interfaces, improving precision in high-stakes scenarios. Conversely, defense’s rigorous testing for durability and real-time data integration could inform enterprise VR, such as training simulators. Challenges remain: military XR requires stringent compliance, limiting Agile flexibility, while gaming allows iterative experimentation. Yet, the synergy is transformative. EagleEye’s AI-driven overlays could inspire smarter VR game environments, while gaming’s user-centric design could streamline military training interfaces. This convergence highlights XR’s broader potential, from industrial maintenance to medical diagnostics, offering technologists a framework for cross-domain innovation.
Conclusion
The EagleEye endeavor marks a pivotal moment for extended reality (XR), blending gaming’s immersive roots with defense’s mission-critical precision. This collaboration showcases XR’s versatility. By integrating Meta’s Reality Labs advancements with Anduril’s Lattice platform, EagleEye will deliver AI-powered AR headsets that redefine battlefield awareness while drawing on GameDev’s focus on low-latency, user-centric design. Agile approaches can accelerate this innovation, bridging gaming’s iterative creativity with defense’s rigorous requirements. Embracing gaming’s agility and defense’s rigor can unlock new frontiers for immersive systems. The broader implications are clear: the technologies powering EagleEye could enhance VR gaming, industrial training, medical diagnostics, and beyond.

Supplement
To inform the leap from consumer to military-grade systems, Graffius developed a visual which outlines divergent aspects between Meta Quest 3 (Gaming VR) and EagleEye (Military XR). The side-by-side comparison follows.


More
Continue reading for:
- Glossary,
- Bibliography,
- About Meta,
- About Anduril,
- About Scott M. Graffius,
- How to Cite This Article,
- and more.

Glossary
Glossary for select terms:
- AR (Augmented Reality): A technology that overlays digital content—such as images, sounds, or information—onto the real world in real time. Unlike VR, AR enhances the physical environment rather than replacing it.
- MR (Mixed Reality): A blend of physical and digital worlds where real and virtual elements interact in real time. MR allows users to manipulate and coexist with digital objects anchored in the real world, often using advanced sensors and spatial computing.
- NPC (Non-Playable Character): In gaming, an NPC is a character controlled by the computer rather than a player, often used to populate the environment or move the story forward. NPCs typically follow pre-set scripts and lack autonomy or self-awareness. (In online culture, calling someone an "NPC" implies they lack independent thought or are simply repeating mainstream views or behaviors without critical thinking—like a background character going through the motions.)
- Oculus: A line of VR headsets developed by Oculus VR, a company founded by Palmer Luckey in 2012 and acquired by Facebook (now Meta Platforms) in 2014. These headsets, including models like the Oculus Quest series, offer immersive VR experiences for gaming, entertainment, and productivity. Over time, the Oculus brand has been integrated into Meta's broader VR ecosystem, with newer devices branded under the Meta Quest name.
- VR (Virtual Reality): A fully immersive digital experience that replaces the real world with a computer-generated environment. Users typically interact with VR through headsets and motion controllers, enabling them to explore and engage with 3D spaces.
- XR (Extended Reality): An umbrella term that encompasses VR, AR, and MR, referring to all real-and-virtual combined environments and human-machine interactions. XR represents the full spectrum of immersive technologies.


Bibliography
Select bibliography:
- Anduril Industries (2025, May 29). Anduril and Meta Team Up to Transform XR for the American Military. Available at: https://www.anduril.com/article/anduril-and-meta-team-up-to-transform-xr-for-the-american-military/.
- Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) (2023, February 23). Episode 65: A Sprint to Tomorrow, Powered by Teamwork [Podcast]. Available at: https://www.darpa.mil/news-events/2023-02-23a.
- Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) (2024, September 27). Teaching AI What It Should and Shouldn’t Do. Available at: https://www.darpa.mil/news/2024/teaching-ai.
- Engadget (2025, May 29). Meta Could Soon Start Building Tech for the US Army. Available at: https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/meta-could-soon-start-building-tech-for-the-us-army-184405058.html.
- Engineering Research Visioning Alliance (n.d.). Strategic Thinking for Engineering Research in the Era of Artificial Intelligence. Available at: https://www.ervacommunity.org/task-force/visioning-event-strategic-thinking-for-engineering-research-in-the-era-of-ai/.
- Graffius, Scott M. (2016). Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions. North Charleston, SC: CreateSpace.
- Graffius, Scott M. (2018, October 18). Agile Scrum Helps Innovators, Disruptors, and Entrepreneurs Develop and Deliver Products at Astounding Speed Which Drives Competitive Advantage [Presentation]. Talk delivered at Techstars Startup Week Conference. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.25009.12647.
- Graffius, Scott M. (2019). Agile Transformation: A Brief Story of How an Entertainment Company Developed New Capabilities and Unlocked Business Agility to Thrive in an Era of Rapid Change. Scotts Valley, CA: CreateSpace.
- Graffius, Scott M. (2020, November 27). Definition of Agile Culture. Available at: https://www.scottgraffius.com/blog/files/agile-culture.html.
- Graffius, Scott M. (2023, July 15). Successful Video Game Development Teams Leverage an Extensive Range of Hard Skills and Soft Skills. Available at: https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/gamedev.html. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.31205.17124.
- Graffius, Scott M. (2023, May 1). AI is a Team Sport: A Confluence of Diverse Technical and Soft Skills are Crucial for Success. Available at: https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/successful-ai-teams.html. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.20321.79200.
- Graffius, Scott M. (2023, October 9). Top 5 Roles on AI Teams. Available at: https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/ai-team-roles.html. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.34857.57449.
- Graffius, Scott M. (2023). What Successful AI Teams Have in Common [Video]. Graffius’ talk at the 2023 Conf42 Quantum Computer Conference. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2qRKFbSKYE.
- Graffius, Scott M. (2024, April 5). Cisco Features Scott M. Graffius' 'Phases of Team Development' Work' Available at: https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/cisco-2024.html. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.16689.60000.
- Graffius, Scott M. (2024, May 3). Leverage Agile and AI to Innovate at the Speed of Light. Talk at private event in Dubai, UAE. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.30790.48960.
- Graffius, Scott M. (2025, January 24). When Agile, AI, and Strategic Thinking Converge. Available at: https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/when-agile-ai-and-strategic-thinking-converge.html.
- Graffius, Scott M. (2025, January 7). Scott M. Graffius’ Phases of Team Development: 2025 Update. Available at: https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/phases-of-team-development-update-for-2025.html. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.33705.30564.
- Graffius, Scott M. (2025, May 13). Scott M. Graffius Delivering $2.3 Billion in Value Through AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Leadership. Available at: https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/scott-m-graffius-delivering-2-point-3-billion-dollars-in-impact-for-organizations.html.
- Graffius, Scott M. (2025). Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum. Seattle, WA: Amazon Digital Services.
- Kerzner, Harold (2022). Innovation Project Management: Methods, Case Studies, and Tools for Managing Innovation Projects—Second Edition. Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley.
- Kilby, Mark (2024, February 2). How AI Will Reshape Agile Development: Takeaways from a Recent Briefing. Agile Alliance. Available at: https://www.agilealliance.org/how-ai-will-reshape-agile-development-takeaways-from-a-recent-briefing/.
- Morsa, Luigi (2022, July 7). Agile. Creativity. Innovation. Available at: https://blog.iil.com/agile-creativity-innovation/.
- Prasad, Baba (2025, May 5). Interpreters, Challengers and Stewards: The Role of Agile Leaders in an AI World. Brown University. Available at: https://professional.brown.edu/news/2025-05-05/agile-leadership-ai-world.
- TechCrunch (2025, May 29). In a Victory for Palmer Luckey, Meta and Anduril Work on Mixed Reality Headsets for the Military. Available at: https://techcrunch.com/2025/05/29/in-a-victory-for-palmer-luckey-meta-and-anduril-work-on-mixed-reality-headsets-for-the-military.
- Wall Street Journal (2025, May 29).Meta Fired Palmer Luckey. Now, They’re Teaming Up on a Defense Contract. Available at: https://www.wsj.com/tech/meta-army-vr-headsets-anduril-palmer-luckey-142ab72a/.

