The PMI + Agile Alliance Merger: A Recipe for Success?
03 February 2025
BY SCOTT M. GRAFFIUS | ScottGraffius.com
Introduction
In a significant move for the project management community, the Project Management Institute® (PMI) and Agile Alliance® announced a merger, effective December 31, 2024, as detailed in PMI's press release and Agile Alliance’s announcement. This union aims to combine the structured methodologies of PMI with the adaptive practices of Agile Alliance, heralding a new era for professionals in the field.
With the merger between PMI and Agile Alliance sizzling in the project management community, it’s only fitting to present a recipe that blends both worlds. Bon Appétit!
Recipe
Ingredients
Steps
Serving Suggestion
Serve the PMI Agile Alliance Medley hot at industry conferences, where it will be both critiqued and celebrated. Pair with a side of LinkedIn posts and blog articles for the full experience.
Note: This medley is meant to be enjoyed by all (agile or otherwise) in the project management community. Taste may vary depending on one’s perspective on the merger.
This article was simultaneously published here (the initial, working title was "Recipe for PMI® Agile Alliance® Medley") and on LinkedIn.
Read on for:
About the Project Management Institute
The Project Management Institute (PMI) is a leading global association for professionals in the field of project management. Founded in 1969, PMI is dedicated to advancing the profession through research, standards development, education, and certification. With members in nearly every country, PMI offers resources like the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, which is recognized worldwide as a benchmark for project management expertise. The organization also promotes project management practices that drive better results, foster innovation, and enhance career opportunities for professionals across various industries. Through its extensive network and resources, PMI helps in connecting project managers, sharing knowledge, and advocating for the strategic value of project management.
About the Agile Alliance
The Agile Alliance is a global nonprofit membership organization dedicated to promoting Agile software development principles and practices. Founded in 2001, it was established by a group of leading figures in software development who crafted the Agile Manifesto—emphasizing values like collaboration, customer focus, and adaptability. The organization supports a community of over 90,000 members through various initiatives, including conferences, resource sharing, and local community groups. Agile Alliance has been instrumental in advancing Agile methodologies, providing educational resources, and fostering professional development. Its merger with the Project Management Institute (PMI) aims to enhance the integration of Agile practices with traditional project management, offering new opportunities for professionals worldwide.
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.
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:
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:
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
How to Cite This Article
Graffius, Scott M. (2025, February 3). The PMI + Agile Alliance Merger: A Recipe for Success? (The earlier, working title was: Recipe for PMI® Agile Alliance® Medley.) Available at: https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/recipe-for-pmi-agile-alliance-medley.html.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.20537.48485
PDF
A PDF of a stylized version of this article is here.
Short Link for Article
The short link for this article is https://bit.ly/pmi-aa
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.
Introduction
In a significant move for the project management community, the Project Management Institute® (PMI) and Agile Alliance® announced a merger, effective December 31, 2024, as detailed in PMI's press release and Agile Alliance’s announcement. This union aims to combine the structured methodologies of PMI with the adaptive practices of Agile Alliance, heralding a new era for professionals in the field.
With the merger between PMI and Agile Alliance sizzling in the project management community, it’s only fitting to present a recipe that blends both worlds. Bon Appétit!
Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup of Agile Manifesto Values - The foundation of adaptability and collaboration.
- 2 tablespoons of PMI's Traditional Project Management - Adds structure with a dash of predictability.
- A sprinkle of PMI's Global Reach - Expands influence for widespread appeal.
- 3 doses of Agile Thought Leadership - Infuses bold ideas with a rebellious spirit.
- 1 part Disciplined Agile Delivery (DAD) - Previously acquired by PMI, it layers in complexity.
- A pinch of Controversy - Keeps the medley lively.
- Generous helping of Certification Programs - Thickens with professional credibility.
- A dash of Agile Events - Enhances community engagement and networking.
- 1 heaping tablespoon of Integration - Ensures Agile methodologies blend smoothly with PMI's framework.
- A few drops of Irony - A nod to Agile’s transformation from disruptor to establishment.
- Optional: A hint of Corporate Speak - Adds a polished, boardroom-friendly finish.
Steps
- Heat Expectations: Begin by heating the industry's expectations in a large pot over medium heat.
- Establish the Base: Pour in the Agile Manifesto Values, ensuring an even spread at the bottom.
