Program Management
Scott M. Graffius Contributed to The Standard for Artificial Intelligence in Portfolio, Program, and Project Management
09 June 2026
BY SCOTT M. GRAFFIUS | ScottGraffius.com
Recommended Citation
Graffius, S. M. (2026, June 9). Scott M. Graffius Contributed to The Standard for Artificial Intelligence in Portfolio, Program, and Project Management. ScottGraffius.com. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.10979.52003
Artificial intelligence is reshaping how organizations plan, execute, and deliver value across portfolios, programs, and projects. Recognizing this shift, the Project Management Institute (PMI) developed The Standard for Artificial Intelligence in Portfolio, Program, and Project Management, a landmark publication that gives practitioners a principled, structured, and globally recognized framework for navigating AI in the complexity of modern delivery environments.
Scott M. Graffius contributed to this standard, as shown in the visual at the top of this article and below.
The increasing adoption of AI is transforming the landscape of portfolio, program, and project management (PPPM). As AI continues to evolve, it offers significant opportunities to enhance decision-making, optimize resource allocation, and provide valuable insights. To support PPPM professionals in navigating this complex and rapidly changing environment, PMI developed The Standard for Artificial Intelligence in Portfolio, Program, and Project Management.
This standard is built on the solid foundation of clear principles established by PMI, which help guide and inform behaviors, as well as performance domains that focus on critical activities and functions for effective delivery and implementation. Through this guidance, organizations can help ensure their AI initiatives are implemented in a way that is transparent, fair, and compliant with applicable regulations. The details provided are relevant across various industries and intended to support organizations of all sizes in achieving their AI-driven objectives.
Key components of the standard include:
By adopting this standard, PPPM professionals can enhance their practices, stay at the forefront of AI adoption, and ensure that their organizations maximize the benefits of AI while maintaining accountability and delivering value to stakeholders.
The standard is aligned with other PMI standards and underwent a rigorous review process. It is approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) — a distinction that signals the document's rigor, credibility, and suitability for real-world professional application at the highest level.
PMI members can download the PDF for free as part of their membership benefits here. The publication is also available in print and ebook formats from Amazon here, as well as other sellers.
This is a publication of consequence. The PMI has been setting the gold standard in project management for over 50 years; and with this standard, it addresses one of the most significant transformations the profession has faced. The standard reflects PMI's long-standing approach: convening global communities of experienced practitioners, subjecting draft content to rigorous review, and producing guidance that is both principled and practically applicable.
Scott M. Graffius contributed to The Standard for Artificial Intelligence in Portfolio, Program, and Project Management. His involvement reflects his sustained commitment to advancing the profession at its highest levels — and his particular expertise at the intersection of AI and delivery management.
Graffius has now contributed to seven PMI industry standards and guidance publications:
This body of contribution is exceptional. PMI standards are developed through a volunteer-driven, consensus-based process in which expert practitioners participate. Contributing to one PMI standard is an achievement. Contributing to seven reflects a sustained commitment to advancing the profession across methodologies, disciplines, and generations of practice.
It is also worth noting the relevance of this newest contribution to Graffius' broader research and thought leadership. He is a recognized authority on Agile, Project Management, and AI – including human-AI collaboration, and "exotic team dynamics" that emerge when advanced AI systems collaborate as teammates, AI hallucinations, governance, and more. His respective work has been cited businesses, professional associations, government agencies, universities, publications, and media outlets around the world. Contributing to The Standard for Artificial Intelligence in Portfolio, Program, and Project Management — a standard that addresses the responsible integration of AI into organizational delivery practices — aligns with his body of work.
Graffius has generated over $2.51 billion in business value for Fortune 500 companies and other organizations around the world. Put that track record to work for you. For speaking engagements, use the request form; for other inquiries, email him.
The Project Management Institute (PMI) is the leading global association for project management professionals. Founded in 1969, PMI advances the profession through research, standards development, education, and certification. Its Project Management Professional (PMP) credential is recognized worldwide as the benchmark for project management expertise. Through its global network, PMI connects practitioners, elevates shared knowledge, and champions the strategic value of effective project leadership across industries. Visit the PMI website at https://www.pmi.org to learn more.
Graffius, S. M. (2025, February 12). Scott M. Graffius' Role in Advancing Project Management Institute (PMI) Standards Excellence. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/scott-m-graffius-role-in-advancing-project-management-institute-(pmi)-standards.html
Graffius, S. M. (2025, November 13). Scott M. Graffius Contributed to and Reviewed the PMBOK Guide, 8th Edition — the Global Standard for Project Management. ScottGraffius.com. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.25557.69601
Graffius, S. M. (2026, January 3). Scott M. Graffius' Phases of Team Development - Applied to Human Teams and Human-AI Teams: 2026 Update. ScottGraffius.com. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.18184.89601
Graffius, S. M. (2026, January 7). Are AI Hallucinations Getting Better or Worse? We Analyzed the Data. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.33179.53285
Graffius, S. M. (2026, June 3). Scott M. Graffius Contributed to the Agile Practice Guide - Second Edition. ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/scott-m-graffius-contributed-to-agile-practice-guide-second-edition.html
Graffius, S. M. (2026, June 5). AI Governance Initiative Cites Scott M. Graffius Research on AI Hallucinations. ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/ai-governance-initiative-uses-graffius-research.html
Project Management Institute. (n.d.). https://www.pmi.org
Project Management Institute. (2006). Practice standard for work breakdown structures (2nd ed.). Project Management Institute.
Project Management Institute. (2017). The standard for program management (4th ed.). Project Management Institute.
Project Management Institute. (2017). A guide to the project management body of knowledge (PMBOK guide) (6th ed.). Project Management Institute.
Project Management Institute. (2019). The practice standard for project estimating (2nd ed.). Project Management Institute.
Project Management Institute. (2026). A guide to the project management body of knowledge (PMBOK guide) (8th ed.). Project Management Institute.
Project Management Institute. (2026). Agile practice guide (2nd ed.). Project Management Institute.
Project Management Institute. (2026). The Standard for Artificial Intelligence in Portfolio, Program, and Project Management. Project Management Institute.
Google. (n.d.). Google Books.
Scott M. Graffius is a strategic transformation leader who drives AI, Agile, and broader business and technology initiatives to deliver measurable value across projects, programs, portfolios, and PMOs. He is an expert in the teamwork tradecraft of both human and human-AI teams, including the “exotic team dynamics” that emerge. He is also an authority on the temporal patterns of social media, including the half-life of audience engagement.
He’s a practitioner, researcher, thought leader, award-winning author, and keynote speaker who’s taken the stage at 98 conferences and other events across 25 countries.