About Meta
Meta Platforms, Inc. is a leading technology company focused on building innovative products and services that help people connect, find communities, and grow businesses. Known for its family of apps—including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger—as well as its pioneering work in virtual and augmented reality through Reality Labs, Meta is advancing its long-term vision for the metaverse while continuing to shape the future of social technology.

About Anduril
Anduril Industries is a defense technology company that develops advanced hardware and software systems to support national security and allied operations. Combining artificial intelligence, autonomy, and cutting-edge engineering, Anduril delivers mission-critical capabilities—such as autonomous surveillance, counter-drone systems, and AI-enabled command platforms—designed to modernize defense infrastructure and empower and support military and border protection personnel.

About Scott M. Graffius

Scott M. Graffius is an AI, Agile, and Project Management/PMO leader, researcher, author, and speaker. Along the way, he spearheaded initiatives that have generated over $2.3 billion in impact for organizations across tech, entertainment, finance, healthcare, and beyond. 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. To date, Graffius has conducted 93 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,
- NASSCOM,
- National Academy of Sciences,
- New Zealand Government,
- Oracle,
- Pinterest Inc.,
- Project Management Institute,
- Mary Raum (Professor of National Security Affairs, United States Naval War College),
- SANS Institute,
- SBG Neumark - Germany,
- Singapore Institute of Technology,
- Torrens University - Australia,
- TBS Switzerland,
- Tufts University,
- UC San Diego,
- UK Sports Institute,
- University of Galway - Ireland,
- US Department of Energy,
- US National Park Service,
- US Soccer,
- US Tennis Association,
- Verizon,
- Wrike,
- Yale University,
- and many others.
Graffius has played a key role in the Project Management Institute (PMI) in developing professional standards. He was a member of multiple teams that authored, reviewed, and produced:
- Practice Standard for Work Breakdown Structures—Second Edition.
- A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge—Sixth Edition.
- The Standard for Program Management—Fourth Edition.
- The Practice Standard for Project Estimating—Second Edition.
Additional details are here.
He was also a subject matter expert reviewer of content for the PMI’s Congress. Beyond the PMI, Graffius also served as a member of the review team for two of the Scrum Alliance’s Global Scrum Gatherings.
Acclaimed Authority on Teamwork Tradecraft

Graffius is a renowned authority on teamwork tradecraft. Informed by the research of Bruce W. Tuckman and Mary Ann C. Jensen, over 100 subsequent studies, and Graffius' first-hand professional experience with, and analysis of, team leadership and performance, Graffius created his 'Phases of Team Development' 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.
The 2025 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 the Center for Direct Marketing, Fast Company, GoDaddy, Pinterest Inc., and PNAS, among others, his research exemplifies methodological rigor and sustained significance in the field of digital informatics.
The 2025 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.
Thought Leader | Public Speaker | Agile Protocol Book | Agile Scrum Book | Agile Transformation Book | Blog | Photo | X | LinkedIn | Email














Sign up for Miro—it's free!
(Want more features? You can always upgrade to a paid plan.)
How to Cite This Article
Graffius, Scott M. (2025, June 2). Meta and Anduril’s EagleEye and the Future of XR: How Gaming, AI, and Agile Are Transforming Defense. Available at: https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/meta-and-anduril-eagleeye-and-the-future-of-xr-how-gaming-ai-and-agile-are-transforming-defense.html.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
DOI: (coming soon)
Content Acknowledgements
All company, product, and service names and marks are the property of their respective owners. They are used in this article are for identification purposes only and Their use does not imply endorsement.
Meta, Oculus, Quest, and Reality Labs are trademarks or registered trademarks of Meta Platforms, Inc. Anduril, Lattice, and EagleEye are trademarks or registered trademarks of Anduril Industries, Inc., or its affiliates.
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of others.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice or a recommendation for any specific technology, product, or service.
Graffius’ “Phases of Team Development” intellectual property is copyright © Scott M. Graffius. All rights reserved.
Top 5 Hashtags
#Agile
#Meta
#Anduril
#ExtendedReality
#Innovation
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.
PMI’s Infinity AI Gets the Basics of Team Development Alarmingly and Repeatedly Wrong

If there's an update after this article is published, the information will appear in the Post-Publication Notes section.