- Add Structure: Slowly stir in PMI's Traditional Project Management, ensuring it blends without overpowering Agile.
- Expand the Flavor: Introduce PMI's Global Reach, ensuring it is distributed throughout.
- Infuse Innovation: Gently add doses of Agile Thought Leadership to ensure innovative ideas simmer into the mix without boiling over.
- Layer Complexity and Controversy: Incorporate Disciplined Agile Delivery for depth, and a pinch of Controversy to keep the medley bubbling.
- Thicken the Mix: Add Certification Programs to refine the medley’s texture.
- Foster Community: Diligently mix in Agile Events, ensuring they enhance rather than dissolve the communal spirit of the medley.
- Integrate: Add a cup of Integration and stir until seamless.
- Serve with Irony: Add a few drops of Irony for a reflective touch.
- Garnish as Desired: Optionally, top with Corporate Speak for boardroom appeal.
Serving Suggestion
Serve the PMI Agile Alliance Medley hot at industry conferences, where it will be both critiqued and celebrated. Pair with a side of LinkedIn posts and blog articles for the full experience.
Note: This medley is meant to be enjoyed by all (agile or otherwise) in the project management community. Taste may vary depending on one’s perspective on the merger.
This article was simultaneously published here (the initial, working title was "Recipe for PMI® Agile Alliance® Medley") and on LinkedIn.
Read on for:
- About the Project Management Institute,
- About the Agile Alliance,
- About Scott M. Graffius,
- How to cite this article,
- A PDF of a stylized version of this article,
- and more.
About the Project Management Institute
The Project Management Institute (PMI) is a leading global association for professionals in the field of project management. Founded in 1969, PMI is dedicated to advancing the profession through research, standards development, education, and certification. With members in nearly every country, PMI offers resources like the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, which is recognized worldwide as a benchmark for project management expertise. The organization also promotes project management practices that drive better results, foster innovation, and enhance career opportunities for professionals across various industries. Through its extensive network and resources, PMI helps in connecting project managers, sharing knowledge, and advocating for the strategic value of project management.
About the Agile Alliance
The Agile Alliance is a global nonprofit membership organization dedicated to promoting Agile software development principles and practices. Founded in 2001, it was established by a group of leading figures in software development who crafted the Agile Manifesto—emphasizing values like collaboration, customer focus, and adaptability. The organization supports a community of over 90,000 members through various initiatives, including conferences, resource sharing, and local community groups. Agile Alliance has been instrumental in advancing Agile methodologies, providing educational resources, and fostering professional development. Its merger with the Project Management Institute (PMI) aims to enhance the integration of Agile practices with traditional project management, offering new opportunities for professionals worldwide.
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,
- 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,
- 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
How to Cite This Article
Graffius, Scott M. (2025, February 3). The PMI + Agile Alliance Merger: A Recipe for Success? (The earlier, working title was: Recipe for PMI® Agile Alliance® Medley.) Available at: https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/recipe-for-pmi-agile-alliance-medley.html.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.20537.48485
A PDF of a stylized version of this article is here.
Short Link for Article
The short link for this article is https://bit.ly/pmi-aa
Copyright
Copyright © Scott M. Graffius. All rights reserved.
Content on this site—including text, images, videos, and data—may not be used for training or input into any artificial intelligence, machine learning, or automatized learning systems, or published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the express written permission of Scott M. Graffius.
“Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum” by Scott M. Graffius Crashes the Book Scene with Satirical Firepower
10 April 2025
BY SCOTT M. GRAFFIUS | ScottGraffius.com
Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum by Scott M. Graffius has landed, and it’s an instant cult classic for anyone who’s ever been trapped in an "Agile" meeting that felt more like a hostage negotiation.
Who Needs This Book?
If you've ever:
…then this book is your revenge arc.
What It Is (Besides a Glorious Fever Dream of Value Delivery)
Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum is a short story of a thrilling satirical adventure that doubles as a covert guide to Agile principles. When a dysfunctional organization threatens to implode under the weight of its own bureaucracy, the elite A.G.I.L.E. crew steps in to save the day—and the business. Wielding Agile principles and AI-powered tools like a KanbanChatterbox and a flashing bar that tracks the probability of executive meltdowns, they navigate everything from the misapplication of Agile to corporate cosplay and an epic rage-quit via helicopter.
