{"id":6228,"date":"2020-01-24T18:30:09","date_gmt":"2020-01-24T23:30:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/flevy.com\/blog\/?p=6228"},"modified":"2020-12-19T22:41:34","modified_gmt":"2020-12-20T03:41:34","slug":"objectives-and-key-results-okr-your-management-strategy-to-achieving-that-goal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/flevy.com\/blog\/objectives-and-key-results-okr-your-management-strategy-to-achieving-that-goal\/","title":{"rendered":"Objectives and Key Results (OKR): Your Management Strategy to Achieving That Goal"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Peter Drucker, one of the first managerial thinkers, introduced <a href=\"https:\/\/flevy.com\/browse\/flevypro\/management-by-objectives-mbo-2662\">MBO or Management by Objectives<\/a>. This eventually paved the way for <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-6229\" src=\"https:\/\/flevy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/pic-2-Objectives-and-Key-Results-300x200.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/flevy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/pic-2-Objectives-and-Key-Results-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/flevy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/pic-2-Objectives-and-Key-Results-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/flevy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/pic-2-Objectives-and-Key-Results-1024x683.jpeg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>the birth of the <a href=\"https:\/\/flevy.com\/browse\/flevypro\/objectives-and-key-results-okr-4022\">Objectives and Key Results (OKR)<\/a> management philosophy. Andy Grove, known as the \u201cFather of OKRs\u201d, introduced the approach to Intel during the 1970s. This was further popularized by John Doer by introducing OKRs at Google in 1999.<\/p>\n<p>Today, successful organizations are now using OKRs.\u00a0 Objectives and Key Results is an efficient way to track company and team goals and measure their progress. It helps every organization\u2019s success by cutting out unimportant goals and focusing on what truly is important within the organization.<\/p>\n<p>Objectives and Key Results (OKR) has been seen as a way to communicate so that there is clarity of purpose.\u00a0 It is also a tool for motivating and aligning people to work together to achieve <a href=\"https:\/\/flevy.com\/operational-excellence\">Operational Excellence<\/a>. It increases transparency, accountability, and empowerment.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>What is OKR?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/flevy.com\/browse\/flevypro\/objectives-and-key-results-okr-4022\">OKR or Objectives and Key Results<\/a> is a popular Management Strategy for goal setting within organizations. \u00a0The goal of OKR is to define how to achieve objectives through concrete, specific, and measurable actions.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/flevy.com\/browse\/flevypro\/objectives-and-key-results-okr-4022\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-6230\" src=\"https:\/\/flevy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/pic-1-Objective-Key-Results.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"900\" height=\"676\" srcset=\"https:\/\/flevy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/pic-1-Objective-Key-Results.png 900w, https:\/\/flevy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/pic-1-Objective-Key-Results-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/flevy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/pic-1-Objective-Key-Results-768x577.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The OKR framework is structured with two framework components: the <a href=\"https:\/\/flevy.com\/browse\/flevypro\/objectives-and-key-results-okr-4022\">Objectives and Key Results<\/a>. This is to connect company, team, and personal goals to measurable results and direct all towards one unified direction<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Objectives<\/strong>. The Objectives consist of a list of 3-5 high-level objectives. This is supported by initiatives\u2014plans and activities focused on achieving the objective and moving forward the key results. Setting objectives requires a lot of thought as it goes beyond making money. In fact, it must follow defined characteristics and undertaken in a well-planned approach.\u00a0 This is to ensure that the objectives formulated are well-defined, focused, and achievable.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<ol start=\"2\">\n<li><strong>Key Results<\/strong>. Key Results add metrics to objectives. These are measured on a 0-100% scale or 0 to 1.0. Under each objective are 3 to 5 measurable Key Results. It measures how far from the objective your team is. It will give them a clear direction on what to do and how to do it.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Developing the right OKR requires being able to properly define your Objectives and Key Results. One way of doing this is by using the <a href=\"https:\/\/flevy.com\/browse\/flevypro\/management-by-objectives-mbo-2662\">SMART goal setting model<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>A Look at the SMART Model<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The SMART Model ensures that organizations get to effectively develop the right OKR.\u00a0 The SMART Model is the easiest way to set Key Results. Organizations just need to follow the SMART goal guidelines. Knowing what to do, as well as knowing not what to do, on an OKR journey to minimize problems and mistakes.<\/p>\n<p>The use of OKR requires cultural change and change itself is difficult. But with the use of the SMART goal guidelines, organizations can get the hang of it and can be effective in its OKR journey.<\/p>\n<p>Let us take a look at OKR examples that provides a clear application of the SMART model.<\/p>\n<p>The first example is the use of Sales OKR. Set Objective is to increase Q2 recurring revenues. Key Results are increased average subscription size by $500 per month ($0-$1500). The second Key Result is to increase the share of monthly subscription vs. one-time contracts sold to 85% (50%-85%).<\/p>\n<p>Another example is the Human Resource OKR. Set Objective is to improve internal employee engagement. Its first Key Result is conduct a monthly \u201cFun Friday\u201d all-hands meetings with an external motivational speaker (0-3 meetings).