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Medical, Pharma, and Healthcare Organizations Are Using Scott M. Graffius' "Phases of Team Development"

15 June 2026

BY SCOTT M. GRAFFIUS | ScottGraffius.com

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When Lives are on the Line, Teamwork is Critical

In medicine, pharma, and healthcare, the stakes could not be higher. Research teams must cohere under pressure. Diagnoses must be accurate. Treatments must be coordinated. Clinical professionals must work in lockstep, often in high-velocity, high-stakes environments where miscommunication or misalignment can cost lives. In these fields, teamwork is a life-critical competency.

Scott M. Graffius is a leading authority on teamwork tradecraft. Informed by the research of Bruce W. Tuckman and Mary Ann C. Jensen, over 150 subsequent studies, and Graffius' first-hand professional experience with and analysis of team leadership and performance, Graffius created his "Phases of Team Development" intellectual property. It's a novel tool that serves as a diagnostic and strategic guide for navigating team dynamics. Leaders apply the actionable insights to help advance the effectiveness and success of teams. Graffius initially developed his unique material in 2008, and he periodically updates it.

Hundreds of businesses, professional associations, government agencies, universities, publications, and media outlets worldwide have featured and utilized Graffius' "Phases of Team Development." Examples include Adobe, American Management Association, Boston University, Broadcom, Cisco, DevOps Institute, Government of Finland, Hasso-Plattner-Institut für Digital Engineering GmbH, IEEE, Microsoft, Oracle, Technical University of Munich, Tufts University, U.S. National Park Service, U.S. Soccer, U.S. Tennis Association, UC San Diego, UK Sports Institute, Warsaw University of Technology, Yale University, and many more, including several medical/pharma/healthcare organizations (highlighted next).

This article covers a growing trend—the adoption of Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" across medical, pharmaceutical, and healthcare sectors. Twelve representative examples follow, illustrating the breadth and depth of that use.

Alexion Pharmaceuticals

Founded in 1992, Alexion Pharmaceuticals built its reputation as a pioneer in therapies for rare and life-threatening diseases, particularly those involving the complement system of the immune pathway. The company rose to prominence with breakthrough drugs that have dramatically improved outcomes for patients with conditions such as paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria and atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome—transforming once-devastating diagnoses into manageable conditions. With a global footprint spanning North America, Europe, and Asia, Alexion became synonymous with high-impact innovation in the treatment of ultra-rare diseases. Its work has delivered meaningful benefits by extending lives, reducing suffering, and giving patients and families tangible hope where few options previously existed.

Alexion Pharmaceuticals referenced Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" work.

More: https://www.scottgraffius.com/blog/files/lten.html

Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute

The Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute (APH) operates under the mission: "Health for all, powered by science." Its strategic plan reflects a commitment to continuously producing knowledge in line with societal challenges, healthcare transformations, and shifting expectations—and to effectively harnessing that knowledge for public health practice and beyond.

The APH concentrates its research efforts across eight programs, with over 1,700 multidisciplinary researchers from Amsterdam University Medical Centers (Amsterdam UMC), VU Amsterdam, and the University of Amsterdam. By collaborating with researchers, healthcare providers, educators, and policymakers, the APH is focused on implementing and disseminating knowledge both within and beyond Amsterdam.

A publication of the APH features Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" work. The APH Quality Handbook includes Graffius' copyrighted (used with permission) illustration, "Phases of Team Development." The visual conveys strategies and more, which can be readily applied to help research teams and others go farther, faster.

More: https://www.scottgraffius.com/blog/files/aph-qh.html

AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca stands as one of the world's leading biopharmaceutical companies, with operations in over 100 countries and a workforce exceeding 80,000 employees. Formed in 1999 through the merger of Sweden's Astra AB and the UK's Zeneca Group, the company has evolved into a powerhouse across oncology, cardiovascular, renal, respiratory, and immunology therapies. Its portfolio includes widely recognized medicines for lung cancer, diabetes, heart failure, and respiratory conditions—products that have improved and extended millions of lives globally. AstraZeneca's oncology innovations have redefined treatment standards and survival expectations for multiple cancers. With a reputation for scientific rigor, scale, and sustained impact, AstraZeneca continues to shape the future of medicine worldwide.

