Embrace the Path to Success with OKR

What is OKR? 

Objectives represent ambitious, qualitative goals that articulate the needs to accomplish. Key Results, on the other hand, are specific, measurable, and time-bound outcomes that indicate progress towards those objectives. This is the basic OKR meaning. 

This framework is helpful because it is not just about setting goals. These are high-level objectives, and they must be measurable based on the senior leaders' broader vision. This is done by breaking down the larger goal into measurable key results that are actionable to give every team a sense of responsibility. 

Implementing OKRs as a transparent benchmark in leadership helps in creating alignment and engaging cross-department teams with clear direction. It also works as a communication tool, letting them stay focused on the time-defined tasks that contribute to the larger business strategy. 

How the Components of OKR Work

To shed light on the OKR meaning, let’s look at the components and how it is used with a basic template.  

Objective (O): This is the overarching goal or what needs to be achieved. It should be clear, inspirational, and aligned with the organisation's mission and strategy. 

For example, 

• O - Increase customer satisfaction. 

Key Results (KR): These are specific, measurable outcomes that indicate progress towards achieving the objective. These must be quantifiable and time-bound so that one gets a clear path to measure success. 

For instance, 

• KR1 - Achieve a Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 70 or higher by the end of the quarter.
• KR2- Reduce customer support response time to less than 24 hours on average.
• KR3 - Increase customer retention rate by 15% compared to the previous quarter.

Basic Template of OKR

An OKR template is highly customisable, and it is applicable for a variety of organisational purposes for different teams. 

Below is a basic template that renowned venture capitalist, John Doerr made popular, after taking the idea from Andy Grove at Intel. Doerr first introduced this template to Google’s founders. 

I will [what to achieve] as measured by [3 to 5 key results]

Have a look at the screenshot below. You can see the OKR template is used across different levels of management. These OKRs are connected to the overall organisation’s goals, which denotes they should be aligned from a macroscopic to a granular level.

Source: Miro

As you can observe, the objectives serve as the guiding principles directing the focus and efforts of individuals or teams. They are clear, qualitative statements that outline what needs to be achieved. 

Likewise, the key results section provides quantifiable metrics or outcomes that help evaluate success. By establishing concrete and measurable criteria, key results enable teams to track their progress. 

Learn more on OKR from this video and enhance your knowledge on important product management topics. 

 

Benefits of OKRs

The benefits of OKRs can be better understood when you ask two questions. 

• What is the role of alignment in OKR?

• How can you monitor progress when using OKR?

Answering the first question, alignment ensures that individual, team, and deartmental objectives are interconnected and contribute to the overarching mission of the company. Alignment also prevents silos, as it becomes a unified effort towards the shared vision.

To answer the second question - organisations regularly monitor results. These regular reviews allow for course correction, adjustments, and realignment of strategies if necessary. Check-ins facilitate agility and responsiveness to changing circumstances. That’s how teams stay on track towards achieving their objectives. 

Types of OKRs

Aspirational OKRs

Aspirational OKRs are ambitious, stretch goals or moonshots that aim high and push the boundaries of what's achievable. They might not be entirely attainable within a given timeframe but serve as a source of inspiration and motivation for teams.

These OKRs focus on significant progress, innovation, and growth. They challenge individuals or teams to strive for remarkable achievements that might seem challenging to reach.

Example

Objective: Revolutionise User Experience and Engagement

Key Results:

KR1: Develop and launch an AI-powered user interface feature that achieves a minimum of 90% positive user feedback within three months.

KR2: Increase user engagement by 50% through the introduction of gamification elements or interactive functionalities.

KR3: Achieve a Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 70+ by implementing personalised, AI-driven recommendations to enhance user satisfaction.

This aspirational OKR pushes the boundaries by aiming for groundbreaking innovations that significantly enhance user experience and engagement. Setting ambitious goals that challenge existing norms is important here. 

Committed OKRs

Committed OKRs are achievable objectives. Teams are fully committed to accomplishing them within a specified timeframe. These goals are realistic and have a higher likelihood of being attained with concerted effort.

These OKRs are specific, measurable, and attainable. They outline concrete outcomes or milestones that teams can realistically achieve, focusing on successful deliverables.

Example

Objective: Launch Enhanced Feature Set for Improved Customer Satisfaction

Key Results:

KR1: Successfully deploy and operationalise five new product features within the next development cycle. 

KR2: Attain a 30% increase in customer satisfaction scores (through user feedback and surveys post-feature launch).

KR3: Achieve a 20% decrease in customer-reported issues or bugs related to the newly launched features within the first month.

Learning OKRs

Learning OKRs are focused on experimentation, exploration, or acquiring new skills or knowledge. These objectives prioritise learning outcomes, insights, or discoveries rather than solely achieving a specific target.

They encourage risk-taking, innovation, and acquiring new knowledge or capabilities.

Example

Objective: Explore Emerging Technologies for Future Product Enhancement

Key Results:

KR1: Conduct comprehensive research on blockchain integration possibilities, presenting findings on potential benefits and challenges for product enhancement.

KR2: Organise workshops and training sessions on machine learning applications, generating at least three potential use cases for product improvement within the next quarter.

KR3: Collaborate with industry experts through seminars or webinars to gain insights into the latest technological advancements and their potential applications in the product roadmap. 

Case Study: The Impact of OKRs in Driving Google Chrome's Success

Google Chrome's meteoric rise to dominance stands as a testament to the efficacy of Objectives and Key Results (OKRs). Let’s see how Google used it for innovation, persistence, and strategic goal-setting.