He’s delivered over $2.51 billion in value for Fortune 500 companies and other leaders in technology, entertainment, financial services, healthcare, and beyond.
Businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities use Graffius and feature his work. Examples include Adobe, Bayer, Boston University, Ford, Gartner, Harvard Medical School, IEEE, Johns Hopkins University, Microsoft, MSN, National Academy of Sciences, Oracle, Pinterest Inc., Project Management Institute, UC San Diego, Verizon, Yale University, and others.
The following sections provide additional information on his experience, contributions, and influence.
Experience
Graffius heads the professional services firm Exceptional PPM and PMO Solutions, along with its subsidiary Exceptional Agility. These consultancies offer strategic and tactical advisory, training, embedded expertise, and consulting services to the public, private, and government sectors. They help organizations enhance their capabilities and results in agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership, supporting innovation and driving competitive advantage. The consultancies confidently back services with a Delighted Client Guarantee™.
Graffius is a former VP of project management with a publicly traded provider of diverse consumer products and services over the Internet. Before that, he ran and supervised the delivery of projects and programs in public and private organizations with businesses ranging from e-commerce to advanced technology products and services, retail, manufacturing, entertainment, and more.
He has experience with consumer, business, reseller, government, and international markets.
Award-Winning Author
Graffius has authored three books.
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 98 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:
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:
He was also a subject matter expert reviewer of content for the PMI’s Congress. Beyond the PMI, Graffius also served as a member of the review team for two of the Scrum Alliance’s Global Scrum Gatherings.
Acclaimed Authority on Teamwork Tradecraft
Graffius is a renowned authority on teamwork tradecraft. Informed by the research of Bruce W. Tuckman and Mary Ann C. Jensen, over 150 subsequent studies, and Graffius' first-hand professional experience with, and analysis of, team leadership and performance, Graffius created his "Phases of Team Development" intellectual property as a unique perspective and visual conveying the five phases of team development. First introduced in 2008 and periodically updated, his work provides a diagnostic and strategic guide for navigating team dynamics. It provides actionable insights for leaders across industries to develop high-performance teams. Its adoption by esteemed organizations such as Yale University, IEEE, Cisco, Microsoft, Ford, Oracle, Broadcom, the U.S. National Park Service, and the Journal of Neurosurgery, among others, highlights its utility and value, solidifying its status as an indispensable resource for elevating team performance and driving organizational excellence. In 2026, Graffius added human-AI teamwork—including the "exotic team dynamics" which emerge when advanced AI collaborates as a teammate—to his "Phases of Team Development."
The 2026 edition of Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" intellectual property is here.
Expert on Temporal Dynamics on Social Media Platforms
Graffius is also an authority on temporal dynamics on social media platforms. His "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts" research—first published in 2018 and updated annually—delivers a precise quantitative analysis of post longevity across digital platforms, utilizing advanced statistical techniques to determine mean half-life with precision. It establishes a solid empirical base, effectively highlighting the ephemeral nature of content within social media ecosystems. Referenced and applied by leading entities—such as Fast Company, GoDaddy, Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume), Ministère de la Culture (French Ministry of Culture), Pinterest Inc., PNAS, and Telecommunications Policy, among others—his research exemplifies methodological rigor and sustained significance in the field of digital informatics.
The 2026 edition of Graffius "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts" research is here.
Education and Professional Certifications
Graffius has a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a focus in Human Factors. He holds eight professional certifications:
He is an active member of the Scrum Alliance, the Project Management Institute (PMI), and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
Advancing AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management
Scott M. Graffius continues to advance the fields of AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management through his leadership, research, writing, and real-world impact. Businesses and other organizations leverage Graffius’ insights to drive their success.
Discover Scott’s Books
Connect with and follow Scott on LinkedIn, X, YouTube, Facebook, Threads, Bluesky, Mastodon, and ResearchGate.
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Graffius, S. M. (2026, June 9). Scott M. Graffius Contributed to The Standard for Artificial Intelligence in Portfolio, Program, and Project Management. ScottGraffius.com. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.10979.52003
DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.10979.52003
Project Management Institute (PMI) name, mark, and content are the property of PMI.
Graffius’ article includes limited excerpts of the PMI publication, attributed and used under fair use doctrine for purposes of news reporting, commentary, and analysis.
Graffius’ article copyright © Scott M. Graffius.
If there are any supplements or updates to this article after the date of publication, they will appear here.
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.
Recommended Citation
Graffius, S. M. (2026, June 9). Scott M. Graffius Contributed to The Standard for Artificial Intelligence in Portfolio, Program, and Project Management. ScottGraffius.com. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.10979.52003
Artificial intelligence is reshaping how organizations plan, execute, and deliver value across portfolios, programs, and projects. Recognizing this shift, the Project Management Institute (PMI) developed The Standard for Artificial Intelligence in Portfolio, Program, and Project Management, a landmark publication that gives practitioners a principled, structured, and globally recognized framework for navigating AI in the complexity of modern delivery environments.
Scott M. Graffius contributed to this standard, as shown in the visual at the top of this article and below.
About The Standard for Artificial Intelligence in Portfolio, Program, and Project Management
The increasing adoption of AI is transforming the landscape of portfolio, program, and project management (PPPM). As AI continues to evolve, it offers significant opportunities to enhance decision-making, optimize resource allocation, and provide valuable insights. To support PPPM professionals in navigating this complex and rapidly changing environment, PMI developed The Standard for Artificial Intelligence in Portfolio, Program, and Project Management.
This standard is built on the solid foundation of clear principles established by PMI, which help guide and inform behaviors, as well as performance domains that focus on critical activities and functions for effective delivery and implementation. Through this guidance, organizations can help ensure their AI initiatives are implemented in a way that is transparent, fair, and compliant with applicable regulations. The details provided are relevant across various industries and intended to support organizations of all sizes in achieving their AI-driven objectives.
Key components of the standard include:
- A comprehensive framework for the effective and responsible integration of AI into PPPM practices.
- A human-centered approach, ensuring that AI insights are aligned with human oversight.
- Eight guiding principles and five critical performance domains for using AI in PPPM.
- A proposed life cycle for AI implementations, along with tailoring guidance.
- Examination of the ethical and legal considerations for AI in PPPM.
By adopting this standard, PPPM professionals can enhance their practices, stay at the forefront of AI adoption, and ensure that their organizations maximize the benefits of AI while maintaining accountability and delivering value to stakeholders.
The standard is aligned with other PMI standards and underwent a rigorous review process. It is approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) — a distinction that signals the document's rigor, credibility, and suitability for real-world professional application at the highest level.
PMI members can download the PDF for free as part of their membership benefits here. The publication is also available in print and ebook formats from Amazon here, as well as other sellers.