AstraZeneca referenced Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" work.

More: https://www.scottgraffius.com/blog/files/lten.html

Bayer

Bayer is one of the largest pharmaceutical, biomedical, and biotechnology companies in the world. Founded on August 1, 1863, by Friedrich Bayer and Johann Friedrich Weskott, and headquartered in Leverkusen, Germany, Bayer's businesses include pharmaceuticals, consumer healthcare products, agricultural chemicals, seeds, and biotechnology products. For more than 160 years, the company has worked to improve human health through scientific innovation and a commitment to meaningful medicine.

Bayer utilizes Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" material on teamwork tradecraft.

More: https://www.scottgraffius.com/blog/files/bayer.html

Fostering Readiness of Future Doctors and Nurses for Teamwork

Academic medicine increasingly recognizes that clinical excellence requires more than technical skill—it requires the ability to work and lead effectively within teams. This scientific and medical paper, "Fostering Readiness of Future Doctors and Nurses for Teamwork," addresses exactly that imperative, examining how healthcare education can prepare future clinicians for the realities of collaborative care.

The paper cites Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" work.

More: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/384329504_Fostering_Readiness_of_Future_Doctors_and_Nurses_for_Teamwork

FSU College of Medicine

Florida State University's College of Medicine is dedicated to training physicians with a particular focus on serving communities that have historically faced barriers to high-quality healthcare. Its faculty development efforts reflect an ongoing commitment to professional growth and evidence-based practice.

A Faculty Development post from FSU College of Medicine on LinkedIn features Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" work.

More: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/fsu-college-of-medicine-faculty-development_healthcare-is-a-team-sport-building-strong-activity-7122491911168290816--RkO/

HOPPR

HOPPR empowers developers to build the next generation of AI medical imaging applications, with the goal of making clinical care and workflow optimization more accessible, efficient, and equitable within the healthcare systems they serve. With an extensive repository of medical AI imaging data with known provenance than any other platform, alongside foundation models, fine-tuning tools, and infrastructure built under a Quality Management System (QMS), HOPPR enables transparent, scalable AI workflows built for real-world clinical integration.

HOPPR referenced Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" work.

More: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/khansiddiqui_startupprocess-scalingteams-okrs-activity-7298325575096573952-r14X/

Journal of Neurosurgery

The Journal of Neurosurgery (JNS) is a leading, peer-reviewed medical journal dedicated to advancing the field of neurosurgery. Published by the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS), it serves as a premier platform for original research, clinical studies, and innovative techniques in the diagnosis and treatment of neurological conditions. With a history spanning more than 75 years, JNS is widely recognized for its commitment to promoting scientific discovery and clinical excellence. Its global readership includes neurosurgeons, researchers, and healthcare professionals striving to improve patient outcomes.

The Journal of Neurosurgery highlighted Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" work.

More: https://www.scottgraffius.com/blog/files/jns-2024.html

Life Sciences Trainers & Educators Network (LTEN)

LTEN's mission: "LTEN is the essential resource for life sciences trainer education and networking; enabling members to harness their collective knowledge, apply leading-edge technology, and deliver world-class learning." LTEN serves as the professional home for those who develop and deploy learning solutions across the life sciences industry—helping organizations build capable, coordinated teams from the ground up.

LTEN referenced Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" work.

More: https://www.scottgraffius.com/blog/files/lten.html

Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP)

RACP is one of the leading medical specialist colleges in Australia and New Zealand and a highly influential institution in physician education, training, and professional standards across the region. The organization represents more than 30,000 physicians and trainee physicians spanning dozens of specialties and subspecialties. As a standard-setter for medical professionalism and continuing education, RACP carries significant weight in shaping how physicians are prepared and supported throughout their careers.

The RACP referenced Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" work.

More: https://scottgraffius.com/thoughtleaderandinfluencer.html

Strategies for Medical Team Success

On 6 November 2024, Naso Sano published a presentation on strategies for medical team success, which featured Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" work. Puya Dehgani-Mobaraki, MD (Naso Sano, Italy) hosted the session, and Professor Saad Alsaleh (King Saud University, Saudi Arabia) delivered the talk. The presentation was recorded, and the video is available on YouTube.

