Everything you need to implement Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) effectively
Objectives and Key Results is the first full-fledged reference guide on Objectives and Key Results, a critical thinking framework designed to help organizations create value through focus, alignment, and better communication. Written by two leading OKRs consultants and researchers, this book provides a one-stop resource for organizations looking to quantify qualitative goals and ensure each team focuses their efforts to make measureable progress on their most important goals. You’ll learn how OKRs came to be and how leading companies use them every day to help teams and employees stretch their thinking about what’s possible, build their goal-setting muscles and achieve results that reflect their full potential. From the basic framework to a detailed dissection of best practices, this informative guide walks you through real-world implementations to help you get the most out of OKRs.
OKRs help employees work together, focus effort, and drive the organization forward. Key results are used to define what it means to achieve broad, qualitative goals, and imperatives like “do it better” are transformed into clear, measureable markers. From the framework’s inception in the 1980s to its popularity in today’s hyper-competitive environment, OKRs make work more engaging and feature frequent feedback cycles that enable workers to see the progress they make at work each and every day. This book shows you everything you need to know to implement OKRs effectively.
- Understand the basics of OKRs and their day-to-day use
- Learn how to gain the executive support critical to a successful implementation
- Maintain an effective program with key assessment tips
- Tailor the OKRs framework to your organization’s needs
Objectives and Key Results is your key resource for designing, planning, implementing, and maintaining your OKRs program for sustainable company-wide success.
PAUL R. NIVEN is a partner at OKRsTraining.com. He is the author of five previous books on strategy and execution, which have been translated in over 15 languages.
BEN LAMORTE is a partner at OKRsTraining.com. He is an internationally recognized OKRs coach who has consulted with organizations around the world.
Introduction xiii
Acknowledgments xix
Chapter 1: Introduction to OKRs 1
The History of OKRs 1
What Are Objectives and Key Results (OKRs)? 6
Objectives 8
Key Results 8
Organizational Challenges, and Why You Need OKRs 13
Benefits of OKRs 20
Notes 26
Chapter 2: Preparing for Your OKRs Journey 29
Why Are You Implementing OKRs? 29
Executive Sponsorship: A Critical Component of Your OKRs Implementation 31
Where to Develop Your OKRs 33
Special Cases 36
An OKRs Development Plan 37
Key Lessons for Successful Transformation 41
The Building Blocks of OKRs: Mission, Vision, and Strategy 42
Roadmap Strategy 53
Notes 59
Chapter 3: Creating Effective OKRs 61
Omaha 61
Creating Powerful Objectives 62
Tips for Creating Objectives 64
Objective Descriptions 68
Characteristics of Effective Key Results 69
Tips for Creating Key Results 73
Types of Key Results 76
Scoring OKRs 80
How Often Do We Set OKRs? 85
How Many OKRs Do We Have? 86
Do OKRs Stay the Same from Quarter to Quarter? 88
Can OKRs Change during the Quarter? 89
The Process to Set OKRs 90
Notes 95
Chapter 4: Connecting OKRs to Drive Alignment 97
A Critical Link 99
Connecting OKRs 99
How to Connect OKRs 100
Creating Alignment 108
Confirming the Alignment of Connected OKRs 113
Closing Thoughts on Connecting 114
Notes 115
Chapter 5: Managing with OKRs 117
The Cycle: Monday Meetings, Mid-Quarter Check-Ins, and Quarterly Reviews 118
Updating OKRs at the End of the Quarter 128
Software and OKRs 129
Let’s Play 20 Questions! 137
Notes 138
Chapter 6: Making OKRs Sustainable 141
Don’t Think of OKRs as a Project 141
Who Owns the OKRs Process? 142
OKRs and Performance Reviews 144
OKRs and Incentive Compensation 147
Top 10 OKRs Issues 151
How Not to Implement OKRs . . . and Where Consultants Can Help 156
Concluding Thoughts 159
Notes 160
Chapter 7: Case Studies in OKRs Use 161
Flipkart 162
Career Builder 167
Zalando 171
Sears Holdings Corporation (SHC) 175
Go Noodle 185
Tax Slayer 190
Note 194
About the Authors 195
Index 197
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