#ProjectManagementProfessional
The 14 Most Valuable IT Certifications
04 June 2022
BY SCOTT M. GRAFFIUS | ScottGraffius.com

Click here to download this article as a PDF.
In Technology, there's no substitute for experience. However, certifications remain a valuable tool for advancing one's career. Employers want candidates (and employees) with up-to-date knowledge and skills, and certifications demonstrate a person’s mastery of the respective subject. The author reviewed data from multiple sources — including BMC, CIO, Clearance Jobs, Indeed, and Robert Half — to determine the consensus on the most valuable Technology related certifications. Fourteen emerged. Here they are, in alphabetical order:
If you're interested in learning about the project management related certifications, visit the Scrum Alliance for the Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) and the Project Management Institute for the Project Management Professional (PMP).
Many employers prefer to hire certified professionals, especially those who also have college degrees and successful work experience. Those who invest in professional credentials typically enjoy larger salaries.

Sources:


Post-Publication Notes
If there are any supplements or updates to this article after the date of publication, they will appear here.
This article by Scott M. Graffius on the most valuable IT certifications was published in 2022. Graffius periodically refreshes his work. The most current (2024) edition of his report is here.



About Scott M. Graffius

Scott M. Graffius, PMP, CSP-SM, CSP-PO, CSM, CSPO, SFE, ITIL, LSSGB is an agile project management practitioner, consultant, multi award-winning author, and international speaker. He has generated over $1.75 billion of business value in aggregate for the organizations he has served. Graffius is the founder, CEO, and principal consultant at Exceptional PPM and PMO Solutions™ and subsidiary Exceptional Agility™. Content from his books (Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions and 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), workshops, speaking engagements, and more have been featured and used by businesses, professional associations, governments, and universities including Microsoft, Oracle, Broadcom, Cisco, Gartner, Deloitte, EY, Project Management Institute, IEEE, SANS Institute, U.S. Soccer Federation, English Institute of Sport, Ford, Qantas, Atlassian, Wrike, Bayer, National Academy of Sciences, United States Department of Energy, United States Army, United States National Park Service, New Zealand Ministry of Education, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Tufts University, Texas A&M University, Warsaw University of Technology, University of Waterloo, National University of Ireland Galway, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, and others. Graffius delivers dynamic and engaging talks and workshops at public and private/corporate events. His engagements total 78 in-person and online conferences and other events around the world, including Armenia, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Ireland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and the United States. Graffius delights audiences with sessions on technology leadership and project, program, portfolio, and PMO management inclusive of agile, waterfall, and hybrid approaches. He uses everyday language and vibrant custom visuals to make complex topics clear, and he provides audiences with practical information they can use.
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:
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.

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.

The short link for this article is: bit.ly/14-certs
© Copyright 2022 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.


Click here to download this article as a PDF.
In Technology, there's no substitute for experience. However, certifications remain a valuable tool for advancing one's career. Employers want candidates (and employees) with up-to-date knowledge and skills, and certifications demonstrate a person’s mastery of the respective subject. The author reviewed data from multiple sources — including BMC, CIO, Clearance Jobs, Indeed, and Robert Half — to determine the consensus on the most valuable Technology related certifications. Fourteen emerged. Here they are, in alphabetical order:
- AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
- Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP)
- Certified Data Privacy Solutions Engineer (CDPSE)
- Certified Data Professional (CDP)
- Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
- Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
- Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
- Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)
- Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP)
- CompTIA (A+, Cloud+, Security+)
- Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL)
- Oracle MySQL Database Administration
- Project Management Professional (PMP)
- Salesforce Certified Development Lifecycle and Deployment Designer
If you're interested in learning about the project management related certifications, visit the Scrum Alliance for the Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) and the Project Management Institute for the Project Management Professional (PMP).
Many employers prefer to hire certified professionals, especially those who also have college degrees and successful work experience. Those who invest in professional credentials typically enjoy larger salaries.