Introduction
When an artificial intelligence product is released under the banner of the Project Management Institute (PMI)—a globally recognized authority on project management—it carries the weight of authority. PMI’s Infinity™ 2.0, marketed as an AI assistant to support professionals, should at least meet the accuracy of the PMI’s materials, especially on core topics such as team development.
Unfortunately, it does not.
This article reports how PMI Infinity performed when asked a basic question about a foundational concept in project management: the phases of team development (also known as the stages of team development, team dynamics, group dynamics, etc.). The result is a case study in misstatement, backpedaling, and conceptual fuzziness that would be unacceptable in a project management 101 course—let alone from a product designed to represent the PMI.
The Context: Team Development is Not Optional in Project Management
Bruce Tuckman’s 1965 model of team development—comprised of forming, storming, norming, and performing—was expanded in 1977 with colleague Mary Ann Jensen to include adjourning. These five phases are a well-established staple in organizational behavior, leadership studies, and—critically—project management.
PMI itself integrates Tuckman’s model into its materials. Project teams do not operate in a vacuum. Understanding how they form, clash, align, deliver, and disband is essential to project success. The project manager’s job is to navigate that lifecycle.
Failure in this area by PMI Infinity AI is not a minor glitch. It’s a foundational error, and it happened not just once but across multiple responses.
The Timeline of Errors: A Blow-by-Blow Breakdown
Here’s how PMI's Infinity AI handled the queries about team development, step by step (the detailed transcript is available in text format and screen shot format):
1. Omission of Adjourning in the Initial Answer
In the first response, PMI Infinity lists:
- Forming,
- Storming,
- Norming, and
- Performing.
That’s it.
Adjourning—the critical fifth stage added in 1977—is not on the list. This is a fundamental factual error. Tuckman and Jensen's 1977 update has been in existence for 48 years. The AI’s failure to include it is inexcusable.
2. “Adjourning/Reforming” is a Fabricated Concept
Later, the AI refers to the last phase as “Adjourning/Reforming.”
This hybrid phrase does not originate from Tuckman or Tuckman/Jensen. It’s not a dual label. Adjourning is the correct term, and it has a specific meaning: the disbanding of the team. While teams can regroup in the future, Tuckman never inserted “reforming” as a part of the developmental progression.
This error is especially egregious because it fabricates terminology under the guise of authority. PMI Infinity is not just being sloppy—it’s making things up.
3. Misleading Framing of Adjourning
Even when the AI agrees with its error, corrects itself, and then uses the proper term (adjourning), it frames the phase as:
“... acknowledging the lifecycle of a team beyond the completion of a project.”
This phrasing is incomplete and misleading. It suggests that adjourning only occurs when a project is completed, ignoring the fact that teams may otherwise adjourn due to:
- Project cancellation,
- Restructuring,
- Budget cuts,
- Organizational shifts, or
- Other related situations.
Reducing adjourning to “after completion” is not just simplistic—it’s incorrect. In real-world project management, teams disband for many reasons. This is not nuance; it’s the reality of the profession.
4. Only After Multiple Prompts Does the AI Yield an Accurate Answer
The AI repeatedly ignored facts and fabricated facts. Such AI errors are termed "hallucinations." Only because the user was an expert on the subject matter, there was several rounds of feedback and corrections.
An AI that needs to be corrected repeatedly, with escalating specificity, to get a basic, textbook-level answer right is not ready for professional use.
Why This Matters: The Cost of Getting It Wrong
The team development model is part of the behavioral bedrock of leadership, communication, and team performance. If PMI Infinity can’t reliably explain the phases of team development:
- How can it be trusted to assist professionals under deadline pressure?
- How will it guide students or others trying to build foundational knowledge?
- What confidence can any user have that more complex questions will yield credible results?
This is a serious, material issue. Misinformation at the foundational level breeds misunderstanding and downstream failure.
Final Scorecard
On a scale of 1-10 (where 10 is best), here's the rating of the performance of PMI's Infinity AI tool:
- Factual Accuracy: 1/10
- Alignment with PMI Materials: 1/10
- Terminological Precision: 1/10
- Responsiveness to Correction: 5/10
- Professional Use Readiness: 1/10
- Overall Score: 1/10
Conclusion: A Wake-Up Call for PMI and Users of PMI's Infinity AI
PMI Infinity AI failed to provide accurate, complete, and credible information on one of the most fundamental topics in project management. This should concern every professional who uses the tool.
Team development is not a minor topic. It is a core competency area covered in PMI publications and lived daily by project managers worldwide. For PMI’s AI to fumble this topic so spectacularly and repeatedly is not just ironic—it’s alarming.
Until significant improvements are made, PMI Infinity AI should only be used with extreme caution—and only with the user independently verifying information from reliable sources. When AI incorporates facts, it can be a powerful tool. When AI disregards facts or fabricates facts, it’s a threat. Alarmingly, PMI Infinity AI has shown that it repeatedly disregarded facts and fabricated facts.


More
Continue reading for:
- About the PMI Infinity AI Tool,
- About the PMI,
- Additional Articles,
- About Scott M. Graffius,
- How to Cite This Article,
- and more.

About the PMI Infinity AI Tool
On January 22, 2024, the Project Management Institute (PMI) announced the launch of PMI Infinity™, marketed as an AI-powered assistant designed for project professionals. It claims to offer smart navigation through "over 14,000 vetted project‑management resources."

About the PMI
The Project Management Institute (PMI) is a globally recognized professional organization dedicated to advancing the practice, science, and profession of project management. Founded in 1969, it provides resources, certifications, and networking opportunities to empower professionals in managing projects effectively across various industries. Its flagship certifications, such as the Project Management Professional (PMP), are widely respected and sought after for demonstrating expertise in project leadership. Through its standards, publications, and global community, PMI fosters best practices and drives innovation in project, program, and portfolio management. Visit https://www.pmi.org to learn more.

Additional Articles
You may also be interested in these relatively recent articles on Agile, AI, and Project Management:
- Agile for Unicorns: 7 Keys to Thrive; Scott M. Graffius’ Workshop
- Meta and Anduril’s EagleEye and the Future of XR: How Gaming, AI, and Agile Are Transforming Defense
- AI in Agile: Benefits, Risks, Outlook
- National Science Foundation’s LTER Network Features Scott M. Graffius’ Phases of Team Development IP
- Scott M. Graffius Delivering $2.3 Billion in Value Through AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Leadership
- 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
- Scott M. Graffius' Role in Advancing Project Management Institute (PMI) Standards Excellence
- When Agile, AI, and Strategic Thinking Converge
- Scott M. Graffius’ Phases of Team Development: 2025 Update
- Scott M. Graffius' 'Phases of Team Development' was Spotlighted in Journal of Neurosurgery
- Hochschule Coburg (Coburg University) Germany Uses Scott M. Graffius’ Phases of Team Development IP in Coursework on Agile Development
- EU Europass Teacher Academy Features Scott M. Graffius’ ‘Phases of Team Development’ in Leadership Training
- Tufts University Features Scott M. Graffius 'Phases of Team Development' Intellectual Property
- Bayer Employs Scott M. Graffius' Intellectual Property
- Semiconductor Manufacturing Firm Lam Research Features Scott M. Graffius' 'Phases of Team Development' Intellectual Property
- Scott M. Graffius Speaking on Agile, AI, and Innovation at a Private Event in Dubai
- Cisco Features Scott M. Graffius' 'Phases of Team Development' Work
- Scott M. Graffius Speaking on Successful AI at DevDays Europe 2024 Conference
- University of California, San Diego Features Scott M. Graffius’ ‘Phases of Team Development’ Work
- AI is a Team Sport

