Exotic Team Dynamics: The New Frontier of Human–AI Collaboration



Introduction
From Exotic Physics to Exotic Teamwork
In physics, "exotic" refers to concepts that exist in the liminal space between proven and speculative. They’re mathematically coherent ideas that await experimental confirmation. For example:
- Beyond Standard Model examples include supersymmetry, extra dimensions, and grand unified theories.
- Exotic matter involves concepts such as negative mass and matter with negative energy density, which are key to theoretical wormholes.
- Quantum gravity candidates include string theory and loop quantum gravity.
- Anomalous astrophysics explores new dark matter candidates and modified gravity theories.
- Cosmological oddities encompass ideas such as multiverse hypotheses, cosmic strings, and bubble collisions.
These are rigorous explorations, rooted in theory and actively advancing—although still reliant on future technological and empirical breakthroughs.
Similarly, a new frontier is emerging in team dynamics. This article unpacks these dynamics in detail, offering insights and practical guidance for navigating human–AI collaboration.


Defining Exotic Team Dynamics
Exotic Team Dynamics describes collaborations where non-human intelligences (such as AI) work alongside humans toward shared goals. This liminal space is:
- Not alien to traditional teamwork — characteristics such as trust, communication, adaptability, and more still apply.
- Yet fundamentally different — with new rhythms, decision-making styles, and interaction methods that don’t fit traditional playbooks.
- Still in the experimental phase — possibilities are being charted faster than they can be validated.
What Makes Them "Exotic"
Drawing on the physics analogy, exotic team dynamics exhibit unique traits. Discover examples in the visual below.

Text from the above illustration follows.
Parallel Analogy 1: Unexpected and Novel Effects
- Exotic Physics: Negative Mass – behaves opposite to expectations under force.
- Exotic Team Dynamics: Inverse Decision Logic – where AI challenges human assumptions by prioritizing counterintuitive but optimal choices.
Parallel Analogy 2: Superposition
- Exotic Physics: Quantum Superposition – being in multiple states simultaneously.
- Exotic Team Dynamics: Superposition Roles – where AI supports several team functions in parallel, shifting emphasis instantly.
Parallel Analogy 3: Entanglement
- Exotic Physics: Quantum Entanglement – instant correlation regardless of distance.
- Exotic Team Dynamics: Entangled Decision-Making – human and AI inputs are interdependent, producing outcomes neither could achieve alone.
Parallel Analogy 4: Emergent Phenomena and Protocols
- Exotic Physics: Emergent Phenomena – complex patterns arising from simple rules.
- Exotic Team Dynamics: Emergent Protocols – new communication patterns evolving without explicit programming or policy.


Why It Matters
The intersection of team science and AI is now practical, not just theoretical:
- AI is already embedded in decision support, analytics, scheduling, creative brainstorming, and more.
- Select teams in R&D, crisis response, and strategic planning are experimenting with human–AI collaboration as a core operating model.
- Organizations face new questions: How to foster trust with an AI teammate? How to ensure role clarity with a scalable teammate? How to resolve conflicts with a non-emotional partner?
Futurescape
As once-exotic concepts in physics move into the mainstream, exotic human–AI team configurations transition into use and may define tomorrow’s standard. Leaders can:
- Experiment intentionally. Treat hybrid human–AI teamwork as a design space, not an afterthought.
- Develop new norms. Create protocols, rituals, and safeguards tailored for human-AI teams.
- Track performance and well-being. Prioritize ethics and human needs while pursuing efficiency.
- Prepare for scale. What works for one AI teammate may not apply in cases of multiple AI team members; demonstrate flexibility.


Conclusion
While exotic matter concepts in physics exist in the liminal space between proven and speculative, exotic team dynamics moved beyond speculation into real-world exploration and application.
The organizations that will thrive in this new frontier won’t simply graft AI onto existing workflows. They’ll reimagine what "team" means—blending human judgment, creativity, and empathy with AI’s speed, scale, and pattern recognition.
This shift will demand more than technical upgrades. It will require new playbooks for trust, communication, and shared purpose. It’s not about replacing the human element—it’s about amplifying it through collaboration with intelligent partners that think differently, move faster, and challenge our assumptions.
We are standing at the edge of a transformation as profound as the leap from classical to quantum thinking. The leaders who lean into human-AI collaboration—experimenting, adapting, and defining the norms of exotic team dynamics—will help shape the high-performing, future-proof teams of tomorrow.




Bibliography
The bibliography is informed, in part, by the author’s work in AI and teamwork tradecraft, including exotic team dynamics.
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- About Scott M. Graffius,
- How to Cite This Article,
- Post-Publication Notes,
- and more.