This is a publication of consequence. The PMI has been setting the gold standard in project management for over 50 years; and with this standard, it addresses one of the most significant transformations the profession has faced. The standard reflects PMI's long-standing approach: convening global communities of experienced practitioners, subjecting draft content to rigorous review, and producing guidance that is both principled and practically applicable.
Scott M. Graffius' Contribution
Scott M. Graffius contributed to The Standard for Artificial Intelligence in Portfolio, Program, and Project Management. His involvement reflects his sustained commitment to advancing the profession at its highest levels — and his particular expertise at the intersection of AI and delivery management.
Graffius has now contributed to seven PMI industry standards and guidance publications:
- The Standard for Artificial Intelligence in Portfolio, Program, and Project Management
- Agile Practice Guide – Second Edition
- A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide) – Eighth Edition
- A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide) – Sixth Edition
- The Standard for Program Management – Fourth Edition
- Practice Standard for Work Breakdown Structures – Second Edition
- The Practice Standard for Project Estimating – Second Edition
This body of contribution is exceptional. PMI standards are developed through a volunteer-driven, consensus-based process in which expert practitioners participate. Contributing to one PMI standard is an achievement. Contributing to seven reflects a sustained commitment to advancing the profession across methodologies, disciplines, and generations of practice.
It is also worth noting the relevance of this newest contribution to Graffius' broader research and thought leadership. He is a recognized authority on Agile, Project Management, and AI – including human-AI collaboration, and "exotic team dynamics" that emerge when advanced AI systems collaborate as teammates, AI hallucinations, governance, and more. His respective work has been cited businesses, professional associations, government agencies, universities, publications, and media outlets around the world. Contributing to The Standard for Artificial Intelligence in Portfolio, Program, and Project Management — a standard that addresses the responsible integration of AI into organizational delivery practices — aligns with his body of work.
Graffius has generated over $2.51 billion in business value for Fortune 500 companies and other organizations around the world. Put that track record to work for you. For speaking engagements, use the request form; for other inquiries, email him.
About the Project Management Institute
The Project Management Institute (PMI) is the leading global association for project management professionals. Founded in 1969, PMI advances the profession through research, standards development, education, and certification. Its Project Management Professional (PMP) credential is recognized worldwide as the benchmark for project management expertise. Through its global network, PMI connects practitioners, elevates shared knowledge, and champions the strategic value of effective project leadership across industries. Visit the PMI website at https://www.pmi.org to learn more.
Bibliography/References
Graffius, S. M. (2025, February 12). Scott M. Graffius' Role in Advancing Project Management Institute (PMI) Standards Excellence. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/scott-m-graffius-role-in-advancing-project-management-institute-(pmi)-standards.html
Graffius, S. M. (2025, November 13). Scott M. Graffius Contributed to and Reviewed the PMBOK Guide, 8th Edition — the Global Standard for Project Management. ScottGraffius.com. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.25557.69601
Graffius, S. M. (2026, January 3). Scott M. Graffius' Phases of Team Development - Applied to Human Teams and Human-AI Teams: 2026 Update. ScottGraffius.com. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.18184.89601
Graffius, S. M. (2026, January 7). Are AI Hallucinations Getting Better or Worse? We Analyzed the Data. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.33179.53285
Graffius, S. M. (2026, June 3). Scott M. Graffius Contributed to the Agile Practice Guide - Second Edition. ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/scott-m-graffius-contributed-to-agile-practice-guide-second-edition.html
Graffius, S. M. (2026, June 5). AI Governance Initiative Cites Scott M. Graffius Research on AI Hallucinations. ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/ai-governance-initiative-uses-graffius-research.html
Project Management Institute. (n.d.). https://www.pmi.org
Project Management Institute. (2006). Practice standard for work breakdown structures (2nd ed.). Project Management Institute.
Project Management Institute. (2017). The standard for program management (4th ed.). Project Management Institute.
Project Management Institute. (2017). A guide to the project management body of knowledge (PMBOK guide) (6th ed.). Project Management Institute.
Project Management Institute. (2019). The practice standard for project estimating (2nd ed.). Project Management Institute.
Project Management Institute. (2026). A guide to the project management body of knowledge (PMBOK guide) (8th ed.). Project Management Institute.
Project Management Institute. (2026). Agile practice guide (2nd ed.). Project Management Institute.
Project Management Institute. (2026). The Standard for Artificial Intelligence in Portfolio, Program, and Project Management. Project Management Institute.
Google. (n.d.). Google Books.
About Scott M. Graffius
Scott M. Graffius is a strategic transformation leader who drives AI, Agile, and broader business and technology initiatives to deliver measurable value across projects, programs, portfolios, and PMOs. He is an expert in the teamwork tradecraft of both human and human-AI teams, including the “exotic team dynamics” that emerge. He is also an authority on the temporal patterns of social media, including the half-life of audience engagement.
He’s a practitioner, researcher, thought leader, award-winning author, and keynote speaker who’s taken the stage at 98 conferences and other events across 25 countries.
He’s delivered over $2.51 billion in value for Fortune 500 companies and other leaders in technology, entertainment, financial services, healthcare, and beyond.
Businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities use Graffius and feature his work. Examples include Adobe, Bayer, Boston University, Ford, Gartner, Harvard Medical School, IEEE, Johns Hopkins University, Microsoft, MSN, National Academy of Sciences, Oracle, Pinterest Inc., Project Management Institute, UC San Diego, Verizon, Yale University, and others.
The following sections provide additional information on his experience, contributions, and influence.
Experience
Graffius heads the professional services firm Exceptional PPM and PMO Solutions, along with its subsidiary Exceptional Agility. These consultancies offer strategic and tactical advisory, training, embedded expertise, and consulting services to the public, private, and government sectors. They help organizations enhance their capabilities and results in agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership, supporting innovation and driving competitive advantage. The consultancies confidently back services with a Delighted Client Guarantee™.
Graffius is a former VP of project management with a publicly traded provider of diverse consumer products and services over the Internet. Before that, he ran and supervised the delivery of projects and programs in public and private organizations with businesses ranging from e-commerce to advanced technology products and services, retail, manufacturing, entertainment, and more.
He has experience with consumer, business, reseller, government, and international markets.
Award-Winning Author
Graffius has authored three books.
- Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions, his first book, earned 17 awards.
- Agile Transformation: A Brief Story of How an Entertainment Company Developed New Capabilities and Unlocked Business Agility to Thrive in an Era of Rapid Change, his second book, was named one of the best Scrum books of all time by BookAuthority.
- Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum, his third book and his first work of fiction, was released in April 2025. The book trailer is on YouTube.