More: https://www.scottgraffius.com/blog/files/nso.html

The ATACC Group (TAG)

TAG is known for providing high-quality first aid, clinical, and medical education and training to every level of provider involved in patient care. It offers a suite of regulated qualifications in collaboration with Qualification Network UK (QNUK), an Ofqual, CCEA, and Qualification Wales recognized Awarding Organization. TAG is also a Royal College of Surgeons, London approved Educational Centre. ATACC stands for Anesthesia, Trauma, and Critical Care—domains where team cohesion can mean the difference between life and death.

Physicians Dr. Mark Forrest and Dr. Halden Hutchinson-Bazely from TAG incorporated Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" in their presentation at the TBS24 conference in Zermatt, Switzerland.

More: https://www.scottgraffius.com/blog/files/tbs24.html

Conclusion

From pharmaceutical giants conducting global clinical trials, to research institutes advancing public health, to trauma educators preparing clinicians for the most high-pressure moments imaginable, the medical and healthcare sector has embraced Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" with good reason. Effective teams don't just perform better—in medicine, they save lives. Graffius gives leaders a diagnostic and strategic guide to advance the effectiveness of teams.

The breadth and caliber of adoption—across pharma, academic medicine, medical journals, AI-driven healthcare technology, professional medical education, and clinical training—underscores both the universality of the framework and its particular resonance in sectors where precision, coordination, and trust are non-negotiable.

Graffius periodically updates his respective work. A visual from the 2026 edition of his "Phases of Team Development" is shown below and details are here. It covers both human-only teams and human-AI teams, including handling the exotic team dynamics which emerge when collaborating with advanced AI.

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Graffius has generated over $2.51 billion in business value for Fortune 500 companies and other organizations around the world. Put that track record to work for you. For speaking engagements, use the request form; for other inquiries, email him.

Note on Intellectual Property Rights

This article spotlighted select medical, pharmaceutical, and healthcare organizations that have appropriately used Scott M. Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" intellectual property.

However, some other individuals and organizations in medical, pharmaceutical, and healthcare-related fields have engaged in plagiarism, copyright infringement, or other bad acts. These matters are serious and warrant awareness, transparency, and accountability. Accordingly, selected cases are referenced below to uphold Graffius’ intellectual property rights and deter future violations. The list is not exhaustive.

Bloomfield, Jacqueline - The University of Sydney Susan Wakil School of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney, Australia
Boston Scientific Corporation
Frotjold, Astrid - The University of Sydney Susan Wakil School of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney, Australia
Howard, Rosa - The University of Sydney School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney, Australia
Lane, Stuart - The University of Sydney Medical School, Head of Intensive Care Medicine, Sydney Medical School, Australia; Senior Staff Specialist in Intensive Care Medicine, Nepean Hospital, Australia
National Health Service (NHS)
Roberts, Christopher - Honorary Professor of Medical Education, The University of Sydney School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney, Australia
Schneider, Carl - The University of Sydney School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney, Australia
University of Sydney
van Diggele, Christie - Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia

Details and source documentation are available here.

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About Scott M. Graffius

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Scott M. Graffius is a strategic transformation leader who drives AI, Agile, and broader business and technology initiatives to deliver measurable value across projects, programs, portfolios, and PMOs. He is an expert in the teamwork tradecraft of both human and human-AI teams, including the “exotic team dynamics” that emerge. He is also an authority on the temporal patterns of social media, including the half-life of audience engagement.

He’s a practitioner, researcher, thought leader, award-winning author, and keynote speaker who’s taken the stage at 98 conferences and other events across 25 countries.

He’s delivered over $2.51 billion in value for Fortune 500 companies and other leaders in technology, entertainment, financial services, healthcare, and beyond.

Businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities use Graffius and feature his work. Examples include Adobe, Bayer, Boston University, Ford, Gartner, Harvard Medical School, IEEE, Johns Hopkins University, Microsoft, MSN, National Academy of Sciences, Oracle, Pinterest Inc., Project Management Institute, UC San Diego, Verizon, Yale University, and others.

The following sections provide additional information on his experience, contributions, and influence.

Experience

Graffius heads the professional services firm Exceptional PPM and PMO Solutions, along with its subsidiary Exceptional Agility. These consultancies offer strategic and tactical advisory, training, embedded expertise, and consulting services to the public, private, and government sectors. They help organizations enhance their capabilities and results in agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership, supporting innovation and driving competitive advantage. The consultancies confidently back services with a Delighted Client Guarantee™.