About Scott M. Graffius

Scott M. Graffius is a globally recognized technology leader who drives innovation in AI, Agile, and Project Management/PMO leadership.
He’s a practitioner, researcher, thought leader, award-winning author, and keynote speaker who’s taken the stage at 94 conferences and other events across 25 countries.
He’s delivered over $2.3 billion in value for Fortune 500 companies and other leaders in technology, entertainment, financial services, healthcare, and beyond.
Businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities use Graffius and feature his work. Examples include Adobe, Bayer, Boston University, Ford, Gartner, Harvard Medical School, IEEE, Johns Hopkins University, Microsoft, National Academy of Sciences, Oracle, Pinterest Inc., Project Management Institute, UC San Diego, Verizon, Yale University, and others.
The following sections provide additional information on his experience, contributions, and influence.
Experience
Graffius heads the professional services firm Exceptional PPM and PMO Solutions, along with its subsidiary Exceptional Agility. These consultancies offer strategic and tactical advisory, training, embedded expertise, and consulting services to the public, private, and government sectors. They help organizations enhance their capabilities and results in agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership, supporting innovation and driving competitive advantage. The consultancies confidently back services with a Delighted Client Guarantee™.
Graffius is a former VP of project management with a publicly traded provider of diverse consumer products and services over the Internet. Before that, he ran and supervised the delivery of projects and programs in public and private organizations with businesses ranging from e-commerce to advanced technology products and services, retail, manufacturing, entertainment, and more.
He has experience with consumer, business, reseller, government, and international markets.
Award-Winning Author
Graffius has authored three books.
- Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions, his first book, earned 17 awards.
- Agile Transformation: A Brief Story of How an Entertainment Company Developed New Capabilities and Unlocked Business Agility to Thrive in an Era of Rapid Change, his second book, was named one of the best Scrum books of all time by BookAuthority.
- Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum, his third book and his first work of fiction, was released in April 2025. The book trailer is on YouTube.
International Public Speaker
Organizations worldwide engage Graffius to present on tech (including AI), Agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership. He crafts and delivers unique and compelling talks and workshops. To date, Graffius has conducted 94 sessions across 25 countries. Select examples of events include Agile Trends Gov, BSides (Newcastle Upon Tyne), Conf42 Quantum Computing, DevDays Europe, DevOps Institute, DevOpsDays (Geneva), Frug’Agile, IEEE, Microsoft, Scottish Summit, Scrum Alliance RSG (Nepal), Techstars, and W Love Games International Video Game Development Conference (Helsinki), and more.
With an average rating of 4.81 (on a scale of 1-5), sessions are highly valued.
The speaker engagement request form is here.
Thought Leadership and Influence
Prominent businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities have showcased Graffius and his contributions—spanning his books, talks, workshops, and beyond. Select examples include:
- Adobe,
- American Management Association,
- Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute,
- Bayer,
- BMC Software,
- Boston University,
- Broadcom,
- Cisco,
- Coburg University of Applied Sciences and Arts - Germany,
- Computer Weekly,
- Constructor University - Germany,
- Data Governance Success,
- Deimos Aerospace,
- DevOps Institute,
- Dropbox,
- EU's European Commission,
- Ford Motor Company,
- Gartner,
- GoDaddy,
- Harvard Medical School,
- Hasso Plattner Institute - Germany,
- IEEE,
- Innovation Project Management,
- Johns Hopkins University,
- Journal of Neurosurgery,
- Lam Research (Semiconductors),
- Leadership Worthy,
- Life Sciences Trainers and Educators Network,
- London South Bank University,
- Microsoft,
- NASSCOM,
- National Academy of Sciences,
- New Zealand Government,
- Oracle,
- Pinterest Inc.,
- Project Management Institute,
- Mary Raum (Professor of National Security Affairs, United States Naval War College),
- SANS Institute,
- SBG Neumark - Germany,
- Singapore Institute of Technology,
- Torrens University - Australia,
- TBS Switzerland,
- Tufts University,
- UC San Diego,
- UK Sports Institute,
- University of Galway - Ireland,
- US Department of Energy,
- US National Park Service,
- US Soccer,
- US Tennis Association,
- Verizon,
- Wrike,
- Yale University,
- and many others.
Graffius has played a key role in the Project Management Institute (PMI) in developing professional standards. He was a member of multiple teams that authored, reviewed, and produced:
- Practice Standard for Work Breakdown Structures—Second Edition.
- A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge—Sixth Edition.
- The Standard for Program Management—Fourth Edition.
- The Practice Standard for Project Estimating—Second Edition.
Additional details are here.
He was also a subject matter expert reviewer of content for the PMI’s Congress. Beyond the PMI, Graffius also served as a member of the review team for two of the Scrum Alliance’s Global Scrum Gatherings.
Acclaimed Authority on Teamwork Tradecraft

