In recent years, ‘Theory U’ has greatly influenced Titansoft, a Singaporean company renowned for its Agile development. Recently, Titansoft’s General Manager, Tomas Li, was invited to speak at the ‘Global Ecosystem Leadership Online Forum’ on the topic of ‘The Current State of all-aged Agile Practice.’ Coincidentally, he shared the virtual stage with Dr. Otto Scharmer, author of Essentials of Theory U, and their insights resonated with each other. This aligned with the forum’s theme: hoping to connect more people’s actions and strengths through the sharing of domestic and international advocates of social change practices.
In the face of the accelerating collapse of VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity), everyone is searching for solutions to create a better future.
Therefore, since 2014, Titansoft has adopted Agile development and successfully leveraged Agile management to drive its transformation. Tomas stated that businesses must respond to external changes more quickly to survive. This aligns with the ‘0.8 Principle’ in Theory U—the sooner you fail, the faster you learn. ‘Done is better than perfect,’ which is also a core idea of Agile, emphasizes early delivery and continuous improvement.
Agile is not just a software development framework or concept; it can also be expanded into ‘organizational agility’ and the establishment of an ‘Agile culture.’ Tomas emphasized, ‘What we are learning is not just software development methods, but more importantly, communication between people.’
Through his books, software engineering master Gerald Weinberg often reminded us: ‘No matter what your initial perspective on a problem is, most of the time, it’s a people problem.'”
Tomas pointed out: “Weinberg constantly reminded us that problems in software development—such as poor code quality, unclear requirements, and other issues—are ultimately people problems, not technical ones. To solve these problems, we need to improve our people, enhance communication between individuals, and create better interactions. Only then will problems naturally be resolved. This aligns with what Dr. Otto Scharmer discusses regarding the core of systems—the essence always comes back to oneself.”
In 2014, Agile practice expert Linda Rising, who inspired Titansoft’s Agile journey, once said: “Mindsets are not fixed, especially a growth mindset—it can be trained like a muscle.” This idea is reflected in the phrase on Titansoft’s website: “We are not born agile.” Over the years, Titansoft has continuously embraced change and learning, gradually evolving from personal Agile development to promoting all-aged Agile—helping more people grow together. This Agile journey is still ongoing, with more and more people joining along the way.
Further Reading｜How Agile Practitioner Linda Rising Became a Key Figure in Titansoft’s Transformation—Unlocking the Source of a Growth Mindset!
In 2021, on the 15th anniversary of Titansoft, the company documented its journey of organizational transformation in the book A Roaming Whale’s Tale. Tomas explained that this book encapsulates Titansoft’s Agile culture. The reason for recording and sharing these experiences was to ensure that more people could understand this culture beyond just a small group of insiders.
Reflecting on Titansoft’s years of all-aged Agile advocacy, Tomas shared that the company initially encountered Agile due to challenges and setbacks. They started with uncertainty, learning as they went, and eventually gained confidence through practice. Once they had a solid foundation, they became committed to promoting Agile, giving back to the community that had provided them with valuable support during their transformation journey.
Their efforts began with community and school activities, later expanding to sponsorships of various conferences. Their footprint now spans Taiwan and across Southeast Asia, including Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, and India. The goal has always been to support Agile community partners, ensuring that the Agile mindset takes root in various industries and continues to thrive.
Over time, these efforts have made a significant impact. Since 2017, Titansoft has participated in six editions of the Taiwan University Student Information Application Service Competition, with nearly 100 teams applying for the Titan Agile Development Award. Along the way, they have conducted 25 campus outreach events, helping more students understand what Agile development is all about.
In the industry sector, Titansoft collaborated with iThome in 2022 for the Ironman Contest, where the Agile Practice category accumulated over 200 articles, contributing to the development and promotion of Agile thinking. Tomas shared that continuous exploration and contribution within the community have transformed Agile practice into a thriving ecosystem. It has become a self-sustaining cycle, much like the philosophy of Tai Chi—where everything flows and regenerates endlessly.
In 2020, Titansoft became a core promoter of the GOLF (Gap of Learning & Field) Learning-to-Work Alliance, where they systematically introduced Agile thinking to universities. This allowed students to encounter these concepts early, without having to wait until they enter the workforce. The earlier they learn, the more effective it becomes.
Next, Titansoft expanded its Agile promotion efforts to middle and elementary school students. In 2021, they partnered with the online gaming platform PaGamO to launch “Agile Whale Island,” a year-long program that engaged nearly 560,000 students in learning. Tomas shared that this achievement greatly inspired the team, as they saw the true implementation of all-aged Agile.
Looking back at all these initiatives, they all began with a small idea, followed by a willingness to experiment. Titansoft hopes that through the process of promoting all-aged Agile, people can see how a small company can inspire a group of people and ultimately create a significant impact.
T.8ytes by Titansoft 