International Public Speaker
Organizations worldwide engage Graffius to present on tech (including AI), Agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership. He crafts and delivers unique and compelling talks and workshops. Graffius has conducted 98 sessions across 25 countries. Select examples of events include Agile Trends Gov, BSides (Newcastle Upon Tyne), Conf42 Quantum Computing, DevDays Europe, DevOps Institute, DevOpsDays (Geneva), Frug’Agile, IEEE, Microsoft, Scottish Summit, Scrum Alliance RSG (Nepal), Techstars, and W Love Games International Video Game Development Conference (Helsinki), and more.
With an average rating of 4.81 (on a scale of 1-5), sessions are highly valued.
The speaker engagement request form is here.
Thought Leadership and Influence
Prominent businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities have showcased Graffius and his contributions—spanning his books, talks, workshops, and beyond. Select examples include:
- Adobe,
- American Management Association,
- Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute,
- Bayer,
- BMC Software,
- Boston University,
- Broadcom,
- Cisco,
- Coburg University of Applied Sciences and Arts - Germany,
- Computer Weekly,
- Constructor University - Germany,
- Data Governance Success,
- Deimos Aerospace,
- DevOps Institute,
- Dropbox,
- EU's European Commission,
- Ford Motor Company,
- Gartner,
- GoDaddy,
- Harvard Medical School,
- Hasso Plattner Institute - Germany,
- IEEE,
- Innovation Project Management,
- Johns Hopkins University,
- Journal of Neurosurgery,
- Lam Research (Semiconductors),
- Leadership Worthy,
- Life Sciences Trainers and Educators Network,
- London South Bank University,
- Microsoft,
- MSN,
- NASSCOM,
- National Academy of Sciences,
- New Zealand Government,
- Oracle,
- Pinterest Inc.,
- Project Management Institute,
- Mary Raum (Professor of National Security Affairs, United States Naval War College),
- SANS Institute,
- SBG Neumark - Germany,
- Singapore Institute of Technology,
- Torrens University - Australia,
- TBS Switzerland,
- Tufts University,
- UC San Diego,
- UK Sports Institute,
- University of Galway - Ireland,
- US Department of Energy,
- US National Park Service,
- US Soccer,
- US Tennis Association,
- Verizon,
- Wrike,
- Yale University,
- and many others.
Graffius has played a key role in the Project Management Institute (PMI) in developing professional standards. He was a member of multiple teams that authored, reviewed, and produced:
- The Standard for Artificial Intelligence in Portfolio, Program, and Project Management
- Agile Practice Guide – Second Edition
- A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide) – Eighth Edition
- A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide) – Sixth Edition
- The Standard for Program Management – Fourth Edition
- Practice Standard for Work Breakdown Structures – Second Edition
- The Practice Standard for Project Estimating – Second Edition
He was also a subject matter expert reviewer of content for the PMI’s Congress. Beyond the PMI, Graffius also served as a member of the review team for two of the Scrum Alliance’s Global Scrum Gatherings.
Acclaimed Authority on Teamwork Tradecraft
Graffius is a renowned authority on teamwork tradecraft. Informed by the research of Bruce W. Tuckman and Mary Ann C. Jensen, over 150 subsequent studies, and Graffius' first-hand professional experience with, and analysis of, team leadership and performance, Graffius created his "Phases of Team Development" intellectual property as a unique perspective and visual conveying the five phases of team development. First introduced in 2008 and periodically updated, his work provides a diagnostic and strategic guide for navigating team dynamics. It provides actionable insights for leaders across industries to develop high-performance teams. Its adoption by esteemed organizations such as Yale University, IEEE, Cisco, Microsoft, Ford, Oracle, Broadcom, the U.S. National Park Service, and the Journal of Neurosurgery, among others, highlights its utility and value, solidifying its status as an indispensable resource for elevating team performance and driving organizational excellence. In 2026, Graffius added human-AI teamwork—including the "exotic team dynamics" which emerge when advanced AI collaborates as a teammate—to his "Phases of Team Development."
The 2026 edition of Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" intellectual property is here.
Expert on Temporal Dynamics on Social Media Platforms
Graffius is also an authority on temporal dynamics on social media platforms. His "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts" research—first published in 2018 and updated annually—delivers a precise quantitative analysis of post longevity across digital platforms, utilizing advanced statistical techniques to determine mean half-life with precision. It establishes a solid empirical base, effectively highlighting the ephemeral nature of content within social media ecosystems. Referenced and applied by leading entities—such as Fast Company, GoDaddy, Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume), Ministère de la Culture (French Ministry of Culture), Pinterest Inc., PNAS, and Telecommunications Policy, among others—his research exemplifies methodological rigor and sustained significance in the field of digital informatics.
The 2026 edition of Graffius "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts" research is here.
Education and Professional Certifications
Graffius has a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a focus in Human Factors. He holds eight professional certifications:
- Certified SAFe 6 Agilist (SA),
- Certified Scrum Professional - ScrumMaster (CSP-SM),
- Certified Scrum Professional - Product Owner (CSP-PO),
- Certified ScrumMaster (CSM),
- Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO),
- Project Management Professional (PMP),
- Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (LSSGB), and
- IT Service Management Foundation (ITIL).
He is an active member of the Scrum Alliance, the Project Management Institute (PMI), and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
Advancing AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management
Scott M. Graffius continues to advance the fields of AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management through his leadership, research, writing, and real-world impact. Businesses and other organizations leverage Graffius’ insights to drive their success.
Discover Scott’s Books
- 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
Connect with and follow Scott on LinkedIn, X, YouTube, Facebook, Threads, Bluesky, Mastodon, and ResearchGate.
Sign up for Miro—it's free!
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List of Additional Articles
You may be interested in these stories.