Graffius is a renowned authority on teamwork tradecraft. Informed by the research of Bruce W. Tuckman and Mary Ann C. Jensen, over 100 subsequent studies, and Graffius' first-hand professional experience with, and analysis of, team leadership and performance, Graffius created his 'Phases of Team Development' as a unique perspective and visual conveying the five phases of team development. First introduced in 2008 and periodically updated, his work provides a diagnostic and strategic guide for navigating team dynamics. It provides actionable insights for leaders across industries to develop high-performance teams. Its adoption by esteemed organizations such as Yale University, IEEE, Cisco, Microsoft, Ford, Oracle, Broadcom, the U.S. National Park Service, and the Journal of Neurosurgery, among others, highlights its utility and value, solidifying its status as an indispensable resource for elevating team performance and driving organizational excellence.
The 2025 edition of Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" intellectual property is here.
Expert on Temporal Dynamics on Social Media Platforms

Graffius is also an authority on temporal dynamics on social media platforms. His 'Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts' research—first published in 2018 and updated annually—delivers a precise quantitative analysis of post longevity across digital platforms, utilizing advanced statistical techniques to determine mean half-life with precision. It establishes a solid empirical base, effectively highlighting the ephemeral nature of content within social media ecosystems. Referenced and applied by leading entities such as the Center for Direct Marketing, Fast Company, GoDaddy, Pinterest Inc., and PNAS, among others, his research exemplifies methodological rigor and sustained significance in the field of digital informatics.
The 2025 edition of Graffius "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts" research is here.
Education and Professional Certifications
Graffius has a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a focus in Human Factors. He holds eight professional certifications:
- Certified SAFe 6 Agilist (SA),
- Certified Scrum Professional - ScrumMaster (CSP-SM),
- Certified Scrum Professional - Product Owner (CSP-PO),
- Certified ScrumMaster (CSM),
- Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO),
- Project Management Professional (PMP),
- Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (LSSGB), and
- IT Service Management Foundation (ITIL).
He is an active member of the Scrum Alliance, the Project Management Institute (PMI), and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
Advancing AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management
Scott M. Graffius continues to advance the fields of AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management through his leadership, research, writing, and real-world impact. Businesses and other organizations leverage Graffius’ insights to drive their success.

Check out Scott’s books:
- Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions — Deliver Products in Short Cycles with Rapid Adaptation to Change, Fast Time-to-Market, and Continuous Improvement
- Agile Transformation: A Brief Story of How an Entertainment Company Developed New Capabilities and Unlocked Business Agility to Thrive in an Era of Rapid Change
- Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum
Follow and connect with Scott on social media:














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How to Cite This Article
Graffius, Scott M. (2025, August 8). Exotic Team Dynamics: The New Frontier of Human–AI Collaboration. Available at: https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/exotic-team-dynamics.html.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
DOI: (coming soon)
Content Acknowledgements
All names, marks, and content are the property of their respective owners.
Top 5 Hashtags
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Post-Publication Notes
If there are any supplements or updates to this article after the date of publication, they will appear here.
Update on 4 September 2025
Here's a follow-up, one paragraph synopsis of exotic team dynamics.
Exotic team dynamics, a concept coined and developed by Scott M. Graffius, refers to the novel collaboration patterns that emerge when humans and artificial intelligences (AIs) work as true teammates toward shared goals. These dynamics reveal fundamentally new rhythms, decision-making styles, and interaction methods that are distinct from traditional human-only teamwork, yet still grounded in core principles such as trust, communication, and adaptability. Key attributes include inverse decision logic, where AI challenges human assumptions with counterintuitive but optimal choices; superposition roles, enabling AI to simultaneously support several team functions; entangled decision-making, in which human and AI inputs are deeply interdependent; and emergent protocols, evolving communication and collaboration patterns that arise without formal programming. This frontier extends beyond mere augmentation of human work, demanding new designs, rituals, norms, and ethical guardrails to foster trust and clarity within hybrid human-AI teams. Pioneering organizations in R&D, crisis response, and strategic planning are already experimenting with these models, and Graffius’ work provides practical frameworks and playbooks for scaling from a single AI collaborator to complex multi-AI ecosystems. Ultimately, exotic team dynamics herald a transformation in how teams achieve more together by blending human creativity and empathy with AI’s speed, scale, and pattern recognition, redefining high-performance teamwork for the future of work.
Update on 6 September 2025
This is another synopsis of exotic team dynamics. It briefly highlights the origin of term, core concepts, and practical applications.
Exotic Team Dynamics: Origin, Core Concepts, and Practical Application
The term exotic team dynamics describes a new and emerging field of human-AI collaboration. It's a specialized term—not a common phrase—used to define the unique and often counterintuitive behaviors that arise when autonomous artificial intelligence works alongside humans (such as in a team) toward a shared goal.
Origin
The term's origin is rooted in an analogy from exotic physics. In physics, "exotic" refers to concepts that are mathematically coherent and theoretically sound but haven't yet been confirmed through empirical evidence or experimental validation. These are ideas that exist at the edge of what's known, pushing the boundaries of traditional understanding.
By drawing this parallel, the term "exotic team dynamics" suggests that human-AI collaboration is a new frontier that doesn't fit the traditional models of teamwork. It is a field that is still being explored, with new patterns and behaviors being discovered. The term was coined by Scott M. Graffius, a technology leader, researcher, and author, in a blog post and talk on the subject.
Core Concepts
Exotic team dynamics are fundamentally different from traditional team dynamics because they involve non-human intelligences. While familiar concepts like trust and communication still apply, their application is altered. The "exotic" nature of these dynamics is often explained through four key analogies from physics:
Inverse Decision Logic: Similar to "negative mass" in physics, which behaves in opposition to expectations under force, an AI may prioritize counterintuitive but optimal choices that challenge human assumptions.
Superposition Roles: Drawing on the concept of quantum superposition (being in multiple states simultaneously), an AI can support several team functions in parallel, shifting its emphasis instantly and without friction.
Entangled Decision-Making: Like quantum entanglement, where particles are instantaneously correlated regardless of distance, human and AI inputs become deeply interdependent. The outcome is something neither could have achieved on their own.
Emergent Protocols: This phenomenon is akin to emergent phenomena in physics, where complex patterns arise from simple rules. In human-AI teams, new communication patterns and workflows can evolve organically without explicit programming or policy.
Practical Application
The concept of exotic team dynamics is not purely theoretical. It's a framework for intentionally designing and navigating the future of work. Organizations that understand and effectively leverage these dynamics are better positioned to harness the benefits of AI. This includes:
Designing for new behaviors: Leaders can use the core concepts as diagnostic tools to identify and intentionally design new human-AI interaction patterns.
Cultivating human-AI trust: Establishing trust with a non-emotional partner requires new norms and a different approach to collaboration.
Rethinking roles and workflows: Exotic team dynamics challenge the traditional understanding of what a "team" is, necessitating a re-evaluation of roles, responsibilities, and decision-making processes.
Copyright
Copyright © Scott M. Graffius. All rights reserved.
Content on this site—including text, images, videos, and data—may not be used for training or input into any artificial intelligence, machine learning, or automatized learning systems, or published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the express written permission of Scott M. Graffius.
Scott M. Graffius Premieres His New "Exotic Team Dynamics: Human-AI Collaboration" Talk at Corporate Event in Las Vegas


Introduction
Scott M. Graffius is a globally recognized technology leader who drives innovation in AI, Agile, and Project Management/PMO leadership. He’s a practitioner, researcher, thought leader, award-winning author, and keynote speaker who’s taken the stage at 94 conferences and other events across 25 countries.
This article provides an overview of his new talk, "Exotic Team Dynamics: Human-AI Collaboration."
- Event: Session at a leadership retreat
- Company: This is a private corporate event, the company name is not published
- Session delegates: C-level executives, AI strategists, advanced technology leaders, human-AI integration researchers, innovation and transformation leaders, project leaders, futurists, and other attendees
- Date: Friday, August 22, 2025
- Time: 2:00-2:50 PM Pacific Time
- Location: The Innovation Hub, The Venetian, Las Vegas
This will be Graffius’ 95th session.
Synopsis of "Exotic Team Dynamics: Human-AI Collaboration" Talk
What happens when your new or future teammate is an AI? "Exotic Team Dynamics: Human-AI Collaboration" examines the strange, often counterintuitive ways humans and artificial intelligences (sometimes called hybrid intelligences) work together. Drawing on concepts like inverse decision logic, superposition roles, entangled decision-making, and emergent protocols, the session reframes human-AI teamwork as a new class of exotic team dynamics. But this isn’t just theory: the talk zeroes in on what leaders and researchers can do now. Such as intentionally designing hybrid teams, creating rituals and norms that sustain trust, safeguarding ethics and human well-being, and scaling to multi-AI teams. Delegates will leave with a practical playbook for experimenting, guiding, and thriving in the new frontier of intelligent team collaboration, where AI amplifies rather than replaces human potential. The future of work isn't humans vs. AI. It's human-AI teams—achieving more together.
Three Key Learning Objectives—Each Insightful and Actionable
Design for Exotic Dynamics
- Learning Objective: Session delegates will be able to identify and intentionally design for exotic team behaviors, such as inverse decision logic, superposition roles, entangled decision-making, and emergent protocols.
- Actionable Insight: Use these analogies as diagnostic and design tools to experiment with new human-AI interaction patterns in real-world workflows.
Cultivate Human-AI Trust and Norms
- Learning Objective: Session delegates will gain strategies to build trust, clarify roles, and establish ethical safeguards within human-AI teams—ensuring that collaboration enhances, rather than undermines, human judgment, creativity, and well-being.
- Actionable Insight: Develop governance rituals, communication protocols, and ethical guardrails that reinforce shared purpose in hybrid teams.
Scalable and Sustainable Hybrid Team Modeling
- Learning Objective: Session delegates will learn how to scale human-AI collaboration models—from a single AI teammate to multi-AI scenarios—while preserving adaptability and human-centric values.
- Actionable Insight: Implement monitoring mechanisms for performance and well-being, ensuring that expanding AI presence supports, rather than displaces, human team dynamics.
Conclusion
Human–AI team collaboration—also known as hybrid intelligence, human–machine teaming, or joint cognitive systems—is here. If you want your teams to thrive in this new frontier, Scott M. Graffius delivers the insights and actionable strategies to get you there. Invite him to speak at your conference or other event. Complete a speaker engagement request form or email him today.