Sources:
- Hamilton, Jillian (2021, July 9). Top 10 IT Certifications Held by Cleared Professionals. Clearance Jobs. Accessed at https://news.clearancejobs.com/2021/07/09/top-10-it-certifications-held-by-cleared-professionals-2/.
- Miller, Austin (2021, June 25). Top Paying IT Certifications in 2022. BMC Software, Inc. Accessed at https://www.bmc.com/blogs/top-paying-it-certifications/.
- Robert Half (2021, September 9). The 29 Most Valuable IT Certifications. Robert Half. Accessed at https://www.roberthalf.com/blog/salaries-and-skills/which-it-certifications-are-most-valuable.
- Vallee, Megan (2022, March 4). 21 IT Certifications in Demand for 2022. Indeed. Accessed at https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/top-it-certifications.
- White, Sarah K. (2022, January 14). Top 15 IT Certifications in Demand for 2022. CIO. Accessed at https://www.cio.com/article/193586/top-15-it-certifications-in-demand-for-2021.html.


Post-Publication Notes
If there are any supplements or updates to this article after the date of publication, they will appear here.
This article by Scott M. Graffius on the most valuable IT certifications was published in 2022. Graffius periodically refreshes his work. The most current (2024) edition of his report is here.


About Scott M. Graffius

Scott M. Graffius, PMP, CSP-SM, CSP-PO, CSM, CSPO, SFE, ITIL, LSSGB is an agile project management practitioner, consultant, multi award-winning author, and international speaker. He has generated over $1.75 billion of business value in aggregate for the organizations he has served. Graffius is the founder, CEO, and principal consultant at Exceptional PPM and PMO Solutions™ and subsidiary Exceptional Agility™. Content from his books (Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions and 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), workshops, speaking engagements, and more have been featured and used by businesses, professional associations, governments, and universities including Microsoft, Oracle, Broadcom, Cisco, Gartner, Deloitte, EY, Project Management Institute, IEEE, SANS Institute, U.S. Soccer Federation, English Institute of Sport, Ford, Qantas, Atlassian, Wrike, Bayer, National Academy of Sciences, United States Department of Energy, United States Army, United States National Park Service, New Zealand Ministry of Education, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Tufts University, Texas A&M University, Warsaw University of Technology, University of Waterloo, National University of Ireland Galway, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, and others. Graffius delivers dynamic and engaging talks and workshops at public and private/corporate events. His engagements total 78 in-person and online conferences and other events around the world, including Armenia, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Ireland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and the United States. Graffius delights audiences with sessions on technology leadership and project, program, portfolio, and PMO management inclusive of agile, waterfall, and hybrid approaches. He uses everyday language and vibrant custom visuals to make complex topics clear, and he provides audiences with practical information they can use.
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

The short link for this article is: bit.ly/14-certs
© Copyright 2022 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.

Most Valuable IT Certifications: Update for 2023
11 April 2023
BY SCOTT M. GRAFFIUS | ScottGraffius.com

Click here to download this article as a PDF.

In 2017, Scott M. Graffius started developing and reporting information on the most valuable Information Technology (IT) certifications. As technology advances and the marketplace changes over time, the skills and knowledge required to succeed may also change. Accordingly, Graffius periodically updates his respective work. The prior version was published in 2022. This article provides the new, 2023 version of “The Most Valuable IT Certifications.”

In Technology, there's no substitute for experience. However, certifications remain a valuable tool for advancing one's career. Employers want candidates (and employees) with up-to-date knowledge and skills, and certifications demonstrate a person’s mastery of the respective subject. Graffius compiled and analyzed data from multiple sources — including CIO, Robert Half, Indeed, PC Magazine, Skillsoft, Statista, and ComputerScience.org — to determine the general consensus on the most valuable IT related certifications. Fifteen emerged. Here they are, in alphabetical order:
Many employers prefer to hire certified professionals, especially those who also have college degrees and successful work experience. Those who invest in professional credentials typically enjoy larger salaries.

References/Sources:

How to Cite This Article
Graffius, Scott M. (2022, April 11). The Most Valuable IT Certifications: 2023 Update. Available at: https://scottgraffius.com.


Post-Publication Notes
If there are any supplements or updates to this article after the date of publication, they will appear here.
This article by Scott M. Graffius on the most valuable IT certifications was published in 2023. Graffius periodically refreshes his work. The most current (2024) edition of his report is here.




