We are in planning season at Digit. Like a number of other technology companies, we use OKRs. I was puzzled by the wide range of OKR effectiveness at different companies. My study of the nuances of different approaches led to the conclusions outlined in this note. OKRs are incredibly useful but it takes a long time for OKR usage to become effective. Shortcut your company’s learning process by understanding and implementing the following ten ideas. If you find them helpful, drop me a note.
What are OKRs?
OKRs stands for Objectives and Key Results. They capture two things:
- Objective: The goal a company wants to achieve (“What”)
- Key Results: The path to achieving that goal (“How”)
OKRs are an invaluable management tool for organizations of all sizes. Used properly, they allow an organization to unlock four superpowers:
- Focus and commit to priorities.
- Align and connect for teamwork.
- Accountability through tracking.
- Stretch to achieve the impossible.
[Measure What Matters, John Doerr]
OKRs are a tool. The act of using OKRs does not guarantee Google-like performance, innovation, or market dominance. OKRs are not a strategy, nor…