Bibliography
Graffius' "Exotic Team Dynamics: Human-AI Collaboration" talk was informed by his first-hand work in AI and teamwork tradecraft—including exotic team dynamics—and multiple sources. Here's the select bibliography.
- Alfateh, Maryam Ali Abu; Messaadia, Mourad; and Ali, Mazen (2023, September). Exploring the Dynamics of Team Formation in Human-Artificial Intelligence Collaboration. In 2023 International Conference on Decision Aid Sciences and Applications (DASA), pp. 384-388. DOI: 10.1109/DASA59624.2023.10286788.
- Anduril Industries (2025, May 29). Anduril and Meta Team Up to Transform XR for the American Military. Available at: https://www.anduril.com/article/anduril-and-meta-team-up-to-transform-xr-for-the-american-military/.
- Arizona State University. (2025, April 4). CHIMERAS: Rethinking Human-AI Teamwork in National Security Screening. Center for Accelerating Operational Efficiency. Available at: https://caoe.asu.edu/2025/04/04/chimeras-rethinking-human-ai-teamwork-in-national-security-screening/.
- Berretta, S.; Tausch, A.; Ontrup, G.; Gilles, B.; Peifer, C.; Kluge, A. (2023, September). Defining human-AI teaming the human-centered way: a scoping review and network analysis. Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence, 6: 1250725. DOI: 10.3389/frai.2023.1250725.
- Bostrom, Nick (2016). Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies. Oxford University Press.
- Bouman, A., Ginting, M. F., Alatur, N., Palieri, M., Fan, D. D., Touma, T., Pailevanian, T., Kim, S.-K., Otsu, K., Burdick, J., & Agha-Mohammadi, A. (2020, November 30). Autonomous Spot: Long-Range Autonomous Exploration of Extreme Environments with Legged Locomotion (arXiv:2010.09259). arXiv. Available at: https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2010.09259.
- Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) (2023, February 23). Episode 65: A Sprint to Tomorrow, Powered by Teamwork [Podcast]. Available at: https://www.darpa.mil/news-events/2023-02-23a.
- Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) (2024, September 27). Teaching AI What It Should and Shouldn’t Do. Available at: https://www.darpa.mil/news/2024/teaching-ai.
- Graffius, Scott M. (2021, October 5). Navigate the Phases of Team Development with Speed and Agility for Happier and More Productive Teams [Presentation]. Talk delivered at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers IEEE Day 2021 Conference. Digital Object Identifier (DOI): 10.13140/RG.2.2.20055.19365. DOI link: https://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.20055.19365.
- Graffius, Scott M. (2023, May 1). AI is a Team Sport: A Confluence of Diverse Technical and Soft Skills are Crucial for Success. Available at: https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/successful-ai-teams.html. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.20321.79200.
- Graffius, Scott M. (2023, October 9). Top 5 Roles on AI Teams. Available at: https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/ai-team-roles.html. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.34857.57449.
- Graffius, Scott M. (2024, April 5). Cisco Features Scott M. Graffius' 'Phases of Team Development' Work' Available at: https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/cisco-2024.html. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.16689.60000.
- Graffius, Scott M. (2024, May 3). Leverage Agile and AI to Innovate at the Speed of Light. Talk at private event in Dubai, UAE. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.30790.48960.
- Graffius, Scott M. (2025, January 24). When Agile, AI, and Strategic Thinking Converge. Available at: https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/when-agile-ai-and-strategic-thinking-converge.html.
- Graffius, Scott M. (2025, July 1). Exploring Team Dynamics, Adaptability, and Creative Problem-Solving Through Felix the Cat’s Metaphorical Toolkit. Available at: https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/exploring-team-dynamics-adaptability-and-creative-problem-solving-through-a-metaphorical-toolkit.html.
- Graffius, Scott M. (2025, January 7). Scott M. Graffius’ Phases of Team Development: 2025 Update. Available at: https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/phases-of-team-development-update-for-2025.html. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.33705.30564.
- Graffius, Scott M. (2025, May 13). Scott M. Graffius Delivering $2.3 Billion in Value Through AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Leadership. Available at: https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/scott-m-graffius-delivering-2-point-3-billion-dollars-in-impact-for-organizations.html.
