What is OKR: OKR is an agile leadership and goal management framework. It is a strategy execution tool to guide result-focused work, create alignment and engagement around measurable goals. OKRs consist of one Objective and several Key Results. Explore an
extensive OKR definition in our Magazine.
Objectives: Are desirable, ambitious goals, qualitatively describing an aspired outcome. It sets a clear direction for everyone and is supposed to motivate you to work towards it. The Objective basically tells you where you want to go.
Key Results: Describe the metrics you will use to check if you are on the right track to achieve your Objective. They are measurable results indicating your progress towards achieving an Objective and will tell you if you have achieved it. Key Results usually have a starting and a target value to measure how you progress towards your Objective. Through this, you always know how close you are to your final destination and if you will have to change something to get there.
The OKR Cycle: To really make OKRs work, the process component of the framework is just as important as its different parts (e.g. Objectives, Key Results) and the different roles (e.g. OKR Coaches, Program Leads). The process component of the framework is also called OKR Cycle. It describes a sequence of different events that ensure
- proper definition
- execution
- measurement
- and continuous improvement
of goals and the overall strategy execution. A clearly defined OKR process with regular events to plan, align, update, reflect and adjust is the heart of a successful agile goal and strategy execution system. Learn more about the steps of the OKR Cycle and other artefacts of the OKR method like Check-ins and Retrospectives.
The history of the OKR method: the idea of OKRs has come a long way. Already in 1968, back then CEO of Intel, Andy Grove, developed the Management by Objectives framework of Peter Drucker into the model of OKRs. In 1974, John Doerr joined Intel, got to know OKRs and took them with him, when he joined Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers – one of the first major investors in Google. Doerr introduced OKRs to the founders of Google, who implemented them in their organization, which still uses OKRs today.