book

The OKR Blueprint

Name: The OKR Blueprint
Author: Philipp Schett
ISBN: 9781398629080

by Philipp Schett

September 2026

Intermediate

256 pages

6h 36m

English

Kogan Page

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Cover
Endorsements
Titlepage
Dedication
Contents
List of Figures
List of Tables
About the author
Acknowledgements
Introduction
About this bookNote

1 Why you should care about OKRs
Why OKRs are importantGoals as effective management practiceKey takeawaysNotes
2 History, myths and misconceptions about OKRs
Before OKRs: Drucker and the rise of goals as managementSystems thinking and the shift towards outcomesAndy Grove and the birth of OKRsJohn Doerr, Google and the globalization of OKRsKey takeawaysNotes
3 The OKR(A) model
Build the system, not the buzzwordClarityEnergyCapabilityOKRs can set organizations apartKey takeaways
4 Objectives
Defining objectivesObjective checklistKey takeaways
5 Key results
Defining key resultsKey result checklistInterview: Franco Gatti, ABBKey takeaways
6 Actions
Planning effective actionExamples of high-quality OKRAsKey takeaways
7 OKRs in comparison to other frameworks
Build what works for youKey takeawaysNotes
8 Goals without guardrails
Common reasons why goals are not achievedGoal-setting guardrailsMid-quarter course correctionsKey takeawaysNotes
9 The problems with current OKR implementations
The clarity problemThe energy problemThe capability problemKey takeaways
10 How to connect long-term goals with OKRs and KPIs
The three aligned frameworksKey takeaways
11 Align and localize
The OKR cycleWhy AIMs are not enoughStart at the highest level that uses OKRsCommunicate before you localizeWhat localization actually isUse your own nouns and verbsNot every team needs every priorityBottom-up input mattersWhat good localization feels likeTie-offs ensure alignmentProgress beats perfectionWorkshops are the mechanism, not the pointInterview: Tonni Bjerregaard Rasmussen, UnikKey takeaways
12 OKR alignment with tie-offs
OKR alignment review for OKR coachesResolving issuesKey takeaways
13 Focus and execute
Results Ritual 1: All-hands/town hallsResults Ritual 2: Business reviewsResults Ritual 3: Calibrate and celebrateResults Ritual 4: Project meetingsResults Ritual 5: 1:1sResults Ritual 6: Performance check-insThe end of the OKR cycle and the start of a new oneInterview: Harry Blease, Virgin Media O2Key takeaways
14 The building blocks required to launch, mature and scale OKR programmes effectively
The five building blocksKey takeaways
15 Creating a dedicated programme team and an active community
The programme teamInterview: Lu Al-Nsour, strategy leaderKey takeaways
16 Establishing a strong OKR process
Custom OKR processOKR parametersOKRs for OKRsThe OKR playbookInterview: Jed Vigil, Union WirelessKey takeaways
17 Thoughtful communication
Start with the ‘why’ and clearly outline the benefitsGather visible and active executive supportChoose the right languageTailor your approach to your target groupBuild a clear communication planStart with as much momentum as possibleRepeat the message consistently and relentlesslyTips for relaunching your OKR programmeInterview: Robert Scott, Center for Elders’ IndependenceKey takeaways
18 Robust training
Training is an ongoing processIntroduction to OKRsTraining on Results Rituals, ask-me-anything sessions and softwareOKR coach certificationInterview: Gabriele Andrighetti, ABB Smart PowerKey takeaways
19 Engaging OKR workshops
Preparation: the work before the workshopThe opening: the first 15 minutesWriting good objectivesHow to sequence the workshopWriting good key resultsClosing the workshopThe superset formatIt’s work but it’s worth itDifficult workshop scenariosInterview: Dan Kahn, Hiringa EnergyKey takeaways
20 Maturing and scaling an OKR programme
How to continuously improve your programme – matureExpanding the programme to more groups and teams – scaleInterview: Nick Sullivan, KiwibankKey takeaways
21 AI and the future of OKRs and strategy execution
Using AI for drafting, setting and aligning OKRsAI agentsAI in OKR execution and results ritualsThe limitations of AIInterview: Stefano Corradino, Gruppo SellaKey takeaways
22 OKRs and performance management
Two systems, two jobsAnchor evaluation in what actually defines successSkip individual OKRsEvaluate contribution, not completionAvoid the goal-scoring trapReward the right OKR behavioursJudgement still mattersGetting the balance rightKey takeaways
Conclusion: Making OKRs work
Index
Copyright

Content preview from The OKR Blueprint

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Philipp Schett is the founder and CEO of WaveNine, a consulting firm that helps organizations turn strategy into execution through effective OKR programmes. Originally from Germany, he later moved to Silicon Valley, where he built his career in tech, including roles at T-Mobile and Meta, before founding WaveNine. He often describes his approach as a blend of German precision and American optimism.

Over the past decade, Philipp and his team have supported more than 300 OKR rollouts across companies of different sizes, industries and stages of growth. Through that work, he has developed a deep understanding of what separates OKR programmes that build real momentum from those that stall after kickoff. His experience has shown him ...

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The OKR Blueprint

by Philipp Schett

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Become an O’Reilly member and get unlimited access to this title plus top books and audiobooks from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers, thousands of courses curated by job role, 150+ live events each month,
and much more.