- Graffius, Scott M. (2025, July 18). Harness Sci-Fi and Speculative Design While Embracing Imperfection to Drive Innovation and Proactively Predict and Prepare for the Future. Available at: https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/harness-scifi-and-speculative-design-while-embracing-imperfection-to-drive-innovation-and-proactively-predict-and-prepare-for-the-future.html.
- Graffius, Scott M. (2025). Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum. Seattle, WA: Amazon Digital Services.
- Graffius, Scott M. (2025, August 7). Method and System for Facilitating Hybrid Human–Artificial Intelligence Teams via a Protocolized Mediation Layer for Bi-Directional Translation, Interpretation, and Optimization of Natural Language, Paralinguistic, Prosodic, and Nonverbal Cues Across Text, Audio, and Video Modalities, Incorporating Real-Time Analysis of Auditory Tone, Pitch, Affect, Facial Expressions, Gaze, Posture, and Other Body Language Indicators, Generating AI-Compatible Representations for Human Inputs, Generating Human-Accessible Representations for AI Outputs, Conveying Context-Aware Information in Both Directions, Reducing Cognitive Friction, Enhancing Mutual Intelligibility, Supporting Decision-Making, and Maximizing Collective Task Performance. A novel integration of multimodal communication, cognitive alignment, and human-AI interaction. Los Angeles, California.
- Graffius, Scott M. (2025, August 8). Exotic Team Dynamics: The New Frontier of Human–AI Collaboration. Available at: https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/exotic-team-dynamics.html.
- Jacobsen, Annie (2015). The Pentagon's Brain: An Uncensored History of DARPA, America's Top-Secret Military Research Agency. Little, Brown and Company.
- James, G., Witten, D., Hastie, T., & Tibshirani, R. (2021). An Introduction to Statistical Learning: With Applications in R (2nd ed.). Springer.
- Joiner, B., & Josephs, S. (2007). Leadership Agility: Five Levels of Mastery for Anticipating and Initiating Change. Jossey-Bass.
- Kerzner, Harold (2022). Innovation Project Management: Methods, Case Studies, and Tools for Managing Innovation Projects—Second Edition. Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley.
- Kurzweil, Ray (2024). The Singularity Is Nearer: When We Merge with AI. Random House.
- Lieberman, Marvin (2021, February). Is Competitive Advantage Intellectually Sustainable? Strategic Management Review, 2 (1): 29-46.
- Mollick, Ethan (2024). Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI. Portfolio.
- Morsa, Luigi (2022, July 7). Agile. Creativity. Innovation. IIL. Available at: https://blog.iil.com/agile-creativity-innovation/.
- O’Neill, L., Fraser, T., Cake, M., Fullarton, M., & Riley, S. (2024). Human-Autonomy Teaming: Evaluating Trust and Performance Through Dyadic Interaction Tasks. Current Opinion in Biomedical Engineering, 31: 100533. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cobme.2024.100533.
- Prasad, Baba (2025, May 5). Interpreters, Challengers and Stewards: The Role of Agile Leaders in an AI World. Brown University. Available at: https://professional.brown.edu/news/2025-05-05/agile-leadership-ai-world.
- Russell, Stuart (2019). Human Compatible: Artificial Intelligence and the Problem of Control. Viking.
- Schoemaker, Paul J. H. (1993, March). Multiple Scenario Development: Its Conceptual and Behavioral Foundation. Strategic Management Journal, 14 (3): 193-213.
- Silva, Narciso (2025). The Ultimate Guide to Mastering AI for Leaders: Your Non-technical Playbook for Artificial Intelligence Strategy and Innovation. Independently published.
- Steinberger, Tom, & Wiersema, Margarethe (2021). Data Models as Organizational Design: Coordinating Beyond Boundaries Using Artificial Intelligence. Strategic Management Review, 2 (1): 119-144.
- Syrett, Michael, & Devine, Marion (2012). Managing Uncertainty: Strategies for Surviving and Thriving in Turbulent Times. Wiley.
- Tegmark, Max (2018). Life 3.0: Being Human in the Age of Artificial Intelligence. Penguin.
- Thrun, S., Burgard, W., & Fox, D. (2005). Probabilistic Robotics. The MIT Press.
- Tuckman, B. W. (1965). Developmental Sequence in Small Groups. Psychological Bulletin, 63: 384-399.
- Tuckman, B. W., & Jensen, M. A. C. (1977). Stages of Small-Group Development Revisited. Group and Organizational Studies, 2 (4): 419-427.
- Walther, C. C. (2025, March 11). Why Hybrid Intelligence is the Future of human-AI Collaboration. Knowledge at Wharton. The Wharton School. Available at: https://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/why-hybrid-intelligence-is-the-future-of-human-ai-collaboration/.
- Wijeratne, Y. (2020). The Salvage Crew. Aethon Books, LLC.
- Woods, Geoff (2024). The AI-Driven Leader: Harnessing AI to Make Faster, Smarter Decisions. AI Thought Leadership.
- Xu, W. (2025, August 7). Human-Centered Human-AI Interaction (HC-HAII): A Human-Centered AI Perspective (arXiv:2508.03969) [Preprint]. arXiv. Available at: https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2508.03969.