About Scott M. Graffius

Scott M. Graffius is an AI, Agile, and Project Management/PMO leader, researcher, author, and speaker. Along the way, he spearheaded initiatives that have generated over $2.3 billion in impact for organizations across tech, entertainment, finance, healthcare, and beyond. 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. To date, Graffius has conducted 94 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,
- NASSCOM,
- National Academy of Sciences,
- New Zealand Government,
- Oracle,
- Pinterest Inc.,
- Project Management Institute,
- Mary Raum (Professor of National Security Affairs, United States Naval War College),
- SANS Institute,
- SBG Neumark - Germany,
- Singapore Institute of Technology,
- Torrens University - Australia,
- TBS Switzerland,
- Tufts University,
- UC San Diego,
- UK Sports Institute,
- University of Galway - Ireland,
- US Department of Energy,
- US National Park Service,
- US Soccer,
- US Tennis Association,
- Verizon,
- Wrike,
- Yale University,
- and many others.
Graffius has played a key role in the Project Management Institute (PMI) in developing professional standards. He was a member of multiple teams that authored, reviewed, and produced:
- Practice Standard for Work Breakdown Structures—Second Edition.
- A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge—Sixth Edition.
- The Standard for Program Management—Fourth Edition.
- The Practice Standard for Project Estimating—Second Edition.
Additional details are here.
He was also a subject matter expert reviewer of content for the PMI’s Congress. Beyond the PMI, Graffius also served as a member of the review team for two of the Scrum Alliance’s Global Scrum Gatherings.
Acclaimed Authority on Teamwork Tradecraft

Graffius is a renowned authority on teamwork tradecraft. Informed by the research of Bruce W. Tuckman and Mary Ann C. Jensen, over 100 subsequent studies, and Graffius' first-hand professional experience with, and analysis of, team leadership and performance, Graffius created his 'Phases of Team Development' 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.
The 2025 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 the Center for Direct Marketing, Fast Company, GoDaddy, Pinterest Inc., and PNAS, among others, his research exemplifies methodological rigor and sustained significance in the field of digital informatics.
The 2025 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.
Thought Leader | Public Speaker | Agile Protocol Book | Agile Scrum Book | Agile Transformation Book | Blog | Photo | X | LinkedIn | Email














Sign up for Miro—it's free!
(Want more features? You can always upgrade to a paid plan.)
How to Cite This Article
Graffius, Scott M. (2025, June 17). PMI’s Infinity AI Gets the Basics of Team Development Alarmingly and Repeatedly Wrong. Available at: https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/pmi-infinity-ai-gets-the-basics-of-team-development-alarmingly-and-repeatedly-wrong---by-scott-m-graffius.html.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
DOI: (coming soon)
Content Acknowledgements
This article includes brief excerpts from the Project Management Institute (PMI), attributed and used under fair use for news reporting and analysis.
PMI and PMI Infinity names, marks, and content are the property of the Project Management Institute, Inc.
Post-Publication Notes
If there are any supplements or updates to this article after the date of publication, they will appear here.
Update on 18 June 2025
The page for PMI's Infinity AI tool (https://infinity.pmi.org/chat) has a "Provide Feedback" mechanism. The feedback form has three parts: satisfaction level, expectations, and suggested improvements. Graffius provided feedback to the PMI. His responses follow:
- Satisfaction: Graffius selected: Very Unsatisfied.
- Expectations: Graffius wrote: "At a minimum, PMI's AI should get basic project management information right. However, it got simple info on team development repeatedly wrong. See: https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/pmi-infinity-ai-gets-the-basics-of-team-development-alarmingly-and-repeatedly-wrong---by-scott-m-graffius.html"
- Suggested improvements: Graffius wrote: "Because PMI's Infinity AI tool has not yet delivered correct information on basic project management matters, fixing that shocking problem should be the immediate objective."
And here's a screen shot.

Further updates, if any, will appear here.
Update on 25 June 2025
See the related story, The “Pants-on-Fire Index for AI”.
Update on 8 July 2025
See the related story, AI Showcase Showdown: Ranking AI Accuracy on Project Management Basics.


Top 5 Hashtags
#AI
#ArtificialIntelligence
#PMI
#PMIInfinity
#PMIAI


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.

The “Pants-on-Fire Index for AI”


When an AI confidently claims the moon is made of cheese, it’s funny but troubling.
Generative AI can dazzle. However, it’s prone to deliver fiction as fact, a phenomenon known as AI hallucinations. Enter the “Pants-on-Fire Index for AI,” created by Scott M. Graffius. This satirical yet sharp tool exposes and scores AI’s factual errors, holding AI accountable.
The idea for the index emerged after Graffius detailed the alarming performance of the Project Management Institute’s (PMI) AI tool, which repeatedly fabricated facts and got project management basics wrong. That experience stressed the need for a simple way to spotlight AI-generated misinformation.
The “Pants-on-Fire Index for AI” scores the frequency and significance of inaccuracies, exposing the problem with clear metrics. It rates AI on a scale of 0 to 10: 0 signals accuracy and 10 denotes blazing fabrications. The following example shows the index for the PMI’s AI tool.

Recommended practices for using generative AI include:
- Use resources like the “Pants-on-Fire Index for AI” to gain insights on reliability and use the AI tools with the best ratings.
- Verify AI output claims by tracking down cited sources and cross-checking information against trusted references, like peer-reviewed journals or official records.
When AI gets things wrong, using its output can spread false information, damage reputations, and create other issues. The “Pants-on-Fire Index for AI” playfully but pointedly spotlights these errors, underscoring the importance of verifying AI outputs before acting on them.

More
Continue reading for:
- Additional Articles,
- About Scott M. Graffius,
- How to Cite This Article,
- and more.