<\/p>\n<p>Interested in gaining more understanding of <a href=\"https:\/\/flevy.com\/browse\/flevypro\/objectives-and-key-results-okr-4022\">Objectives and Key Results<\/a>? You can learn more and download an <a href=\"https:\/\/flevy.com\/browse\/flevypro\/matrix-organization-primer-3469\">editable PowerPoint about <strong>Objectives and Key Results (OKR)<\/strong> here<\/a> on the <a href=\"https:\/\/flevy.com\/browse\">Flevy documents marketplace<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>Do You Find Value in This Framework?<\/h2>\n<p>You can download in-depth presentations on this and hundreds of similar business frameworks from the <a href=\"https:\/\/flevy.com\/pro\/library\">FlevyPro Library<\/a>. <a href=\"https:\/\/flevy.com\/pro\">FlevyPro<\/a> is trusted and utilized by 1000s of management consultants and corporate executives. Here&#8217;s what some have to say:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;My FlevyPro subscription provides me with the most popular frameworks and decks in demand in today\u2019s market. They not only augment my existing consulting and coaching offerings and delivery, but also keep me abreast of the latest trends, inspire new products and service offerings for my practice, and educate me in a fraction of the time and money of other solutions. I strongly recommend FlevyPro to any consultant serious about success.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\">\u2013 Bill Branson, Founder at Strategic Business Architects<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;As a niche strategic consulting firm, Flevy and FlevyPro frameworks and documents are an on-going reference to help us structure our findings and recommendations to our clients as well as improve their clarity, strength, and visual power. For us, it is an invaluable resource to increase our impact and value.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\">\u2013 David Coloma, Consulting Area Manager at Cynertia Consulting<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;As a small business owner, the resource material available from FlevyPro has proven to be invaluable. The ability to search for material on demand based our project events and client requirements was great for me and proved very beneficial to my clients. Importantly, being able to easily edit and tailor the material for specific purposes helped us to make presentations, knowledge sharing, and toolkit development, which formed part of the overall program collateral. While FlevyPro contains resource material that any consultancy, project or delivery firm must have, it is an essential part of a small firm or independent consultant&#8217;s toolbox.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\">\u2013 Michael Duff, Managing Director at Change Strategy (UK)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;FlevyPro has been a brilliant resource for me, as an independent growth consultant, to access a vast knowledge bank of presentations to support my work with clients. In terms of RoI, the value I received from the very first presentation I downloaded paid for my subscription many times over! The quality of the decks available allows me to punch way above my weight \u2013 it&#8217;s like having the resources of a Big 4 consultancy at your fingertips at a microscopic fraction of the overhead.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\">\u2013 Roderick Cameron, Founding Partner at SGFE Ltd<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;Several times a month, I browse FlevyPro for presentations relevant to the job challenge I have (I am a consultant). When the subject requires it, I explore further and buy from the Flevy Marketplace. On all occasions, I read them, analyze them. I take the most relevant and applicable ideas for my work; and, of course, all this translates to my and my clients&#8217; benefits.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\">\u2013 Omar Hern\u00e1n Montes Parra, CEO at Quantum SFE<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Peter Drucker, one of the first managerial thinkers, introduced MBO or Management by Objectives. This eventually paved the way for the birth of the Objectives and Key Results (OKR) management philosophy. Andy Grove, known as the \u201cFather of OKRs\u201d, introduced the approach to Intel during the 1970s. This was further popularized by John Doer by&hellip;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/flevy.com\/blog\/objectives-and-key-results-okr-your-management-strategy-to-achieving-that-goal\/\" rel=\"bookmark\"><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Objectives and Key Results (OKR): Your Management Strategy to Achieving That Goal<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":111,"featured_media":6229,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"neve_meta_sidebar":"","neve_meta_container":"","neve_meta_enable_content_width":"","neve_meta_content_width":0,"neve_meta_title_alignment":"","neve_meta_author_avatar":"","neve_post_elements_order":"","neve_meta_disable_header":"","neve_meta_disable_footer":"","neve_meta_disable_title":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1,408,85,81],"tags":[1907,1908,328,1909],"class_list":["post-6228","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-general","category-management-leadership","category-organization","category-strategy","tag-okr-concept","tag-okr-or-objectives-and-key-results","tag-operational-excellence","tag-smart-model"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/flevy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6228","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/flevy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/flevy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flevy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/111"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flevy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6228"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/flevy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6228\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8025,"href":"https:\/\/flevy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6228\/revisions\/8025"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flevy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6229"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/flevy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6228"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flevy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6228"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/flevy.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6228"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}