Challenge 

In 2008, Sundar Pichai and his team faced the formidable task of launching Google Chrome in an already crowded market. Their objective was not merely to introduce another browser in the market, but to revolutionise the web browsing experience.

OKRs as a Strategic Tool

Sundar Pichai, then Vice President of Product Development, recognised the power of OKRs in setting ambitious yet achievable goals. 

Utilising OKRs, they established clear Objectives – making the web browsing experience faster and more user-friendly – and defined specific Key Results to track their progress.

Setting Stretch Goals

The Chrome team embraced stretch goals within their OKRs, aiming for milestones that pushed beyond conventional boundaries. The ambition to reach 111 million seven-day active users became a pivotal OKR, embodying the stretch goal philosophy.

Adaptability and Persistence 

Despite initial setbacks and not meeting their 2009 target of 50 million active users, the team remained undeterred. They pivoted, adapting strategies, broadening product distribution, and launching innovative marketing campaigns to increase Chrome's accessibility and appeal.

Innovation and Reinvention 

The OKR framework fuelled innovation, driving the Chrome team to reinvent the business model, explore new marketing strategies, and expand the browser's reach to different operating systems, breaking the Windows-only barrier.

The Result 

Through persistent effort and strategic use of OKRs, the Chrome team witnessed significant growth, surpassing their ambitious target of 111 million active users. Their adaptive approach, guided by OKRs, led Chrome to become the most popular web browser, on both mobile and desktop platforms, till today. 

How to Set OKRs for Your Product Team

Product managers generally focus on the key areas of development process when setting OKRs. They could look into improving user engagement metrics, such as customer feedback scores. Or, they could improve revenue by focusing on the average revenue per user (ARPU). 

Let’s look at how OKRs are set in the product scenario, right from understanding top-level objectives and finally narrowing down - a top-down approach of sorts. 

Organisational Goals

Gain clarity on the company's overarching objectives, business strategies, and priorities. Identify how the product team's efforts contribute to these broader goals.

Stakeholders’ Needs

Engage with cross-functional teams, including engineering, design, marketing, and sales, to understand their needs and align product objectives with their requirements. This phase makes stakeholder management easier later. 

Define Clear Objectives

Establish specific and outcome-driven Objectives that reflect the desired achievements for the product team. These objectives should be ambitious yet attainable and directly linked to product success.

Craft Measurable Key Results

Break down each Objective into measurable and quantifiable Key Results. These Key Results should be specific, time-bound, and serve as indicators of progress towards achieving the Objectives.

Prioritise Key Areas of Focus

Identify and prioritise key focus areas for the product team. This could include product improvements, user experience enhancements, feature launches, or market expansion.

Ensure Alignment and Relevance

The Objectives and Key Results must be aligned with customer needs, market trends, and the product's strategic roadmap. They should be relevant and impactful for the product's success. This step is important for customer engagement. 

Balance Aspirational and Committed Goals

Include aspirational goals that encourage innovation and push boundaries, balanced with committed goals that are realistic and achievable within a defined timeframe.

Quantify Key Results with Metrics

Define metrics or KPIs for each Key Result. These metrics should be measurable and directly correlated with the progress towards achieving the desired outcomes.

Communicate and Gain Buy-in

Communicate the set OKRs across the product team and relevant stakeholders. Ensure everyone understands the Objectives, Key Results, and their role in contributing to their accomplishment.

Regularly Review and Iterate

Conduct regular check-ins and reviews to monitor progress towards Key Results. Be open to iterations or adjustments based on changing priorities, market dynamics, or new insights.

Celebrate Achievements and Learn from Failures

Acknowledge and celebrate milestones achieved along the way. Additionally, learn from any setbacks, using them as opportunities for learning and improvement.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in OKRs

Here are some common OKR mistakes you MUST avoid.

OKR Mistakes	Description
Overloading with Objectives	Setting too many Objectives, leading to confusion and lack of focus among teams.
Vague or Unrealistic Objectives	Objectives lacking clarity, being too broad or unattainable, hindering progress.
Neglecting Key Results' Measurability	Key Results without measurable metrics or being too subjective, hampering progress tracking.
Lack of Alignment with Company Goals	Failure to align individual or team OKRs with broader organisational objectives.
Set-and-Forget Mentality	Not reviewing or updating OKRs regularly, resulting in stagnant or irrelevant objectives.
Micromanaging Key Results	Excessive control over Key Results limiting innovation and discouraging risk-taking.
Ignoring Failures or Setbacks	Overlooking failures without learning opportunities or adaptation.
Lack of Communication and Transparency	Not communicating OKRs transparently, leading to misunderstandings and lack of alignment.
Not Celebrating Achievements	Failure to acknowledge or celebrate milestones achieved, impacting team motivation.
Blindly Copying OKRs	Replicating OKRs from other organisations without context or relevance to the company's needs.

So far on OKRs in this blog…

• OKRs align product strategies with organisational goals for enhanced focus and productivity.

• There is a balance between ambitious goals and realistic objectives in product development.
• OKRs serve as a catalyst for innovation, adaptability and continual improvement within product teams
• Regular reviews and adjustments keep teams on track, facilitating agile responses to market dynamics.

Now that you got a hang of OKRs, you may learn further how to write and refine them yourself with hands-on online courses such as OKR Certification by Measure What Matters on Coursera.