Additional Articles
You may also be interested in these relatively recent articles on Agile, AI, and Project Management:
- Agile for Unicorns: 7 Keys to Thrive; Scott M. Graffius’ Workshop
- Meta and Anduril’s EagleEye and the Future of XR: How Gaming, AI, and Agile Are Transforming Defense
- AI in Agile: Benefits, Risks, Outlook
- National Science Foundation’s LTER Network Features Scott M. Graffius’ Phases of Team Development IP
- Scott M. Graffius Delivering $2.3 Billion in Value Through AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Leadership
- 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
- Scott M. Graffius' Role in Advancing Project Management Institute (PMI) Standards Excellence
- When Agile, AI, and Strategic Thinking Converge
- Scott M. Graffius’ Phases of Team Development: 2025 Update
- Scott M. Graffius' 'Phases of Team Development' was Spotlighted in Journal of Neurosurgery
- Hochschule Coburg (Coburg University) Germany Uses Scott M. Graffius’ Phases of Team Development IP in Coursework on Agile Development
- EU Europass Teacher Academy Features Scott M. Graffius’ ‘Phases of Team Development’ in Leadership Training
- Tufts University Features Scott M. Graffius 'Phases of Team Development' Intellectual Property
- Bayer Employs Scott M. Graffius' Intellectual Property
- Semiconductor Manufacturing Firm Lam Research Features Scott M. Graffius' 'Phases of Team Development' Intellectual Property
- Scott M. Graffius Speaking on Agile, AI, and Innovation at a Private Event in Dubai
- Cisco Features Scott M. Graffius' 'Phases of Team Development' Work
- Scott M. Graffius Speaking on Successful AI at DevDays Europe 2024 Conference
- University of California, San Diego Features Scott M. Graffius’ ‘Phases of Team Development’ Work
- AI is a Team Sport

About Scott M. Graffius

Scott M. Graffius is an AI, Agile, and Project Management/PMO leader, researcher, author, and speaker. Along the way, he spearheaded initiatives that have generated over $2.3 billion in impact for organizations across tech, entertainment, finance, healthcare, and beyond. 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. To date, Graffius has conducted 94 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,
- NASSCOM,
- National Academy of Sciences,
- New Zealand Government,
- Oracle,
- Pinterest Inc.,
- Project Management Institute,
- Mary Raum (Professor of National Security Affairs, United States Naval War College),
- SANS Institute,
- SBG Neumark - Germany,
- Singapore Institute of Technology,
- Torrens University - Australia,
- TBS Switzerland,
- Tufts University,
- UC San Diego,
- UK Sports Institute,
- University of Galway - Ireland,
- US Department of Energy,
- US National Park Service,
- US Soccer,
- US Tennis Association,
- Verizon,
- Wrike,
- Yale University,
- and many others.
Graffius has played a key role in the Project Management Institute (PMI) in developing professional standards. He was a member of multiple teams that authored, reviewed, and produced:
- Practice Standard for Work Breakdown Structures—Second Edition.
- A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge—Sixth Edition.
- The Standard for Program Management—Fourth Edition.
- The Practice Standard for Project Estimating—Second Edition.
Additional details are here.
He was also a subject matter expert reviewer of content for the PMI’s Congress. Beyond the PMI, Graffius also served as a member of the review team for two of the Scrum Alliance’s Global Scrum Gatherings.
Acclaimed Authority on Teamwork Tradecraft

Graffius is a renowned authority on teamwork tradecraft. Informed by the research of Bruce W. Tuckman and Mary Ann C. Jensen, over 100 subsequent studies, and Graffius' first-hand professional experience with, and analysis of, team leadership and performance, Graffius created his 'Phases of Team Development' 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.
The 2025 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 the Center for Direct Marketing, Fast Company, GoDaddy, Pinterest Inc., and PNAS, among others, his research exemplifies methodological rigor and sustained significance in the field of digital informatics.
The 2025 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.
Thought Leader | Public Speaker | Agile Protocol Book | Agile Scrum Book | Agile Transformation Book | Blog | Photo | X | LinkedIn | Email














Sign up for Miro—it's free!
(Want more features? You can always upgrade to a paid plan.)
How to Cite This Article
Graffius, Scott M. (2025, June 25). The “Pants-on-Fire Index for AI”. Available at: https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/pants-on-fire-index-for-ai.html.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
DOI: (coming soon)
Content Acknowledgements
Names, marks, and content are the property of their respective owners.
PMI and PMI Infinity names, marks, and content are the property of the Project Management Institute, Inc.
Top 5 Hashtags
#AI
#ArtificialIntelligence
#AIHallucinations
#AIEthics
#PantsOnFireIndexForAI
Post-Publication Notes
If there are any supplements or updates to this article after the date of publication, they will appear here.
Update on 8 July 2025
See the related story, AI Showcase Showdown: Ranking AI Accuracy on Project Management Basics.
Update on 22 July 2025
Graffius created and released the supplement, Pants-on Fire Index for AI: How It's Calculated. It's shown below.
The formula for the Pants-on Fire Index for AI (abbreviated as PoF) can also be expressed as:
PoF = 10 × ( Σ (eᵢ × sᵢ) ) ÷ ( n × Sₘₐₓ )
Where:
- n = total number of assertions
- eᵢ = error indicator flag of 0 if assertion i is true, 1 if false
- sᵢ = severity of false claim (1 to Sₘₐₓ, where higher = worse)
- Sₘₐₓ = maximum possible severity (value of 10)
For details, refer to the visual, "Pants-on-Fire Index for AI: How It’s Calculated."


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.

AI Showcase Showdown: Ranking AI Accuracy on Project Management Basics


Introduction
On 17 June 2025, Scott M. Graffius assessed multiple artificial intelligence (AI) platforms by testing their performance with the same prompt on fundamental information on project management. Among the AIs evaluated, the Project Management Institute’s (PMI) Infinity AI produced such problematic results that Graffius wrote about the experience with that singular AI. That day, he published “PMI’s Infinity AI Gets the Basics of Team Development Alarmingly and Repeatedly Wrong.”
The Pants-on-Fire Index for AI
The performance of PMI Infinity AI, which repeatedly fabricated facts and got project management basics wrong, stressed the need for a simple way to spotlight the impact of misinformation generated by AI. Based on that, Graffius created the “Pants-on-Fire Index for AI” and wrote about it on 25 June 2025. The index is a satirical yet candid gauge of the frequency and significance of the misrepresentation and fabrication of facts by AI (a phenomenon called AI hallucinations). The index exposes and scores AI’s related errors, holding AI accountable.
The Pants-on-Fire Index for AI ranges from 0 to 10, where 0 represents no issues and 10 indicates total fabrication. The performance of PMI Infinity AI is shown below.