About Scott M. Graffius

Scott M. Graffius, PMP, CSP-SM, CSP-PO, CSM, CSPO, SFE, ITIL, LSSGB is an agile project management practitioner, consultant, multi award-winning author, and highly sought-after international keynote speaker. He has generated over $1.75 billion of business value in aggregate for the organizations he has served. Graffius is the CEO and Principal Consultant at Exceptional PPM and PMO Solutions™ and subsidiary Exceptional Agility™. Content from his books, talks, workshops, and more have been featured and used by businesses, professional associations, governments, and universities. Select examples include Microsoft, Oracle, Broadcom, Cisco, Gartner, Project Management Institute, IEEE, U.S. Soccer Federation, Qantas, National Academy of Sciences, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. National Park Service, New Zealand Ministry of Education, Yale University, Warsaw University of Technology, and others. Graffius has delighted audiences with dynamic and engaging talks and workshops on agile, project management, and technology leadership at 82 conferences and other events across 24 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:
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.

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.

The short URL for this article is: https://bit.ly/certs-2023
© 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.


Click here to download this article as a PDF.

In 2017, Scott M. Graffius started developing and reporting information on the most valuable Information Technology (IT) certifications. As technology advances and the marketplace changes over time, the skills and knowledge required to succeed may also change. Accordingly, Graffius periodically updates his respective work. The prior version was published in 2022. This article provides the new, 2023 version of “The Most Valuable IT Certifications.”

In Technology, there's no substitute for experience. However, certifications remain a valuable tool for advancing one's career. Employers want candidates (and employees) with up-to-date knowledge and skills, and certifications demonstrate a person’s mastery of the respective subject. Graffius compiled and analyzed data from multiple sources — including CIO, Robert Half, Indeed, PC Magazine, Skillsoft, Statista, and ComputerScience.org — to determine the general consensus on the most valuable IT related certifications. Fifteen emerged. Here they are, in alphabetical order:
- AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner, offered from Amazon Web Services (AWS).
- AWS Certified Security – Specialty, offered from Amazon Web Services (AWS).
- AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate, offered from Amazon Web Services (AWS).
- AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional, offered from Amazon Web Services (AWS).
- Certified Information Security Manager (CISM), offered by the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA).
- Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), offered by the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA).
- Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), offered by the International System Security Certification Consortium (ISC).
- Certified ScrumMaster (CSM), offered from Scrum Alliance.
- Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP), offered by Cisco.
- Google Cloud: Cloud Digital Leader, offered by Google.
- Google Cloud: Professional Cloud Architect, offered by Google.
- Microsoft Certified Azure Solutions Architect, offered by Microsoft.
- Nutanix Certified Professional – Multicloud Infrastructure (NCP-MCI), offered by Nutanix.
- Project Management Professional (PMP), offered from the Project Management Institute (PMI).
- VMware Certified Professional – Data Center Virtualization (VCP-DCV), offered by VMware.
Many employers prefer to hire certified professionals, especially those who also have college degrees and successful work experience. Those who invest in professional credentials typically enjoy larger salaries.

References/Sources:
- CIO (2022, October 20). The 15 Most Valuable IT Certifications Today. Available at: https://www.cio.com/article/286762/careers-staffing-12-it-certifications-that-deliver-career-advancement.html.
- ComputerScience.org (2022, December 22). Best IT Certifications to Boost Your Computer Science Career. Available at: https://www.computerscience.org/resources/top-it-certifications.
- Indeed (2022, December 27). Top 17 IT Certifications in Demand for 2023. Available at: https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/top-it-certifications.
- PC Magazine (2023, March 1). The 10 Highest-Paying IT Certifications for 2023. Available at: https://www.pcmag.com/news/highest-paying-it-certifications.
- Robert Half (2022, October 6). The 29 More Valuable IT Certifications. Available at: https://www.roberthalf.com/blog/salaries-and-skills/which-it-certifications-are-most-valuable.
- Skillsoft (2022, September 29). 15 Top-Paying IT Certifications of 2022. Available at: https://www.skillsoft.com/blog/15-top-paying-it-certifications-of-2022.
- Statista (2023, February 23). 15 Top-Paying IT Certifications. Available at: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1258216/us-top-10-highest-paying-certifications-among-it-professionals.

How to Cite This Article
Graffius, Scott M. (2022, April 11). The Most Valuable IT Certifications: 2023 Update. Available at: https://scottgraffius.com.


Post-Publication Notes
If there are any supplements or updates to this article after the date of publication, they will appear here.
This article by Scott M. Graffius on the most valuable IT certifications was published in 2023. Graffius periodically refreshes his work. The most current (2024) edition of his report is here.