Government of Canada Features Research by Scott M. Graffius
"Strategic Business Research" Journal Cites Work of Scott M. Graffius
IEEE Access Publication Features Scott M. Graffius’ Research on the Half-Life of Social Media
The Agile Coach: 2026 Edition
Scott M. Graffius’ Work Cited in International Peer-Reviewed Journal on Digital Transformation
Phases of Team Development in Elite Sport
A Critical Analysis of COVID-19 Treatment Search Trends and Media Coverage Study Citing Scott M. Graffius' Work
Human-AI Teamwork: Master the Exotic Team Dynamics That Emerge When Collaborating with Advanced AI -- Or Be Outplayed
"Agile Scrum" by Scott M. Graffius Now Featured on Grokipedia
UNSW Aerospace Engineering Course Features Scott M. Graffius' "Phases of Team Development"
Thinkers360 Honors Scott M. Graffius as a 2026 Top Agile Thought Leader
Agile's Journey Through the Decades: Update for 2026
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Peer-Reviewed Journal Cited Work of Scott M. Graffius
University of Waterloo Features Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" in Course Materials
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Handling the Saboteur Within: Lessons from a 3-Letter Agency on Spotting and Stopping Intentional and Unintentional Sabotage
A Deep Dive Into the Typical Engagement Pattern for Social Media Posts
Most Valuable IT Certifications: Update for 2026
"Marketing in the Metaverse" Spotlights Scott M. Graffius’ Research on the Half-Life of Social Media
University of Greenwich Features Graffius' Phases of Team Development
10 Essential Agile Books: Curated Recommendations for Agile Professionals
Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts: Update for 2026
Scott M. Graffius' Research on the Half-Life of Social Media was Cited in a Peer-Reviewed Study Published in Telecommunications Policy, a Leading Academic Journal
Are AI Hallucinations Getting Better or Worse? We Analyzed the Data
Scott M. Graffius' Phases of Team Development - Applied to Human Teams and Human-AI Teams: 2026 Update
Lessons from Yesterday’s Tomorrowland
Scott M. Graffius’ Update to His "Phases of Team Development” Coming Early 2026
A Data-Driven Analysis of the Evolution of Project Management: Tasks, Trends, and AI
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Beep Beep! Why Wile E. Coyote Is the Patron Saint of AI Failure
Social Media Half-Life Research Cited in Prestigious Peer-Reviewed Medical Journal
Navigating the Spectrum of Advanced AI – Agentic, Autonomous, and Autopoietic
Lessons from Unhinged AI in Fiction: What Rogue AIs in Sci-Fi Storytelling, Films, and TV Shows Reveal About Us
Scott M. Graffius Contributed to and Reviewed the PMBOK Guide, 8th Edition — the Global Standard for Project Management
UK Sports Institute Features Teamwork and Leadership Work of Scott M. Graffius
Definitions of Advanced AIs: Agentic, Autonomous, and Autopoietic
HAN University of Applied Sciences Features the Work of Scott M. Graffius
Gifts That Inspire Joy
Evergreen Echoes: How Pinterest Inc. and Pinterest Japan Spotlighted Scott M. Graffius’ Research on the Half-Life of Social Media Content
Scott M. Graffius’ Team Development Work Lights Up the University of Tasmania’s Curriculum
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Scott M. Graffius’ Work Featured at ACM DIS ’25
Climbing the Ladder: The Head of Agile/PMO’s Organizational Proximity to the CEO is Closer Than Ever
Harness Sci-Fi and Speculative Design While Embracing Imperfection to Drive Innovation and Proactively Predict and Prepare for the Future
Scott M. Graffius’ “Agile Scrum” Book Featured in a Publication of the Associação Nacional de Educação Católica do Brasil (ANEC)
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AI Showcase Showdown: Ranking AI Accuracy on Project Management Basics
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Exploring Team Dynamics, Adaptability, and Creative Problem-Solving Through Felix the Cat’s Metaphorical Toolkit
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The “Pants-on-Fire Index for AI”
16 Causes of Technical Debt and How to Avoid It
PMI’s Infinity AI Gets the Basics of Team Development Alarmingly and Repeatedly Wrong
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AI in Agile: Benefits, Risks, Outlook
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Waterfall vs. Agile: What’s Fixed, What’s Flexible, and Why It Matters
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More articles are listed here.
How to Cite This Article
Graffius, S. M. (2026, June 9). Scott M. Graffius Contributed to The Standard for Artificial Intelligence in Portfolio, Program, and Project Management. ScottGraffius.com. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.10979.52003
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.10979.52003
Content Acknowledgements
Project Management Institute (PMI) name, mark, and content are the property of PMI.
Graffius’ article includes limited excerpts of the PMI publication, attributed and used under fair use doctrine for purposes of news reporting, commentary, and analysis.
Graffius’ article copyright © Scott M. Graffius.
Tags and Hashtags
- Artificial Intelligence
- AI Governance
- Project Management
- Project Management Institute
- Portfolio Management
- Program Management
- Leadership
- ANSI Standards
- #ArtificialIntelligence
- #AIGovernance
- #ProjectManagement
- #ProjectManagementInstitute
- #PortfolioManagement
- #ProgramManagement
- #Leadership
- #ANSIStandards
Post-Publication Notes
If there are any supplements or updates to this article after the date of publication, they will appear here.
Copyright
Copyright © Scott M. Graffius. All rights reserved.
Content on this site—including text, images, videos, and data—may not be used for training or input into any artificial intelligence, machine learning, or automatized learning systems, or published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the express written permission of Scott M. Graffius.
Scott M. Graffius Speaking on Strategic Leadership at Silicon Valley Chapter of the Project Management Institute
09 August 2026
BY SCOTT M. GRAFFIUS | ScottGraffius.com
Recommended Citation
Graffius, S. M. (2026, August 9). Scott M. Graffius Speaking on Strategic Leadership at Silicon Valley Chapter of the Project Management Institute. ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/scott-m-graffius-speaking-at-pmi-silicon-valley.html
About This Article
Source information and links for materials cited are provided in the References section.
Scott M. Graffius is a technology leader, researcher, award-winning author, and international speaker specializing in advanced AI, teamwork tradecraft, and organizational agility (inclusive of PPPM and PMO leadership). He has led initiatives that have generated more than $2.51 billion in business value for Fortune 500 companies and other organizations worldwide. His work—including research on human teams and human-AI teams and the half-life of engagement on social media, among other areas—is widely adopted, frequently cited, and recognized for its practical impact.
Graffius will deliver a talk on strategic alignment, “10 Ways to Score and Prioritize Project Proposals Based on Multiple Factors, Including Strategic Alignment,” at an event of the Silicon Valley Chapter of the Project Management Institute.
The session is for those involved in or interested in project management, program management, portfolio management, PMO leadership, or organizational agility.
It will span all three areas of the Project Management Institute Talent Triangle: Business Acumen (formerly Strategic and Business Management), Power Skills (formerly Leadership), and Ways of Working (formerly Technical Project Management), with Business Acumen as the primary focus.
The session will be held on Wednesday, 7 October 2026, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Pacific Time. Everyone (PMI Silicon Valley Chapter members as well as non-members) is invited. Register here.
How does your organization assess proposals for new projects? Is there a well-defined scoring and prioritization process—based on alignment with the business’ strategic objectives and other key factors—to quickly and easily identify the objective value of each proposal? If the answer is “no,” keep reading. If the answer is “yes,” you’re still likely to find practical information and examples in this talk that you can adapt and adopt to improve the process at your organization.
This session will help you develop and enhance the contributions you make to your organization by being able to:
The presentation draws on the speaker’s first-hand, real-world experience, with his guidance supported by related standards, best practices, and recommendations from the Project Management Institute, MIT, Harvard Business Review, Forbes, and others.