For details on the above, see Graffius’ 17 June 2025 and 25 June 2025 articles.
Audience Response and Expanded Analysis
Complementing the published articles, Graffius also disseminated the material through multiple social media networks. The audience responded.
Reader feedback included inquiries and requests for a comparative analysis. Some respondents suggested that, although PMI Infinity AI performed poorly, it might still be comparable to—or even outperform—other AI tools. To address these perspectives and provide greater clarity, this article presents the results of testing the same prompt across four additional generative AI platforms: OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Anthropic Claude, and Microsoft Copilot. These findings benchmark PMI Infinity AI’s performance—on project management basics—against other AIs.
PMI Infinity’s Expected vs. Actual Performance
The PMI is widely recognized as the global authority on project management. When the PMI released the Infinity AI tool under its banner, the tool carried an implicit expectation of accuracy—at least on core project management topics. PMI Infinity AI should at least meet the accuracy of PMI’s materials, especially on core topics. Unfortunately, it did not. Specifically, it scored a 9 out of 10 on the Pants-on-Fire Index for AI (where 10 is the worst).
Comparative Results
While the PMI Infinity AI got project management basics wrong (scoring: 9), all four of the other tools got it right (scoring: 0). The report for PMI Infinity AI was shown earlier in this article. Reports for ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and Copilot follow.
Here's the one for ChatGPT.

The report for Google Gemini is next.

Here's the report for Claude.

And, finally, here's the report for Microsoft Copilot.

As shown, ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and Copilot all got project management basics right; each scored 0 on the Pants-on-Fire Index. For comparison, PMI Infinity AI repeatedly got project management basics wrong; it scored 9 on the Pants-on-Fire Index.
Implications and Cautions
Until significant improvements are made, PMI Infinity AI should be approached with extreme caution—and only exercised if users independently verify its outputs against trusted sources. This evaluation highlights a broader issue: when reputable institutions back AI tools, the stakes are even higher. Accuracy is vital.
Each of the other AIs successfully addressed the prompt on project management basics, while PMI Infinity AI repeatedly ignored or fabricated facts. For professionals who rely on accurate information, such breakdowns represent a failure of trust.
Conclusion
In this AI showcase showdown, ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and Copilot were winners. Unfortunately, PMI Infinity AI did not achieve the same status.
This article is shared in the interest of transparency—to support informed decision-making and to encourage the responsible advancement of AI tools for the public good.
If there's an update after this article is published, the information will appear in the Post-Publication Notes section.


More
Continue reading for:
- About OpenAI ChatGPT,
- About Google Gemini,
- About Anthropic Claude,
- About Microsoft Copilot,
- About PMI Infinity,
- About Scott M. Graffius,
- How to Cite This Article,
- and more.



About OpenAI's ChatGPT
ChatGPT is a conversational AI developed by OpenAI, based on the GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) architecture. It is designed to understand and generate human-like text, enabling applications from chatbots to content creation. Since its launch, ChatGPT has been widely adopted for its versatility and ease of use. For more information, visit https://openai.com/chatgpt.

About Google Gemini
Google Gemini is Google’s next-generation large language model and AI system, aiming to combine advanced language understanding with multimodal capabilities like image and video processing. It is part of Google’s broader AI strategy to integrate powerful AI into search, productivity tools, and more. Gemini is positioned to compete with leading AI platforms by enhancing context awareness and reasoning. Learn more at https://ai.google/.

About Anthropic Claude
Claude is an AI assistant created by Anthropic, a company focused on building reliable, interpretable, and steerable AI systems. Claude emphasizes safety and ethical considerations while delivering powerful natural language understanding and generation capabilities. It is designed to assist with a variety of tasks such as summarization, coding help, and conversational engagement. Visit https://www.anthropic.com/ for details.

About Microsoft Copilot
Microsoft Copilot integrates advanced AI capabilities into Microsoft 365 applications like Word, Excel, and Outlook, enabling users to generate text, analyze data, and automate workflows seamlessly. Built on OpenAI’s GPT technology and enhanced with Microsoft’s productivity tools, Copilot aims to boost efficiency and creativity in professional environments. Discover more at https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/copilot.

About PMI and PMI Infinity
Founded in 1968, the Project Management Institute (PMI) is a globally recognized professional organization dedicated to advancing the practice, science, and profession of project management. It provides resources, certifications, and networking opportunities to empower professionals in managing projects effectively across various industries. Its flagship certifications are widely respected and sought after for demonstrating expertise in project leadership. Through its standards, publications, and global community, PMI fosters best practices and drives innovation in project, program, and portfolio management. Visit https://www.pmi.org to learn more about the PMI.
On January 22, 2024, the PMI announced the launch of PMI Infinity™, marketed as an AI-powered assistant designed for project professionals. It claims to offer smart navigation through "over 14,000 vetted project‑management resources." Although its failure to correctly answer a prompt about project management basics—as delineated in this article—is problematic.

About Scott M. Graffius

Scott M. Graffius is an AI, Agile, and Project Management/PMO leader, researcher, author, and speaker. Along the way, he spearheaded initiatives that have generated over $2.3 billion in impact for organizations across tech, entertainment, finance, healthcare, and beyond. 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. To date, Graffius has conducted 94 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,
- NASSCOM,
- National Academy of Sciences,
- New Zealand Government,
- Oracle,
- Pinterest Inc.,
- Project Management Institute,
- Mary Raum (Professor of National Security Affairs, United States Naval War College),
- SANS Institute,
- SBG Neumark - Germany,
- Singapore Institute of Technology,
- Torrens University - Australia,
- TBS Switzerland,
- Tufts University,
- UC San Diego,
- UK Sports Institute,
- University of Galway - Ireland,
- US Department of Energy,
- US National Park Service,
- US Soccer,
- US Tennis Association,
- Verizon,
- Wrike,
- Yale University,
- and many others.
Graffius has played a key role in the Project Management Institute (PMI) in developing professional standards. He was a member of multiple teams that authored, reviewed, and produced:
- Practice Standard for Work Breakdown Structures—Second Edition.
- A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge—Sixth Edition.
- The Standard for Program Management—Fourth Edition.
- The Practice Standard for Project Estimating—Second Edition.
Additional details are here.
He was also a subject matter expert reviewer of content for the PMI’s Congress. Beyond the PMI, Graffius also served as a member of the review team for two of the Scrum Alliance’s Global Scrum Gatherings.
Acclaimed Authority on Teamwork Tradecraft

Graffius is a renowned authority on teamwork tradecraft. Informed by the research of Bruce W. Tuckman and Mary Ann C. Jensen, over 100 subsequent studies, and Graffius' first-hand professional experience with, and analysis of, team leadership and performance, Graffius created his 'Phases of Team Development' 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.
The 2025 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 the Center for Direct Marketing, Fast Company, GoDaddy, Pinterest Inc., and PNAS, among others, his research exemplifies methodological rigor and sustained significance in the field of digital informatics.
The 2025 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.
Thought Leader | Public Speaker | Agile Protocol Book | Agile Scrum Book | Agile Transformation Book | Blog | Photo | X | LinkedIn | Email















