Objectives and Key Results (OKR)

The main objective of any company is to organise resources (time, money, assets, knowledge, etc.) in such a way that the company’s goals are achieved. Therefore, it is fundamental and critical for success that all employees…

• know these goals
• understand the goals (WHY increases understanding and acceptance)
• recognise their own share in the company’s goals (participation)
• actively pursue the company’s goals
• are able to measure their own goals in order to learn and improve
• De-prioritise measures that do not contribute to the achievement of goals (focus)
• Be able to represent the goals to the outside world (suppliers, press, environment)

What are Objectives and Key Results (OKR)?

OKR is a structured target process of systematic target setting and tracking. Two questions are at the centre of this process:

1. what do we want to achieve?
(Goals/Objectives)

2. how can we measure whether we have achieved the goal?
(Core Results/Key Results)

Invented by Intel, the effective goal-setting process has since been adapted by many successful companies, most notably Google, Apple, Microsoft, LinkedIn, Amazon, Tesla and many others. In the meantime, medium-sized companies are also recognising the advantages of this integrated goal-setting system and are engaging with OKR.

Our trainer learned the OKR framework in the late 1990s at the company that invented OKRs – Intel. At Intel’s European headquarters, the target system was not only taught, but also consistently applied. For 18 years now, we have therefore been supporting companies in optimising their target system, target tracking and target achievement.

What do the OKR trainings/workshops include?

The OKR trainings/workshops have two main functions:

1. the OKR target system is taught and explained in detail and all aspects, enriched with examples, case studies, tools and methodology (training).

2. the team then puts what it has learned into practice on the basis of the current company goals and creates an integrated OKR system (workshop).

OKRs function like a navigation system for achieving goals in the company. Each employee formulates goals and key results (how they will be achieved) in a standard document or app. The basis for this are the previously shared company goals. Thus, OKRs are a unified system and ensure a cross-company approach from top to bottom and vice versa. The implicit is made explicit, prioritisation (focus) is automatic and transparency is created: no hanky-panky, but clear orientation.

OKRs thus also include expectation management with superiors (realistic objectives) and enable clear and measurable verification of results.

Compared to conventional target systems such as Command-and-Control (CAC), Balanced Scorecard (BSC), or Management-by-Objectives (MBO), OKRs have a number of advantages – they are :

• Transparent
• Participative
• Culture-shaping
• Focusing
• Ambitious
• Integrated (Alignment)
• Motivating

What are the benefits of OKR trainings and workshops?

Participants of OKR leadership trainings and workshops learn:

• get to know the successful OKR goal system in detail
• the structure of a criteria-based and integrated target system
• entrepreneurial thinking and acting
• how to control and review corporate goals
• focus on goals that make a demonstrable contribution to corporate objectives
• the inclusion of all hierarchical levels in the target system
• various tools and methods for better goal achievement
• feedback mechanisms for continuous improvement

Training to become a Certified OKR Master

As an alternative to the OKR training/workshop, we offer managers and staff a 3-day training to become a Certified OKR Master. The programme covers all aspects of developing, implementing and cultivating OKRs in the company and concludes with a final examination. Interested parties can order the flyer here: learning@key-values.com