Packed with sabotage, sarcasm, and corporate cults, it’s perfect for anyone who’s ever screamed into a backlog and lived to iterate another day.
Why This Book is Sending Shockwaves Through the Agileverse
Whispers of Agile Protocol are spreading through the Internet. Why? Because it does the unthinkable: it’s a fun and brutally candid take on the application (and frequent misapplication) of Agile and other cultural phenomena.
What Makes This Book Unmissable
🔥 A Story-Driven Showdown
When a dysfunctional technology behemoth threatens to implode under the burden of its own "fake Agile" bureaucracy, the elite A.G.I.L.E. crew steps in to save the day—and the enterprise.
🧠 Real Agile, Real Principles
Beneath the humor lies a stealth education in actual Agile principles. Say goodbye to "Agile theater" and hello to servant leadership, retrospectives that lead to change, and MVPs that actually ship.
💥 Transformation May Vary, Explosives Optional
Whether it’s the Weaponized Roadmap, an AI-powered KanbanChatterbox, or an executive offsite so unhinged it was nicknamed DenialFest 3000, this book delivers nonstop, hilarious lessons on Agile transformations.
Praise*
"This is what happens when Agile gets real. And funny. And maybe slightly radioactive."
—Probably Claire, the book’s certified Scrum Master
"A bold, hilarious, and razor-sharp takedown of everything wrong with fake Agile."
—A reviewer who may or may not work in a PMO
"Finally, a book on Agile that doesn’t make me want to schedule a 3-hour alignment sync about it."
—Some guy in a hoodie named Trevor
Join the Movement
This isn’t just a story—it’s a transformation. Teams are quoting it in retros. Leaders are gifting it to their co-workers. Some readers are even forming cults based on Ashley’s accidental retrospective religion (please don’t do that).
Where to Get It
Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum is available now as a Kindle ebook, with a paperback version incoming. Prefer to listen? An Audible version may be on the way—because who doesn’t want to hear about a Kanban board that trashes your velocity out loud?
Final Thoughts
Scott M. Graffius, Agile practitioner, thought leader, researcher, international speaker, and award-winning author has done the unthinkable. He made Agile entertaining and informative while keeping it smart. Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum—his third book, and his first work of fiction—is a satirical thriller that also serves as a practical guide to Agile transformation. It delivers on every level—humor, substance, and sheer narrative velocity. It’s a must-read.
* Caveat: While the book is a work of fiction, it intentionally blends satire with real Agile principles, Scrum practices, and more. Likewise, this satirical post is a mix of imaginary and real.
Related links:
** Don’t have a Kindle device? No problem! You can read Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum (or any Kindle ebook) on your phone, tablet, or computer with the free Kindle app from Amazon. Learn more and get the app here: https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/fd/kcp.
*** Don’t have an Audible device? No problem! You can listen to Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum (or any Audible audiobook) on your phone, tablet, or computer with the free Audible app. Learn more and get the app here: https://www.audible.com/apps.
Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum—real lessons, ridiculous fun
Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum—for anyone who's screamed into a backlog and lived to iterate another day
Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum—a satirical drama-comedy (dramady) that doubles as a covert guide to Agile
"Corporate cosplay, the misapplication of Agile, over-scheduled meetings, and more"
— Scott M. Graffius, Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum
"A flashing bar that tracks the probability of executive meltdowns"
— Scott M. Graffius, Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum
Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum by Scott M. Graffius is a thrilling satirical adventure that doubles as a covert guide to Agile principles
Whether it’s an AI-powered flashing bar that tracks the probability of executive meltdowns, the Weaponized Roadmap, or an unhinged management retreat where one rage-quit via helicopter, Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum by Scott M. Graffius delivers nonstop, hilarious lessons on Agile transformations
Read on for:
Book Categories for Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum
Agile Protocol is a unique hybrid—a satirical fiction story that also serves as a covert guide to Agile. It’s a mashup of corporate humor, workplace chaos, and project management parody with genuine Agile values and Scrum practices baked in.
Because of its cross-genre nature, the book is relevant to a wide range of categories. Readers are in for an entertaining and enlightening read whether they're a fan of satirical fiction, business leadership, Agile, or any one of the other categories (see below).
For reference—and to help readers, reviewers, and fellow Agile geeks discover where Agile Protocol fits, here’s a list of categories that align with the book:
Fiction / Satire / Humor Book Categories
Business / Leadership / Management Book Categories
Agile / Project Management / Software Development Book Categories
Niche Book Book Categories
Select Format-Specific Book Categories
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.