Founded in 1997, the Silicon Valley Chapter of the Project Management Institute (PMISV) is a nonprofit professional community serving project management practitioners throughout California’s Silicon Valley. As a local chapter of PMI, PMISV brings together professionals to advance the practice of project management through knowledge sharing, professional development, networking, and community engagement.
PMISV provides a diverse range of programs and opportunities, including educational events, workshops, and professional development initiatives. Its mission is to support the interests and needs of its members by providing leadership and forums for expanding and sharing project management knowledge, skills, and experience.
The Project Management Institute (PMI) is a global professional association dedicated to advancing project, program, and portfolio management. Founded in 1969, PMI develops professional standards, publications, certifications, and educational resources used by practitioners and organizations worldwide. Its work spans traditional, agile, and emerging approaches to managing projects and delivering value. PMI’s standards and research have helped shape the evolving discipline of project management and its application across industries.
The following are select references for this article.
They are not the references for the talk itself. Those references will be provided seperately to session participants.
Graffius, S. M. (n.d.). Scott M. Graffius. https://scottgraffius.com/
Graffius, S. M. (n.d.). Scott M. Graffius: Bio. https://scottgraffius.com/bio.html
Graffius, S. M. (n.d.). Scott M. Graffius [LinkedIn]. https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottgraffius/
Project Management Institute (n.d.). Project Management Institute. https://www.pmi.org/
Silicon Valley Chapter of the Project Management Institute (n.d.). Virtual Meeting - 10 Ways to Score and Prioritize Project Proposals Based on Multiple Factors, Including Strategic Alignment. https://www.pmisv.org/events/calendar/general-events/pm-in-sight-fremont/pm-insights-fremont-virtual-meeting-10-ways-to-score-and-prioritize-project-proposals-based-on-multiple-factors-including-strategic-alignment
Silicon Valley Chapter of the Project Management Institute (n.d.). Welcome to the PMI Silicon Valley Chapter. https://www.pmisv.org/
Scott M. Graffius is a strategic transformation leader who drives AI, Agile, and broader business and technology initiatives to deliver measurable value across projects, programs, portfolios, and PMOs. He is an expert in the teamwork tradecraft of both human and human-AI teams, including the “exotic team dynamics” that emerge. He is also an authority on the temporal patterns of social media, including the half-life of audience engagement.
He’s a practitioner, researcher, thought leader, award-winning author, and keynote speaker who’s taken the stage at 98 conferences and other events across 25 countries.
He’s delivered over $2.51 billion in value for Fortune 500 companies and other leaders in technology, entertainment, financial services, healthcare, and beyond.
Businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities use Graffius and feature his work. Examples include Adobe, Bayer, Boston University, Ford, Gartner, Harvard Medical School, IEEE, Johns Hopkins University, Microsoft, MSN, National Academy of Sciences, Oracle, Pinterest Inc., Project Management Institute, UC San Diego, Verizon, Yale University, and others.
The following sections provide additional information on his experience, contributions, and influence.
Experience
Graffius heads the professional services firm Exceptional PPM and PMO Solutions, along with its subsidiary Exceptional Agility. These consultancies offer strategic and tactical advisory, training, embedded expertise, and consulting services to the public, private, and government sectors. They help organizations enhance their capabilities and results in agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership, supporting innovation and driving competitive advantage. The consultancies confidently back services with a Delighted Client Guarantee™.
Graffius is a former VP of project management with a publicly traded provider of diverse consumer products and services over the Internet. Before that, he ran and supervised the delivery of projects and programs in public and private organizations with businesses ranging from e-commerce to advanced technology products and services, retail, manufacturing, entertainment, and more.
He has experience with consumer, business, reseller, government, and international markets.
Award-Winning Author
Graffius has authored three books.
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 98 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:
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:
He was also a subject matter expert reviewer of content for the PMI’s Congress. Beyond the PMI, Graffius also served as a member of the review team for two of the Scrum Alliance’s Global Scrum Gatherings.
Acclaimed Authority on Teamwork Tradecraft
Graffius is a renowned authority on teamwork tradecraft. Informed by the research of Bruce W. Tuckman and Mary Ann C. Jensen, over 150 subsequent studies, and Graffius' first-hand professional experience with, and analysis of, team leadership and performance, Graffius created his "Phases of Team Development" intellectual property as a unique perspective and visual conveying the five phases of team development. First introduced in 2008 and periodically updated, his work provides a diagnostic and strategic guide for navigating team dynamics. It provides actionable insights for leaders across industries to develop high-performance teams. Its adoption by esteemed organizations such as Yale University, IEEE, Cisco, Microsoft, Ford, Oracle, Broadcom, the U.S. National Park Service, and the Journal of Neurosurgery, among others, highlights its utility and value, solidifying its status as an indispensable resource for elevating team performance and driving organizational excellence. In 2026, Graffius added human-AI teamwork—including the "exotic team dynamics" which emerge when advanced AI collaborates as a teammate—to his "Phases of Team Development."
The 2026 edition of Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" intellectual property is here.
Expert on Temporal Dynamics on Social Media Platforms
Graffius is also an authority on temporal dynamics on social media platforms. His "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts" research—first published in 2018 and updated annually—delivers a precise quantitative analysis of post longevity across digital platforms, utilizing advanced statistical techniques to determine mean half-life with precision. It establishes a solid empirical base, effectively highlighting the ephemeral nature of content within social media ecosystems. Referenced and applied by leading entities—such as Fast Company, GoDaddy, Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume), Ministère de la Culture (French Ministry of Culture), Pinterest Inc., PNAS, and Telecommunications Policy, among others—his research exemplifies methodological rigor and sustained significance in the field of digital informatics.
The 2026 edition of Graffius "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts" research is here.
Education and Professional Certifications
Graffius has a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a focus in Human Factors. He holds eight professional certifications:
He is an active member of the Scrum Alliance, the Project Management Institute (PMI), and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
Advancing AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management
Scott M. Graffius continues to advance the fields of AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management through his leadership, research, writing, and real-world impact. Businesses and other organizations leverage Graffius’ insights to drive their success.
Discover Scott’s Books
Connect with and follow Scott on LinkedIn, X, YouTube, Facebook, Threads, Bluesky, Mastodon, and ResearchGate.
You may be interested in these stories.
Government of Canada Features Research by Scott M. Graffius
"Strategic Business Research" Journal Cites Work of Scott M. Graffius
IEEE Access Publication Features Scott M. Graffius’ Research on the Half-Life of Social Media
The Agile Coach: 2026 Edition
Scott M. Graffius’ Work Cited in International Peer-Reviewed Journal on Digital Transformation
Phases of Team Development in Elite Sport
A Critical Analysis of COVID-19 Treatment Search Trends and Media Coverage Study Citing Scott M. Graffius' Work
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More articles are listed here.