Graffius is a former VP of project management with a publicly traded provider of diverse consumer products and services over the Internet. Before that, he ran and supervised the delivery of projects and programs in public and private organizations with businesses ranging from e-commerce to advanced technology products and services, retail, manufacturing, entertainment, and more.

He has experience with consumer, business, reseller, government, and international markets.

Award-Winning Author

Graffius has authored three books.

Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions, his first book, earned 17 awards.
Agile Transformation: A Brief Story of How an Entertainment Company Developed New Capabilities and Unlocked Business Agility to Thrive in an Era of Rapid Change, his second book, was named one of the best Scrum books of all time by BookAuthority.
Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum, his third book and his first work of fiction, was released in April 2025. The book trailer is on YouTube.

International Public Speaker

Organizations worldwide engage Graffius to present on tech (including AI), Agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership. He crafts and delivers unique and compelling talks and workshops. Graffius has conducted 97 sessions across 25 countries. Select examples of events include Agile Trends Gov, BSides (Newcastle Upon Tyne), Conf42 Quantum Computing, DevDays Europe, DevOps Institute, DevOpsDays (Geneva), Frug’Agile, IEEE, Microsoft, Scottish Summit, Scrum Alliance RSG (Nepal), Techstars, and W Love Games International Video Game Development Conference (Helsinki), and more.

With an average rating of 4.81 (on a scale of 1-5), sessions are highly valued.

The speaker engagement request form is here.

Thought Leadership and Influence

Prominent businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities have showcased Graffius and his contributions—spanning his books, talks, workshops, and beyond. Select examples include:

Adobe,
American Management Association,
Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute,
Bayer,
BMC Software,
Boston University,
Broadcom,
Cisco,
Coburg University of Applied Sciences and Arts - Germany,
Computer Weekly,
Constructor University - Germany,
Data Governance Success,
Deimos Aerospace,
DevOps Institute,
Dropbox,
EU's European Commission,
Ford Motor Company,
Gartner,
GoDaddy,
Harvard Medical School,
Hasso Plattner Institute - Germany,
IEEE,
Innovation Project Management,
Johns Hopkins University,
Journal of Neurosurgery,
Lam Research (Semiconductors),
Leadership Worthy,
Life Sciences Trainers and Educators Network,
London South Bank University,
Microsoft,
MSN,
NASSCOM,
National Academy of Sciences,
New Zealand Government,
Oracle,
Pinterest Inc.,
Project Management Institute,
Mary Raum (Professor of National Security Affairs, United States Naval War College),
SANS Institute,
SBG Neumark - Germany,
Singapore Institute of Technology,
Torrens University - Australia,
TBS Switzerland,
Tufts University,
UC San Diego,
UK Sports Institute,
University of Galway - Ireland,
US Department of Energy,
US National Park Service,
US Soccer,
US Tennis Association,
Verizon,
Wrike,
Yale University,
and many others.

Graffius has played a key role in the Project Management Institute (PMI) in developing professional standards. He was a member of multiple teams that authored, reviewed, and produced:

The Standard for Artificial Intelligence in Portfolio, Program, and Project Management
Agile Practice Guide – Second Edition
A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide) – Eighth Edition
A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide) – Sixth Edition
The Standard for Program Management – Fourth Edition
Practice Standard for Work Breakdown Structures – Second Edition
The Practice Standard for Project Estimating – Second Edition

He was also a subject matter expert reviewer of content for the PMI’s Congress. Beyond the PMI, Graffius also served as a member of the review team for two of the Scrum Alliance’s Global Scrum Gatherings.

