Scaling Leadership & Execution at TigerGraph with the Network of Agreements Framework
Background:
TigerGraph, a global leader in graph analytics, empowers data scientists, developers, IT architects, and business leaders with cutting-edge database technology. During a period of rapid expansion, the company grew from under 200 to 400 employees worldwide, scaling its sales team and entering new markets. Amidst this fast-paced growth, leadership faced significant challenges in accountability, agreement fulfillment, and real-time communication across global teams operating in multiple time zones and languages.
Dr. Mingxi Wu, the VP of Engineering, was responsible for leading and scaling the engineering function. Initially overseeing three teams, he was later assigned to manage nine teams globally. To ensure alignment, execution, and accountability across his expanding organization, Dr. Wu implemented DorWay’s Network of Agreements Framework, driving team performance and leadership execution.
The Challenge:
As TigerGraph expanded rapidly, the VP of Engineering faced the following leadership and execution challenges:
Accountability & Execution Challenges
Three initial global teams challenged with meeting agreements and maintaining productivity, impacting overall company performance.
Communication Breakdown
Teams operated in different time zones with inconsistent communication, leading to misalignment and delays.
High-Pressure, Competitive Market
The company was competing for top-tier talent and needed a leadership framework that could sustain high performance under constant market shifts.
Scaling Leadership Practices
The VP's acquiring of nine teams required a robust system to manage agreements effectively across diverse global teams.
The Solution: Implementing the Network of Agreements Framework
To address these challenges, Dr. Wu leveraged the Network of Agreements Framework, a structured approach to defining, tracking, and managing team commitments at scale. The implementation process followed a strategic three-phase rollout:
Phase 1: Establishing the Network of Agreements
Defining the Purpose & Vision
Dr. Wu aligned his teams by shifting from “managing people” to “managing agreements between people.” He communicated the vision clearly:
- Agreements are commitments that drive execution and accountability.
- Tracking agreements prevents execution breakdowns and accelerates progress.
- Leadership success is measured by fulfilled agreements, not individual task completion.
Assessing Current State of Agreement Management
Before restructuring agreements, Dr. Wu and his teams analyzed existing processes:
- Identified the current communication org chart and methods, team dependencies, and blockers.
- Evaluated team structures, responsibilities, and effectiveness of existing agreement tracking.
- Uncovered inefficiencies in workflows, cultural barriers, and process bottlenecks.
Phase 2: Structured Agreement Execution
Implementing a Formal Tracking System
Each agreement was structured with:
- Clear ownership (who is responsible)
- Defined outcomes (what needs to be achieved)
- Dependencies (who is impacted)
- Timelines & progress tracking
Weekly Global Leadership Check-Ins
A structured leadership call was integrated focusing on:
- Review agreement progress and at-risk commitments.
- Identify execution barriers in real-time.
- Ensure accountability without micromanagement.
- Engaging in strategic solutions and follow through.
Phase 3: Scaling Leadership & Global Execution
Training Team Leaders to Hold Teams Accountable
Dr. Wu ensured that team leaders were empowered to enforce accountability across their teams. This cultural shift created a new standard for execution discipline within the organization.
Continuous Improvement Through AI & Predictive Analytics
By integrating AI-powered leadership execution, Dr. Wu positioned TigerGraph to leverage predictive analytics for agreement tracking, setting the stage for future optimization.
The Results: Transforming Execution & Leadership Performance
The impact of the Network of Agreements Framework was measurable and transformative:
Agreement Fulfillment Rate
Started at 13% in October 2021 then jumped to 61% the following month and reached 96% within six months and then an 85% average after six months and beyond.
Leadership Promotion
Dr. Wu's execution success played a role in his promotion to Interim CEO.
Cultural Shift Toward Accountability
Teams experienced empowerment through integrity, fostering a results-driven work environment.
Scalability & Expansion
The model enabled Dr. Wu to efficiently manage global teams while continuing rapid market expansion.
Leadership Impact & Takeaways
The Power of Execution Accountability
Dr. Wu’s ability to enforce agreements as the foundation of leadership execution allowed his teams to operate with clarity, alignment, and high performance despite global challenges.
Organizational Influence
While the Network of Agreements Framework proved highly effective within engineering teams, adoption across the entire C-suite was limited due to budget constraints, despite clear recognition of its value.
Endorsement & Future Implementation
Reflecting on the transformation, Dr. Wu stated that implementing the model was "tremendously valuable”. He highly recommends it to other leaders in organizations committed to increasing performance across teams, departments and divisions.
Scaling Leadership Execution with AI
As TigerGraph continues its global expansion, DorWay is in the process of evolving the Network of Agreements Framework with AI-driven execution tracking, predictive analytics, and automated accountability mechanisms. This next evolution will further redefine leadership execution at scale.
Dr. Wu’s success demonstrates that high-performance leadership is not about managing individuals, it is about structuring, tracking, and executing agreements that drive sustainable growth and results.