Graffius, S. M. (2026, August 9). Scott M. Graffius Speaking on Strategic Leadership at Silicon Valley Chapter of the Project Management Institute. ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/scott-m-graffius-speaking-at-pmi-silicon-valley.html
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Recommended Citation
Graffius, S. M. (2026, August 9). Scott M. Graffius Speaking on Strategic Leadership at Silicon Valley Chapter of the Project Management Institute. ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/scott-m-graffius-speaking-at-pmi-silicon-valley.html
About This Article
Source information and links for materials cited are provided in the References section.
Introduction
Scott M. Graffius is a technology leader, researcher, award-winning author, and international speaker specializing in advanced AI, teamwork tradecraft, and organizational agility (inclusive of PPPM and PMO leadership). He has led initiatives that have generated more than $2.51 billion in business value for Fortune 500 companies and other organizations worldwide. His work—including research on human teams and human-AI teams and the half-life of engagement on social media, among other areas—is widely adopted, frequently cited, and recognized for its practical impact.
Graffius will deliver a talk on strategic alignment, “10 Ways to Score and Prioritize Project Proposals Based on Multiple Factors, Including Strategic Alignment,” at an event of the Silicon Valley Chapter of the Project Management Institute.
The session is for those involved in or interested in project management, program management, portfolio management, PMO leadership, or organizational agility.
It will span all three areas of the Project Management Institute Talent Triangle: Business Acumen (formerly Strategic and Business Management), Power Skills (formerly Leadership), and Ways of Working (formerly Technical Project Management), with Business Acumen as the primary focus.
The session will be held on Wednesday, 7 October 2026, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Pacific Time. Everyone (PMI Silicon Valley Chapter members as well as non-members) is invited. Register here.
About "10 Ways to Score and Prioritize Project Proposals Based on Multiple Factors, Including Strategic Alignment"
How does your organization assess proposals for new projects? Is there a well-defined scoring and prioritization process—based on alignment with the business’ strategic objectives and other key factors—to quickly and easily identify the objective value of each proposal? If the answer is “no,” keep reading. If the answer is “yes,” you’re still likely to find practical information and examples in this talk that you can adapt and adopt to improve the process at your organization.
This session will help you develop and enhance the contributions you make to your organization by being able to:
- Understand the benefits of scoring and prioritizing project proposals based on strategic alignment and other key factors.
- Identify selection and prioritization criteria appropriate for your unique organization, leveraging the flexible framework and some or all of the 10 factors presented during the talk.
- Put the practical, actionable information presented to use. During the session, we will run an example project proposal through the process, step by step. And you will receive a summary “cheat sheet” digital download that you can reference as a guide to help implement or improve this process at your organization.
The presentation draws on the speaker’s first-hand, real-world experience, with his guidance supported by related standards, best practices, and recommendations from the Project Management Institute, MIT, Harvard Business Review, Forbes, and others.
About the Silicon Valley Chapter of the Project Management Institute (PMISV)
Founded in 1997, the Silicon Valley Chapter of the Project Management Institute (PMISV) is a nonprofit professional community serving project management practitioners throughout California’s Silicon Valley. As a local chapter of PMI, PMISV brings together professionals to advance the practice of project management through knowledge sharing, professional development, networking, and community engagement.
PMISV provides a diverse range of programs and opportunities, including educational events, workshops, and professional development initiatives. Its mission is to support the interests and needs of its members by providing leadership and forums for expanding and sharing project management knowledge, skills, and experience.
About the Project Management Institute
The Project Management Institute (PMI) is a global professional association dedicated to advancing project, program, and portfolio management. Founded in 1969, PMI develops professional standards, publications, certifications, and educational resources used by practitioners and organizations worldwide. Its work spans traditional, agile, and emerging approaches to managing projects and delivering value. PMI’s standards and research have helped shape the evolving discipline of project management and its application across industries.
References
The following are select references for this article.
They are not the references for the talk itself. Those references will be provided seperately to session participants.
Graffius, S. M. (n.d.). Scott M. Graffius. https://scottgraffius.com/
Graffius, S. M. (n.d.). Scott M. Graffius: Bio. https://scottgraffius.com/bio.html
Graffius, S. M. (n.d.). Scott M. Graffius [LinkedIn]. https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottgraffius/
Project Management Institute (n.d.). Project Management Institute. https://www.pmi.org/
Silicon Valley Chapter of the Project Management Institute (n.d.). Virtual Meeting - 10 Ways to Score and Prioritize Project Proposals Based on Multiple Factors, Including Strategic Alignment. https://www.pmisv.org/events/calendar/general-events/pm-in-sight-fremont/pm-insights-fremont-virtual-meeting-10-ways-to-score-and-prioritize-project-proposals-based-on-multiple-factors-including-strategic-alignment
Silicon Valley Chapter of the Project Management Institute (n.d.). Welcome to the PMI Silicon Valley Chapter. https://www.pmisv.org/
About Scott M. Graffius
Scott M. Graffius is a strategic transformation leader who drives AI, Agile, and broader business and technology initiatives to deliver measurable value across projects, programs, portfolios, and PMOs. He is an expert in the teamwork tradecraft of both human and human-AI teams, including the “exotic team dynamics” that emerge. He is also an authority on the temporal patterns of social media, including the half-life of audience engagement.
He’s a practitioner, researcher, thought leader, award-winning author, and keynote speaker who’s taken the stage at 98 conferences and other events across 25 countries.
He’s delivered over $2.51 billion in value for Fortune 500 companies and other leaders in technology, entertainment, financial services, healthcare, and beyond.
Businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities use Graffius and feature his work. Examples include Adobe, Bayer, Boston University, Ford, Gartner, Harvard Medical School, IEEE, Johns Hopkins University, Microsoft, MSN, National Academy of Sciences, Oracle, Pinterest Inc., Project Management Institute, UC San Diego, Verizon, Yale University, and others.
The following sections provide additional information on his experience, contributions, and influence.
Experience
Graffius heads the professional services firm Exceptional PPM and PMO Solutions, along with its subsidiary Exceptional Agility. These consultancies offer strategic and tactical advisory, training, embedded expertise, and consulting services to the public, private, and government sectors. They help organizations enhance their capabilities and results in agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership, supporting innovation and driving competitive advantage. The consultancies confidently back services with a Delighted Client Guarantee™.
Graffius is a former VP of project management with a publicly traded provider of diverse consumer products and services over the Internet. Before that, he ran and supervised the delivery of projects and programs in public and private organizations with businesses ranging from e-commerce to advanced technology products and services, retail, manufacturing, entertainment, and more.