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:
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:
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
How to Cite This Article
Graffius, Scott M. (2025, April 10). "Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum" by Scott M. Graffius Crashes the Book Scene with Satirical Firepower. Available at: https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/agile-protocol-the-transformation-ultimatum-by-scott-m-graffius.html.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
DOI: (coming soon)
Content Acknowledgements
All trademarks, product names, and organization names mentioned belong to their respective owners and are used here solely for illustrative purposes. This work has no affiliation, endorsement, or association with these entities.
Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum is copyright © Scott M. Graffius. All rights reserved.
Copyright
Copyright © Scott M. Graffius. All rights reserved.
Content on this site—including text, images, videos, and data—may not be used for training or input into any artificial intelligence, machine learning, or automatized learning systems, or published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the express written permission of Scott M. Graffius.
Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum by Scott M. Graffius has landed, and it’s an instant cult classic for anyone who’s ever been trapped in an "Agile" meeting that felt more like a hostage negotiation.
Who Needs This Book?
If you've ever:
- Sat through a 90-minute stand-up complete with a PowerPoint deck;
- Heard someone call Jira their Agile process; or
- Witnessed Agile used as an excuse to skip planning, documentation, or logic
…then this book is your revenge arc.
What It Is (Besides a Glorious Fever Dream of Value Delivery)
Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum is a short story of a thrilling satirical adventure that doubles as a covert guide to Agile principles. When a dysfunctional organization threatens to implode under the weight of its own bureaucracy, the elite A.G.I.L.E. crew steps in to save the day—and the business. Wielding Agile principles and AI-powered tools like a KanbanChatterbox and a flashing bar that tracks the probability of executive meltdowns, they navigate everything from the misapplication of Agile to corporate cosplay and an epic rage-quit via helicopter.
Packed with sabotage, sarcasm, and corporate cults, it’s perfect for anyone who’s ever screamed into a backlog and lived to iterate another day.
Why This Book is Sending Shockwaves Through the Agileverse
Whispers of Agile Protocol are spreading through the Internet. Why? Because it does the unthinkable: it’s a fun and brutally candid take on the application (and frequent misapplication) of Agile and other cultural phenomena.
What Makes This Book Unmissable
🔥 A Story-Driven Showdown
When a dysfunctional technology behemoth threatens to implode under the burden of its own "fake Agile" bureaucracy, the elite A.G.I.L.E. crew steps in to save the day—and the enterprise.
🧠 Real Agile, Real Principles
Beneath the humor lies a stealth education in actual Agile principles. Say goodbye to "Agile theater" and hello to servant leadership, retrospectives that lead to change, and MVPs that actually ship.
💥 Transformation May Vary, Explosives Optional
Whether it’s the Weaponized Roadmap, an AI-powered KanbanChatterbox, or an executive offsite so unhinged it was nicknamed DenialFest 3000, this book delivers nonstop, hilarious lessons on Agile transformations.
Praise*
"This is what happens when Agile gets real. And funny. And maybe slightly radioactive."
—Probably Claire, the book’s certified Scrum Master
"A bold, hilarious, and razor-sharp takedown of everything wrong with fake Agile."
—A reviewer who may or may not work in a PMO
"Finally, a book on Agile that doesn’t make me want to schedule a 3-hour alignment sync about it."
—Some guy in a hoodie named Trevor
Join the Movement
This isn’t just a story—it’s a transformation. Teams are quoting it in retros. Leaders are gifting it to their co-workers. Some readers are even forming cults based on Ashley’s accidental retrospective religion (please don’t do that).
Where to Get It
Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum is available now as a Kindle ebook, with a paperback version incoming. Prefer to listen? An Audible version may be on the way—because who doesn’t want to hear about a Kanban board that trashes your velocity out loud?
Final Thoughts
Scott M. Graffius, Agile practitioner, thought leader, researcher, international speaker, and award-winning author has done the unthinkable. He made Agile entertaining and informative while keeping it smart. Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum—his third book, and his first work of fiction—is a satirical thriller that also serves as a practical guide to Agile transformation. It delivers on every level—humor, substance, and sheer narrative velocity. It’s a must-read.