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About Scott M. Graffius

Scott M. Graffius is a globally recognized technology leader who drives innovation in AI, Agile, and Project Management/PMO leadership.
He’s a practitioner, researcher, thought leader, award-winning author, and keynote speaker who’s taken the stage at 95 conferences and other events across 25 countries.
He’s delivered over $2.3 billion in value for Fortune 500 companies and other leaders in technology, entertainment, financial services, healthcare, and beyond.
Businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities use Graffius and feature his work. Examples include Adobe, Bayer, Boston University, Ford, Gartner, Harvard Medical School, IEEE, Johns Hopkins University, Microsoft, National Academy of Sciences, Oracle, Pinterest Inc., Project Management Institute, UC San Diego, Verizon, Yale University, and others.
The following sections provide additional information on his experience, contributions, and influence.
Experience
Graffius heads the professional services firm Exceptional PPM and PMO Solutions, along with its subsidiary Exceptional Agility. These consultancies offer strategic and tactical advisory, training, embedded expertise, and consulting services to the public, private, and government sectors. They help organizations enhance their capabilities and results in agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership, supporting innovation and driving competitive advantage. The consultancies confidently back services with a Delighted Client Guarantee™.
Graffius is a former VP of project management with a publicly traded provider of diverse consumer products and services over the Internet. Before that, he ran and supervised the delivery of projects and programs in public and private organizations with businesses ranging from e-commerce to advanced technology products and services, retail, manufacturing, entertainment, and more.
He has experience with consumer, business, reseller, government, and international markets.
Award-Winning Author
Graffius has authored three books.
- Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions, his first book, earned 17 awards.
- Agile Transformation: A Brief Story of How an Entertainment Company Developed New Capabilities and Unlocked Business Agility to Thrive in an Era of Rapid Change, his second book, was named one of the best Scrum books of all time by BookAuthority.
- Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum, his third book and his first work of fiction, was released in April 2025. The book trailer is on YouTube.
International Public Speaker
Organizations worldwide engage Graffius to present on tech (including AI), Agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership. He crafts and delivers unique and compelling talks and workshops. Graffius has conducted 95 sessions across 25 countries. Select examples of events include Agile Trends Gov, BSides (Newcastle Upon Tyne), Conf42 Quantum Computing, DevDays Europe, DevOps Institute, DevOpsDays (Geneva), Frug’Agile, IEEE, Microsoft, Scottish Summit, Scrum Alliance RSG (Nepal), Techstars, and W Love Games International Video Game Development Conference (Helsinki), and more.
With an average rating of 4.81 (on a scale of 1-5), sessions are highly valued.
The speaker engagement request form is here.
Thought Leadership and Influence
Prominent businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities have showcased Graffius and his contributions—spanning his books, talks, workshops, and beyond. Select examples include:
- Adobe,
- American Management Association,
- Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute,
- Bayer,
- BMC Software,
- Boston University,
- Broadcom,
- Cisco,
- Coburg University of Applied Sciences and Arts - Germany,
- Computer Weekly,
- Constructor University - Germany,
- Data Governance Success,
- Deimos Aerospace,
- DevOps Institute,
- Dropbox,
- EU's European Commission,
- Ford Motor Company,
- Gartner,
- GoDaddy,
- Harvard Medical School,
- Hasso Plattner Institute - Germany,
- IEEE,
- Innovation Project Management,
- Johns Hopkins University,
- Journal of Neurosurgery,
- Lam Research (Semiconductors),
- Leadership Worthy,
- Life Sciences Trainers and Educators Network,
- London South Bank University,
- Microsoft,
- NASSCOM,
- National Academy of Sciences,
- New Zealand Government,
- Oracle,
- Pinterest Inc.,
- Project Management Institute,
- Mary Raum (Professor of National Security Affairs, United States Naval War College),
- SANS Institute,
- SBG Neumark - Germany,
- Singapore Institute of Technology,
- Torrens University - Australia,
- TBS Switzerland,
- Tufts University,
- UC San Diego,
- UK Sports Institute,
- University of Galway - Ireland,
- US Department of Energy,
- US National Park Service,
- US Soccer,
- US Tennis Association,
- Verizon,
- Wrike,
- Yale University,
- and many others.
Graffius has played a key role in the Project Management Institute (PMI) in developing professional standards. He was a member of multiple teams that authored, reviewed, and produced:
- Practice Standard for Work Breakdown Structures—Second Edition.
- A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge—Sixth Edition.
- The Standard for Program Management—Fourth Edition.
- The Practice Standard for Project Estimating—Second Edition.
Additional details are here.
He was also a subject matter expert reviewer of content for the PMI’s Congress. Beyond the PMI, Graffius also served as a member of the review team for two of the Scrum Alliance’s Global Scrum Gatherings.
Acclaimed Authority on Teamwork Tradecraft