He has experience with consumer, business, reseller, government, and international markets.
Award-Winning Author
Graffius has authored three books.
- Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions, his first book, earned 17 awards.
- Agile Transformation: A Brief Story of How an Entertainment Company Developed New Capabilities and Unlocked Business Agility to Thrive in an Era of Rapid Change, his second book, was named one of the best Scrum books of all time by BookAuthority.
- Agile Protocol: The Transformation Ultimatum, his third book and his first work of fiction, was released in April 2025. The book trailer is on YouTube.
International Public Speaker
Organizations worldwide engage Graffius to present on tech (including AI), Agile, project management, program management, portfolio management, and PMO leadership. He crafts and delivers unique and compelling talks and workshops. Graffius has conducted 98 sessions across 25 countries. Select examples of events include Agile Trends Gov, BSides (Newcastle Upon Tyne), Conf42 Quantum Computing, DevDays Europe, DevOps Institute, DevOpsDays (Geneva), Frug’Agile, IEEE, Microsoft, Scottish Summit, Scrum Alliance RSG (Nepal), Techstars, and W Love Games International Video Game Development Conference (Helsinki), and more.
With an average rating of 4.81 (on a scale of 1-5), sessions are highly valued.
The speaker engagement request form is here.
Thought Leadership and Influence
Prominent businesses, professional associations, government agencies, and universities have showcased Graffius and his contributions—spanning his books, talks, workshops, and beyond. Select examples include:
- Adobe,
- American Management Association,
- Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute,
- Bayer,
- BMC Software,
- Boston University,
- Broadcom,
- Cisco,
- Coburg University of Applied Sciences and Arts - Germany,
- Computer Weekly,
- Constructor University - Germany,
- Data Governance Success,
- Deimos Aerospace,
- DevOps Institute,
- Dropbox,
- EU's European Commission,
- Ford Motor Company,
- Gartner,
- GoDaddy,
- Harvard Medical School,
- Hasso Plattner Institute - Germany,
- IEEE,
- Innovation Project Management,
- Johns Hopkins University,
- Journal of Neurosurgery,
- Lam Research (Semiconductors),
- Leadership Worthy,
- Life Sciences Trainers and Educators Network,
- London South Bank University,
- Microsoft,
- MSN,
- NASSCOM,
- National Academy of Sciences,
- New Zealand Government,
- Oracle,
- Pinterest Inc.,
- Project Management Institute,
- Mary Raum (Professor of National Security Affairs, United States Naval War College),
- SANS Institute,
- SBG Neumark - Germany,
- Singapore Institute of Technology,
- Torrens University - Australia,
- TBS Switzerland,
- Tufts University,
- UC San Diego,
- UK Sports Institute,
- University of Galway - Ireland,
- US Department of Energy,
- US National Park Service,
- US Soccer,
- US Tennis Association,
- Verizon,
- Wrike,
- Yale University,
- and many others.
Graffius has played a key role in the Project Management Institute (PMI) in developing professional standards. He was a member of multiple teams that authored, reviewed, and produced:
- The Standard for Artificial Intelligence in Portfolio, Program, and Project Management
- Agile Practice Guide – Second Edition
- A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide) – Eighth Edition
- A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide) – Sixth Edition
- The Standard for Program Management – Fourth Edition
- Practice Standard for Work Breakdown Structures – Second Edition
- The Practice Standard for Project Estimating – Second Edition
He was also a subject matter expert reviewer of content for the PMI’s Congress. Beyond the PMI, Graffius also served as a member of the review team for two of the Scrum Alliance’s Global Scrum Gatherings.
Acclaimed Authority on Teamwork Tradecraft
Graffius is a renowned authority on teamwork tradecraft. Informed by the research of Bruce W. Tuckman and Mary Ann C. Jensen, over 150 subsequent studies, and Graffius' first-hand professional experience with, and analysis of, team leadership and performance, Graffius created his "Phases of Team Development" intellectual property as a unique perspective and visual conveying the five phases of team development. First introduced in 2008 and periodically updated, his work provides a diagnostic and strategic guide for navigating team dynamics. It provides actionable insights for leaders across industries to develop high-performance teams. Its adoption by esteemed organizations such as Yale University, IEEE, Cisco, Microsoft, Ford, Oracle, Broadcom, the U.S. National Park Service, and the Journal of Neurosurgery, among others, highlights its utility and value, solidifying its status as an indispensable resource for elevating team performance and driving organizational excellence. In 2026, Graffius added human-AI teamwork—including the "exotic team dynamics" which emerge when advanced AI collaborates as a teammate—to his "Phases of Team Development."
The 2026 edition of Graffius' "Phases of Team Development" intellectual property is here.
Expert on Temporal Dynamics on Social Media Platforms
Graffius is also an authority on temporal dynamics on social media platforms. His "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts" research—first published in 2018 and updated annually—delivers a precise quantitative analysis of post longevity across digital platforms, utilizing advanced statistical techniques to determine mean half-life with precision. It establishes a solid empirical base, effectively highlighting the ephemeral nature of content within social media ecosystems. Referenced and applied by leading entities—such as Fast Company, GoDaddy, Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume), Ministère de la Culture (French Ministry of Culture), Pinterest Inc., PNAS, and Telecommunications Policy, among others—his research exemplifies methodological rigor and sustained significance in the field of digital informatics.
The 2026 edition of Graffius "Lifespan (Half-Life) of Social Media Posts" research is here.
Education and Professional Certifications
Graffius has a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a focus in Human Factors. He holds eight professional certifications:
- Certified SAFe 6 Agilist (SA),
- Certified Scrum Professional - ScrumMaster (CSP-SM),
- Certified Scrum Professional - Product Owner (CSP-PO),
- Certified ScrumMaster (CSM),
- Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO),
- Project Management Professional (PMP),
- Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (LSSGB), and
- IT Service Management Foundation (ITIL).
He is an active member of the Scrum Alliance, the Project Management Institute (PMI), and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
Advancing AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management
Scott M. Graffius continues to advance the fields of AI, Agile, and Project/PMO Management through his leadership, research, writing, and real-world impact. Businesses and other organizations leverage Graffius’ insights to drive their success.
Discover Scott’s Books
- 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
Connect with and follow Scott on LinkedIn, X, YouTube, Facebook, Threads, Bluesky, Mastodon, and ResearchGate.
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How to Cite This Article
Graffius, S. M. (2026, August 9). Scott M. Graffius Speaking on Strategic Leadership at Silicon Valley Chapter of the Project Management Institute. ScottGraffius.com. https://scottgraffius.com/blog/files/scott-m-graffius-speaking-at-pmi-silicon-valley.html
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