Sign up for Miro—it's free!
(Want more features? You can always upgrade to a paid plan.)
How to Cite This Article
Graffius, Scott M. (2025, July 8). AI Showcase Showdown: Ranking AI Accuracy on Project Management Basics. Available at: https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/ai-showcase-showdown-ranking-ai-accuracy-on-project-management-basics.html.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
DOI: (coming soon)
Content Acknowledgements
All names, marks, and content are the property of their respective owners.
ChatGPT name, mark, and content are the property of OpenAI, L.L.C.
Google and Google Gemini names, marks, and content are the property of Alphabet Inc.
Anthropic and Anthropic Claude names, marks, and content are the property of Anthropic Public-Benefit Corporation (PBC).
Microsoft and Microsoft Copilot names, marks, and content are the property of Microsoft Corporation.
PMI and PMI Infinity names, marks, and content are the property of the Project Management Institute, Inc.
"Pants-on-Fire Index for AI" is copyright © Scott M. Graffius. All rights reserved.
Top 5 Hashtags
#ArtificialIntelligence
#AI
#ProjectManagement
#ProjectManagers
#PMIInfinity
Post-Publication Notes
If there are any supplements or updates to this article after the date of publication, they will appear here.
Supplement on 8 July 2025
[Unsolicited feedback received a few hours after the article was published; feedback reproduced with permission, with personal details omitted]
Mr. Graffius,
You seem to take your readers’ feedback seriously, so here’s my review of your AI Showcase Showdown article, prioritising what I found particularly engaging and distinctive.
The piece is compelling. What stood out as original and valuable was your introduction of the Pants-on-Fire Index for AI, which I found to be a witty and memorable device for quantifying a growing concern that, until now, has lacked a straightforward metric. The name keeps it accessible, while still addressing the serious issue of AI misinformation.
What surprised me most was the stark disparity in performance uncovered in the comparative analysis. It’s quite striking that PMI Infinity AI, offered by the very organisation regarded as the worldwide authority on project management, fared so poorly on fundamental concepts, particularly when all four competitors (ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and Copilot) managed the same prompt without issue. It creates a fascinating paradox: the AI tool backed by the most authoritative body in the field turns out to be the weakest performer.
Methodologically, for a non-scientific paper, I found your approach thoughtful and robust. Rather than singling out PMI Infinity for criticism, you broadened the scope to include data on other AI platforms under identical conditions. That comparative angle adds important context and avoids the appearance of an unfair or isolated critique.
The article also raises significant questions about institutional credibility and the responsibilities that come with it. When a respected body such as PMI puts its name behind an AI tool, users are naturally inclined to expect a higher standard of reliability, which makes its underperformance all the more concerning.
Your writing strikes a commendable balance between professional rigour and approachability, making complex AI evaluation concepts digestible for practitioners who rely on this information to choose their tools wisely.
It would have been interesting to note whether PMI had liaised with you regarding their Infinity. If they had, it might suggest a receptiveness to constructive input and a pledge to improvement.
Yours sincerely,
Oliver H.
—————
Scott M. Graffius delineated and shared findings on PMI Infinity via:
- Article published on 17 June 2025;
- Feedback provided to PMI via their provide feedback mechanism — this is detailed in the Post-Publication Notes section of the 17 June 2025 article;
- Posts on social media, which included, as noted in the Post-Publication Notes section of the 17 June 2025 article, a post on LinkedIn where Graffius tagged the PMI and the CEO of the PMI;
- Article published on 25 June 2025;
- This 8 July 2025 article.
Here's the answer to the question posed by Oliver: No. To date, the PMI has not responded.
Update on 22 July 2025
Graffius created and released the supplement, Pants-on Fire Index for AI: How It's Calculated. It's shown below.

The formula for the Pants-on Fire Index for AI (abbreviated as PoF) can also be expressed as:
PoF = 10 × ( Σ (eᵢ × sᵢ) ) ÷ ( n × Sₘₐₓ )
Where:
- n = total number of assertions
- eᵢ = error indicator flag of 0 if assertion i is true, 1 if false
- sᵢ = severity of false claim (1 to Sₘₐₓ, where higher = worse)
- Sₘₐₓ = maximum possible severity (value of 10)
For details, refer to the visual, "Pants-on-Fire Index for AI: How It’s Calculated."


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.

AI Institute of Switzerland Features Scott M. Graffius’ Work on Algorithms


The AI Institute of Switzerland has featured research by Scott M. Graffius—How Algorithms Shape the User Experience on Social Media Platforms—within its curated section of research papers and articles. This recognition highlights the growing importance of Graffius’ work in the fields of artificial intelligence, human–AI interaction, and social media.
Why This Matters
The AI Institute of Switzerland ("the Institute"), part of the Swiss Information and Management Institute, is the country’s first institute exclusively dedicated to artificial intelligence. Its mission is to advance AI knowledge through applied research, training, and innovation. It serves as a bridge between academic rigor and industry-relevant practice. By including Graffius’ work among its references, the Institute underscores both its relevance and value in shaping conversations about AI and social media platforms.
The Significance of the Research
Social media has revolutionized communication, culture, and commerce. And behind the user experience lies the pervasive influence of AI-powered algorithms. Graffius’ research investigates these systems, examining how personalization and recommendation engines shape what users see and how they interact.
The findings reveal that while algorithms drive engagement and growth for platforms, they also pose complex challenges around user autonomy, wellness, and information integrity. Unpacking these dynamics contributes to a deeper understanding of one of the defining issues of the digital age: how to balance innovation with ethical responsibility.
Broader Impact
The inclusion of Graffius’ research by the Institute signals recognition of its global relevance—particularly in the areas of AI ethics, transparency, and human-centric system design. As the Institute trains the next generation of AI leaders, it curates resources that demonstrate what AI can achieve along with reflection on how it should be applied responsibly.
Conclusion
The Institute’s feature of Graffius’ research underscores the vital role of interdisciplinary scholarship in guiding the future of technology and society. His work continues to inform debates on AI ethics, governance, and the human impact of algorithmic decision-making.
Select excerpts from the Institute's publication are shown below.

Graffius' "How Algorithms Shape the User Experience on Social Media Platforms" paper is on ResearchGate here. The AI Institute of Switzerland's publication is here.