About Scott M. Graffius

Scott M. Graffius, PMP, CSP-SM, CSP-PO, CSM, CSPO, SFE, ITIL, LSSGB is an agile project management practitioner, consultant, multi award-winning author, and highly sought-after international keynote speaker. He has generated over $1.75 billion of business value in aggregate for the organizations he has served. Graffius is the CEO and Principal Consultant at Exceptional PPM and PMO Solutions™ and subsidiary Exceptional Agility™. Content from his books, talks, workshops, and more have been featured and used by businesses, professional associations, governments, and universities. Select examples include Microsoft, Oracle, Broadcom, Cisco, Gartner, Project Management Institute, IEEE, U.S. Soccer Federation, Qantas, National Academy of Sciences, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. National Park Service, New Zealand Ministry of Education, Yale University, Warsaw University of Technology, and others. Graffius has delighted audiences with dynamic and engaging talks and workshops on agile, project management, and technology leadership at 82 conferences and other events across 24 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/certs-2023
© 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' Role in Advancing Project Management Institute (PMI) Standards Excellence
12 February 2025
BY SCOTT M. GRAFFIUS | ScottGraffius.com


Introduction
The Project Management Institute (PMI) is a globally recognized authority in project management, publishing standards that guide professionals and organizations worldwide. As part of its rigorous development process, PMI engages subject matter experts to contribute to and review its publications, ensuring their accuracy, relevance, and applicability. Scott M. Graffius has had the privilege of contributing to several PMI standards. This article details his involvement.


Graffius was Involved in the Development of A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge—Sixth Edition
The above information pertains to Graffius' involvement in A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge—Sixth Edition. The PMI subsequently released the Seventh Edition. Here are links to it—the current edition—on Amazon:


Graffius was Involved in the Development of The Standard for Program Management—Fourth Edition
The above information pertains to Graffius' involvement in The Standard for Program Management—Fourth Edition. The PMI subsequently released the Fifth Edition. Here are links to it—the current edition—on Amazon:


Graffius was Involved in the Development of The Practice Standard for Project Estimating—Second Edition
The above information pertains to Graffius' involvement in The Practice Standard for Project Estimating—Second Edition. It remains the current edition. Here are links to it—still the current edition—on Amazon:


Graffius was Involved in the Development of the Practice Standard for Work Breakdown Structures—Second Edition

Conclusion
The above publications represent significant contributions to the field of project management. Graffius' involvement underscores his commitment to advancing the discipline with reliable, well-researched and validated guidance for field application. These resources continue to shape the industry and empower practitioners to achieve excellence in their projects.

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 Scott M. Graffius

Scott M. Graffius is a high impact and globally recognized AI, advanced technology, agile, and project management researcher, thought leader, author, and 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 12). Scott M. Graffius' Role in Advancing Project Management Institute (PMI) Standards Excellence. Available at: https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/scott-m-graffius-role-in-advancing-project-management-institute-(pmi)-standards.


Content Acknowledgements
This article uses limited excerpts from Project Management Institute (PMI) publications (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, and The Practice Standard for Project Estimating—Second Edition), attributed to the PMI and used under fair use for news reporting and analysis. PMI name, mark, and content are the property of PMI.


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
The Project Management Institute (PMI) is a globally recognized authority in project management, publishing standards that guide professionals and organizations worldwide. As part of its rigorous development process, PMI engages subject matter experts to contribute to and review its publications, ensuring their accuracy, relevance, and applicability. Scott M. Graffius has had the privilege of contributing to several PMI standards. This article details his involvement.


Graffius was Involved in the Development of A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge—Sixth Edition
- Publication Title: A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge—Sixth Edition
- Credit: Graffius was an expert contributor and reviewer. His involvement was credited in the publication (see visual above).
- Description: A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (6th Edition) (PMBOK Guide) is a fundamental resource published by the Project Management Institute (PMI) in 2017, providing the essential knowledge base for managing projects across industries. This edition introduces the concept of Agile and other adaptive project management approaches alongside traditional methods, reflecting the evolving landscape of project management. It outlines 49 processes organized into ten knowledge areas and five process groups, serving as a guide for project managers to enhance project success rates through structured planning, execution, and monitoring. The PMBOK Guide is widely recognized as the standard for project management practices, supporting certifications like the Project Management Professional (PMP).
- Date of Publication: 2017
- If Available, Public Link to Preview of Entire Publication Including Credits Section: Link
The above information pertains to Graffius' involvement in A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge—Sixth Edition. The PMI subsequently released the Seventh Edition. Here are links to it—the current edition—on Amazon:


Graffius was Involved in the Development of The Standard for Program Management—Fourth Edition
- Publication Title: The Standard for Program Management—Fourth Edition
- Credit: Graffius was an expert contributor and reviewer. His involvement was credited in the publication (see visual above).
- Description: The Standard for Program Management (4th Edition), published by the Project Management Institute (PMI) in 2017, is a definitive guide that outlines the principles and practices for managing multiple related projects under a program. This edition integrates the latest insights on program governance, stakeholder engagement, and benefits management, providing a framework for aligning projects with strategic business objectives. It's designed to help program managers navigate the complexities of coordinating, prioritizing, and optimizing resources across projects to achieve broader organizational goals.
- Date of Publication: 2017
- If Available, Public Link to Preview of Entire Publication Including Credits Section: Link, link
The above information pertains to Graffius' involvement in The Standard for Program Management—Fourth Edition. The PMI subsequently released the Fifth Edition. Here are links to it—the current edition—on Amazon:


Graffius was Involved in the Development of The Practice Standard for Project Estimating—Second Edition
- Publication Title: The Practice Standard for Project Estimating—Second Edition
- Credit: Graffius was an expert contributor and reviewer. His involvement was credited in the publication (see visual above).
- Description: The Practice Standard for Project Estimating (2nd Edition), issued by the Project Management Institute (PMI), serves as an authoritative guide for professionals engaged in project cost estimation. Released in 2019, this edition provides updated methodologies, tools, and techniques for developing accurate and reliable project estimates, covering everything from initial rough order of magnitude (ROM) estimates to definitive estimates. It emphasizes the importance of aligning estimates with project scope, schedule, and resource availability, offering guidance on how to manage risks and uncertainties inherent in estimating. This standard is invaluable for those looking to improve their project management practices, ensuring projects are planned with financial realism in mind.
- Date of Publication: 2019
- If Available, Public Link to Preview of Entire Publication Including Credits Section: N/A
The above information pertains to Graffius' involvement in The Practice Standard for Project Estimating—Second Edition. It remains the current edition. Here are links to it—still the current edition—on Amazon:


Graffius was Involved in the Development of the Practice Standard for Work Breakdown Structures—Second Edition
- Publication Title: The Practice Standard for Work Breakdown Structures—Second Edition
- Credit: Graffius was an expert contributor and reviewer. His involvement was credited in the publication (see visual above).
- Description: The Practice Standard for Work Breakdown Structures (2nd Edition) by the Project Management Institute (PMI) serves as an essential guide for project managers to effectively plan, organize, and manage project deliverables. Published in 2006, this edition explains the principles of creating a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), a key project management tool used to break down project scope into manageable sections. It aligns with the PMBOK Guide, ensuring consistency with broader project management practices. The book outlines how to develop a WBS to clarify project goals, manage resources, and monitor progress, making it invaluable for both new and experienced project managers in various industries.
- Date of Publication: 2006
- If Available, Public Link to Preview of Entire Publication Including the Credits Section: Link

Conclusion
The above publications represent significant contributions to the field of project management. Graffius' involvement underscores his commitment to advancing the discipline with reliable, well-researched and validated guidance for field application. These resources continue to shape the industry and empower practitioners to achieve excellence in their projects.

Read on for:
- About the Project Management Institute,
- About Scott M. Graffius,
- How to cite 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 Scott M. Graffius

Scott M. Graffius is a high impact and globally recognized AI, advanced technology, agile, and project management researcher, thought leader, author, and 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 12). Scott M. Graffius' Role in Advancing Project Management Institute (PMI) Standards Excellence. Available at: https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/scott-m-graffius-role-in-advancing-project-management-institute-(pmi)-standards.


Content Acknowledgements
This article uses limited excerpts from Project Management Institute (PMI) publications (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, and The Practice Standard for Project Estimating—Second Edition), attributed to the PMI and used under fair use for news reporting and analysis. PMI name, mark, and content are the property of PMI.


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.