* Caveat: While the book is a work of fiction, it intentionally blends satire with real Agile principles, Scrum practices, and more. Likewise, this satirical post is a mix of imaginary and real.
Related links:
** Don’t have a Kindle device? No problem! You can read Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum (or any Kindle ebook) on your phone, tablet, or computer with the free Kindle app from Amazon. Learn more and get the app here: https://www.amazon.com/kindle-dbs/fd/kcp.
*** Don’t have an Audible device? No problem! You can listen to Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum (or any Audible audiobook) on your phone, tablet, or computer with the free Audible app. Learn more and get the app here: https://www.audible.com/apps.
Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum—real lessons, ridiculous fun
Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum—for anyone who's screamed into a backlog and lived to iterate another day
Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum—a satirical drama-comedy (dramady) that doubles as a covert guide to Agile
"Corporate cosplay, the misapplication of Agile, over-scheduled meetings, and more"
— Scott M. Graffius, Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum
"A flashing bar that tracks the probability of executive meltdowns"
— Scott M. Graffius, Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum
Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum by Scott M. Graffius is a thrilling satirical adventure that doubles as a covert guide to Agile principles
Whether it’s an AI-powered flashing bar that tracks the probability of executive meltdowns, the Weaponized Roadmap, or an unhinged management retreat where one rage-quit via helicopter, Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum by Scott M. Graffius delivers nonstop, hilarious lessons on Agile transformations
Read on for:
- Book Categories for Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum
- About Scott M. Graffius,
- How to Cite This Article,
- and more.
Book Categories for Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum
Agile Protocol is a unique hybrid—a satirical fiction story that also serves as a covert guide to Agile. It’s a mashup of corporate humor, workplace chaos, and project management parody with genuine Agile values and Scrum practices baked in.
Because of its cross-genre nature, the book is relevant to a wide range of categories. Readers are in for an entertaining and enlightening read whether they're a fan of satirical fiction, business leadership, Agile, or any one of the other categories (see below).
For reference—and to help readers, reviewers, and fellow Agile geeks discover where Agile Protocol fits, here’s a list of categories that align with the book:
Fiction / Satire / Humor Book Categories
- Fiction › Satire
- Fiction › Humorous › General
- Fiction › Workplace
- Fiction › Action & Adventure
- Fiction › Science Fiction › Adventure
- Fiction › Science Fiction › Cyberpunk
- Fiction › Literary Fiction › Humorous
- Humor & Entertainment › Humor › Business & Professional
- Humor & Entertainment › Humor › Parodies
- Science Fiction & Fantasy › Humor
Business / Leadership / Management Book Categories
- Business & Money › Business Life › Humor
- Business & Money › Management & Leadership › Project Management
- Business & Money › Management & Leadership › Leadership & Motivation
- Business & Money › Management & Leadership › Organizational Behavior
- Business & Money › Management & Leadership › Decision-Making & Problem Solving
- Business & Money › Management & Leadership › Workplace Culture
- Business & Money › Skills › Communication
- Business & Money › Industries › Computers & Technology
- Business & Money › Skills › Time Management
- Business & Money › Industries › Management Science
Agile / Project Management / Software Development Book Categories
- Computers & Technology › Software Development › Project Management
- Computers & Technology › Programming › Software Design & Engineering › Software Development
- Computers & Technology › Business Technology › Project Management
- Computers & Technology › Business Technology › Management Information Systems
- Business & Money › Management & Leadership › Agile Project Management
- Computers & Technology › Software Development › Agile
- Computers & Technology › Software Development › Methodologies
Niche Book Book Categories
- Literary Criticism › Satire
- Nonfiction › Business & Economics › Management Science
- Comics & Graphic Novels › Satire
Select Format-Specific Book Categories
- Audible Books & Originals › Comedy
- Kindle eBooks › Literature & Fiction › Humor & Satire
- Books › Literature & Fiction › Satire
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
How to Cite This Article
Graffius, Scott M. (2025, April 10). "Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum" by Scott M. Graffius Crashes the Book Scene with Satirical Firepower. Available at: https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/agile-protocol-the-transformation-ultimatum-by-scott-m-graffius.html.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
DOI: (coming soon)
Content Acknowledgements
All trademarks, product names, and organization names mentioned belong to their respective owners and are used here solely for illustrative purposes. This work has no affiliation, endorsement, or association with these entities.
Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum is copyright © Scott M. Graffius. All rights reserved.
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.