Citation Information
Graffius' publication on ResearchGate:
- Graffius, Scott M. (2024, September 26). How Algorithms Shape the User Experience on Social Media Platforms. ResearchGate. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.29149.01767. Available at: https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.29149.01767.
AI Institute of Switzerland's publication:
- AI Institute of Switzerland (n.d.). Portfolio Item: Social Media Marketing Algorithms. Available at: https://aiinstitute.ch/portfolio-item/smm-algorithms/.
This article:
- Graffius, Scott M. (2025, August 18). AI Institute of Switzerland Features Scott M. Graffius’ Work on Algorithms. Available at: https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/ai-institute-features-work-of-scott-m-graffius.html.

Additional Stories
You may be interested in these additional stories.
Harness Sci-Fi and Speculative Design While Embracing Imperfection to Drive Innovation and Proactively Predict and Prepare for the Future
AI Showcase Showdown: Ranking AI Accuracy on Project Management Basics
Exploring Team Dynamics, Adaptability, and Creative Problem-Solving Through Felix the Cat’s Metaphorical Toolkit
The “Pants-on-Fire Index for AI”
PMI’s Infinity AI Gets the Basics of Team Development Alarmingly and Repeatedly Wrong
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
National Science Foundation’s LTER Network Features Scott M. Graffius’ Phases of Team Development IP
Scott M. Graffius Delivering $2.3 Billion in Value Through AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Leadership
The 3 Vital Rules of Science: What They Are and Why They Matter
Scott M. Graffius Recognized as a Top Thought Leader in Digital Disruption by Thinkers360
NCKU in Taiwan Integrates Graffius' 'Phases of Team Development' into Its Curriculum
The Art and Science of Aligning Initiatives with Strategic Objectives
U.S. Soccer Scores with Scott M. Graffius' Intellectual Property on Teamwork
Most Valuable IT Certifications: Update for 2025
When Agile, AI, and Strategic Thinking Converge
Scott M. Graffius’ Phases of Team Development: 2025 Update
Verizon Features Scott M. Graffius
Scott M. Graffius' 'Phases of Team Development' was Spotlighted in Journal of Neurosurgery
Hochschule Coburg (Coburg University) Germany Uses Scott M. Graffius’ Phases of Team Development IP in Coursework on Agile Development
Constructor University 2024 Advanced Software Technology Handbook References Scott M. Graffius' Work on Team Dynamics
Scott M. Graffius’ Intellectual Property was Employed by the NHS — the Largest Single-Payer Healthcare System in Europe
Tufts University Features Scott M. Graffius 'Phases of Team Development' Intellectual Property
Broadcom Features Scott M. Graffius' Intellectual Property
Semiconductor Manufacturing Firm Lam Research Features Scott M. Graffius' 'Phases of Team Development' Intellectual Property
Scott M. Graffius Speaking on Agile, AI, and Innovation at a Private Event in Dubai
Graffius' 'Phases of Team Development' Featured by TAG at TBS24 Conference in Zermatt Switzerland
Cisco Features Scott M. Graffius' 'Phases of Team Development' Work
Scott M. Graffius Speaking on Successful AI at DevDays Europe 2024 Conference
University of California, San Diego Features Scott M. Graffius’ ‘Phases of Team Development’ Work

More
Continue reading for:
- About Scott M. Graffius,
- How to Cite This Article,
- and more.



About Scott M. Graffius

Scott M. Graffius is a globally recognized technology leader who drives innovation in AI, Agile, and Project Management/PMO leadership.
He’s a practitioner, researcher, thought leader, award-winning author, and keynote speaker who’s taken the stage at 94 conferences and other events across 25 countries.
He’s delivered over $2.3 billion in value for Fortune 500 companies and other leaders in technology, entertainment, financial services, healthcare, and beyond.
Businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities use Graffius and feature his work. Examples include Adobe, Bayer, Boston University, Ford, Gartner, Harvard Medical School, IEEE, Johns Hopkins University, Microsoft, 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. To date, Graffius has conducted 94 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,
- NASSCOM,
- National Academy of Sciences,
- New Zealand Government,
- Oracle,
- Pinterest Inc.,
- Project Management Institute,
- Mary Raum (Professor of National Security Affairs, United States Naval War College),
- SANS Institute,
- SBG Neumark - Germany,
- Singapore Institute of Technology,
- Torrens University - Australia,
- TBS Switzerland,
- Tufts University,
- UC San Diego,
- UK Sports Institute,
- University of Galway - Ireland,
- US Department of Energy,
- US National Park Service,
- US Soccer,
- US Tennis Association,
- Verizon,
- Wrike,
- Yale University,
- and many others.
Graffius has played a key role in the Project Management Institute (PMI) in developing professional standards. He was a member of multiple teams that authored, reviewed, and produced:
- Practice Standard for Work Breakdown Structures—Second Edition.
- A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge—Sixth Edition.
- The Standard for Program Management—Fourth Edition.
- The Practice Standard for Project Estimating—Second Edition.
Additional details are here.
He was also a subject matter expert reviewer of content for the PMI’s Congress. Beyond the PMI, Graffius also served as a member of the review team for two of the Scrum Alliance’s Global Scrum Gatherings.
Acclaimed Authority on Teamwork Tradecraft

Graffius is a renowned authority on teamwork tradecraft. Informed by the research of Bruce W. Tuckman and Mary Ann C. Jensen, over 100 subsequent studies, and Graffius' first-hand professional experience with, and analysis of, team leadership and performance, Graffius created his 'Phases of Team Development' 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.
The 2025 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 the Center for Direct Marketing, Fast Company, GoDaddy, Pinterest Inc., and PNAS, among others, his research exemplifies methodological rigor and sustained significance in the field of digital informatics.
The 2025 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.

Check out 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
Follow and connect with Scott on social media:















Sign up for Miro—it's free!
(Want more features? You can always upgrade to a paid plan.)
How to Cite This Article
Graffius, Scott M. (2025, August 18). AI Institute of Switzerland Features Scott M. Graffius’ Work on Algorithms. Available at: https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/ai-institute-features-work-of-scott-m-graffius.html.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
DOI: (coming soon)
Content Acknowledgements
All names, marks, and content are the property of their respective owners.
AI Institute of Switzerland name, mark, and content are the property of AI Institute, a member of the Swiss Information and Management Institute.
This article uses limited excerpts from the AI Institute of Switzerland, attributed and used under fair use for news reporting and analysis.
“How Algorithms Shape the User Experience on Social Media Platforms” is copyright © Scott M. Graffius. All rights reserved.
Top 5 Hashtags
#AI
#AIEthics
#Algorithms
#HumanAI
#SocialMedia
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.