Week 28, 2018
OKR: The Book, The Critique, and the How-To
Each week, I share three ideas on how to make work better. And this week, the theme is Objectives & Key Results (OKR) — the goal-setting method that propelled companies like Intel, Google, and Facebook to where they are today.
1. The Book
Last month, investor and venture capitalist John Doerr published his book “Measure What Matters — How Google, Bono, and the Gates Foundation Rock the World with OKRs.” It’s a must-read for anyone interested in OKR.
For more, read the book: Measure What Matters
2. The Critique
Doerr’s book is not without its flaws. And it wasn’t long before business consultant and OKR coach Felipe Castro published a respectful yet hard-hitting critique. It’s a worthwhile read for anyone wanting to understand the difference between activities and outcomes.
Read the full critique at Measure What Really Matters
3. The How-To
Criticizing the man who popularized OKR can’t be easy. But Castro is the man to do it. He has, in my opinion, written the best OKR how-to guide currently available. It’s an absolute must-read for anyone wanting to successfully adopt OKR in their organization.
For more, see How to Measure What Really Matters
OKR can provide the foundation atop which results-driven cultures are built. But for that to happen, we must focus on outcomes rather than outputs. That is, we need to measure the results achieved rather than the tasks completed.