Graffius is a renowned authority on teamwork tradecraft. Informed by the research of Bruce W. Tuckman and Mary Ann C. Jensen, over 100 subsequent studies, and Graffius' first-hand professional experience with, and analysis of, team leadership and performance, Graffius created his 'Phases of Team Development' as a unique perspective and visual conveying the five phases of team development. First introduced in 2008 and periodically updated, his work provides a diagnostic and strategic guide for navigating team dynamics. It provides actionable insights for leaders across industries to develop high-performance teams. Its adoption by esteemed organizations such as Yale University, IEEE, Cisco, Microsoft, Ford, Oracle, Broadcom, the U.S. National Park Service, and the Journal of Neurosurgery, among others, highlights its utility and value, solidifying its status as an indispensable resource for elevating team performance and driving organizational excellence.
The 2025 edition of Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" intellectual property is here.
Expert on Temporal Dynamics on Social Media Platforms

Graffius is also an authority on temporal dynamics on social media platforms. His 'Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts' research—first published in 2018 and updated annually—delivers a precise quantitative analysis of post longevity across digital platforms, utilizing advanced statistical techniques to determine mean half-life with precision. It establishes a solid empirical base, effectively highlighting the ephemeral nature of content within social media ecosystems. Referenced and applied by leading entities such as the Center for Direct Marketing, Fast Company, GoDaddy, Pinterest Inc., and PNAS, among others, his research exemplifies methodological rigor and sustained significance in the field of digital informatics.
The 2025 edition of Graffius "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts" research is here.
Education and Professional Certifications
Graffius has a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a focus in Human Factors. He holds eight professional certifications:
- Certified SAFe 6 Agilist (SA),
- Certified Scrum Professional - ScrumMaster (CSP-SM),
- Certified Scrum Professional - Product Owner (CSP-PO),
- Certified ScrumMaster (CSM),
- Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO),
- Project Management Professional (PMP),
- Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (LSSGB), and
- IT Service Management Foundation (ITIL).
He is an active member of the Scrum Alliance, the Project Management Institute (PMI), and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
Advancing AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management
Scott M. Graffius continues to advance the fields of AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management through his leadership, research, writing, and real-world impact. Businesses and other organizations leverage Graffius’ insights to drive their success.

Check out Scott’s books:
- Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions — Deliver Products in Short Cycles with Rapid Adaptation to Change, Fast Time-to-Market, and Continuous Improvement
- Agile Transformation: A Brief Story of How an Entertainment Company Developed New Capabilities and Unlocked Business Agility to Thrive in an Era of Rapid Change
- Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum
Follow and connect with Scott on social media:














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How to Cite This Article
Graffius, Scott M. (2025, August 22). Scott M. Graffius Premieres His New "Exotic Team Dynamics: Human-AI Collaboration" Talk at Corporate Event in Las Vegas. Available at: https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/scott-m-graffius-premieres-talk-on-human-and-ai-exotic-team-dynamics.html.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
DOI: (coming soon)
Content Acknowledgements
All names, marks, and content are the property of their respective owners.
Top 5 Hashtags
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Post-Publication Notes
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