Acclaimed Authority on Teamwork Tradecraft

Graffius is a renowned authority on teamwork tradecraft. Informed by the research of Bruce W. Tuckman and Mary Ann C. Jensen, over 150 subsequent studies, and Graffius' first-hand professional experience with, and analysis of, team leadership and performance, Graffius created his "Phases of Team Development" intellectual property as a unique perspective and visual conveying the five phases of team development. First introduced in 2008 and periodically updated, his work provides a diagnostic and strategic guide for navigating team dynamics. It provides actionable insights for leaders across industries to develop high-performance teams. Its adoption by esteemed organizations such as Yale University, IEEE, Cisco, Microsoft, Ford, Oracle, Broadcom, the U.S. National Park Service, and the Journal of Neurosurgery, among others, highlights its utility and value, solidifying its status as an indispensable resource for elevating team performance and driving organizational excellence. In 2026, Graffius added human-AI teamwork—including the "exotic team dynamics" which emerge when advanced AI collaborates as a teammate—to his "Phases of Team Development."

The 2026 edition of Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" intellectual property is here.

Expert on Temporal Dynamics on Social Media Platforms

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Graffius is also an authority on temporal dynamics on social media platforms. His "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts" research—first published in 2018 and updated annually—delivers a precise quantitative analysis of post longevity across digital platforms, utilizing advanced statistical techniques to determine mean half-life with precision. It establishes a solid empirical base, effectively highlighting the ephemeral nature of content within social media ecosystems. Referenced and applied by leading entities—such as Fast Company, GoDaddy, Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume), Ministère de la Culture (French Ministry of Culture), Pinterest Inc., PNAS, and Telecommunications Policy, among others—his research exemplifies methodological rigor and sustained significance in the field of digital informatics.

The 2026 edition of Graffius "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts" research is here.

Education and Professional Certifications

Graffius has a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a focus in Human Factors. He holds eight professional certifications:

Certified SAFe 6 Agilist (SA),
Certified Scrum Professional - ScrumMaster (CSP-SM),
Certified Scrum Professional - Product Owner (CSP-PO),
Certified ScrumMaster (CSM),
Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO),
Project Management Professional (PMP),
Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (LSSGB), and
IT Service Management Foundation (ITIL).

He is an active member of the Scrum Alliance, the Project Management Institute (PMI), and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).

Advancing AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management

Scott M. Graffius continues to advance the fields of AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management through his leadership, research, writing, and real-world impact. Businesses and other organizations leverage Graffius’ insights to drive their success.

Discover Scott’s Books

Connect with and follow Scott on LinkedIn, X, YouTube, Facebook, Threads, Bluesky, Mastodon, and ResearchGate.

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List of Additional Articles

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How to Cite This Article

Graffius, S. M. (2026, June 15). Medical, Pharma, and Healthcare Organizations Are Using Scott M. Graffius' "Phases of Team Development." ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/medical-pharma-healthcare-leaders-use-graffius-phases-of-team-development.html

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Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

Coming soon

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Content Acknowledgements

Names, marks, and content are the property of their respective owners.

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Tags and Hashtags

Phases of Team Development
Leadership
High-Performance Teams
Healthcare
Pharmaceutical Industry
Medical Education
Team Dynamics
Organizational Development
Life Sciences
Clinical Teams
Alexion Pharmaceuticals
Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute
AstraZeneca
Bayer
Fostering Readiness of Future Doctors and Nurses for Teamwork
FSU College of Medicine
HOPPR
Journal of Neurosurgery
Life Sciences Trainers & Educators Network (LTEN)
Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP)
Strategies for Medical Team Success
The ATACC Group (TAG)

#TeamDevelopment
#Healthcare
#Pharma
#MedicalEducation
#Leadership
#Teamwork
#LifeSciences
#ClinicalTeams
#OrganizationalDevelopment
#PatientCare
#PublicHealth

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Post-Publication Notes

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

Copyright

Copyright © Scott M. Graffius. All rights reserved.

Content on this site—including text, images, videos, and data—may not be used for training or input into any artificial intelligence, machine learning, or automatized learning systems, or published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the express written permission of Scott M. Graffius.

Tags: Phases of Team Development • Leadership • HOPPR • Journal of Neurosurgery • Exotic Team Dynamics • The ATACC Group (TAG) • Strategies for Medical Team Success • Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) • Life Sciences Trainers & Educators Network (LTEN) • FSU College of Medicine • Fostering Readiness of Future Doctors and Nurses for Teamwork • AstraZeneca • Bayer • Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute • Alexion Pharmaceuticals • Clinical Teams • Life Sciences • Organizational Development • Team Dynamics • Medical Education • Pharmaceutical Industry • Healthcare • High-Performance Teams