Objectives and Key Results

Introduction

WHY WE WROTE THIS BOOK

Any company embarking on an OKRs implementation will realize very soon after the work begins that it is much more than a “measurement project.” The ultimate goal is improved performance through the identification of objectives and key results that are refreshed frequently in order to ensure agility in a business world where the pace of change is ever accelerating. However, to achieve success with OKRs, there are numerous processes and tasks that must be seamlessly executed. Generating support and enthusiasm from executives, determining where to deploy OKRs, mastering the nuances of effective OKRs, connecting OKRs throughout the company, reporting results, capturing key learnings, and ingraining the methodology into the culture of the organization are just some of the requirements of an effective rollout.

As we write this, the OKRs field is still relatively nascent in terms of standard practices and proven procedures. It is an emerging discipline, and while implementations are growing by the day, and consultants and software providers are coming forward in attempts to plug knowledge gaps, no definitive how-to guide exists for organizations anxious to implement OKRs without falling prey to potential pitfalls that can derail this or any change effort. This book is our answer to that challenge. It was written to fill the void that currently exists between knowledge and practice. Organizations wishing to reap the benefits of OKRs must first be made ...