OKR and OGSM
All about OKR
OKR (Objectives & Key Results) is a well-known management method that centres the goals of an organisation. With OKR, you translate your objectives into 3-5 measurable or deliverable results. That way, everybody in the organisation knows how they can contribute to the objectives. We’ll answer all frequently asked questions about the OKR method below.
What is OKR?
OKR is fundamentally a method to set and achieve meaningful goals. With OKR you systematically link your goals to measurable results. This way, it is clear to everyone how the objective is progressing and when it has been achieved. With OKR, you create direction and alignment within your organization. The aim is to make sure that everyone knows which direction the organization is headed, and where the priorities lie.
What does OKR stand for?
OKR stands for Objectives and Key Results.
OKR’s Objectives are the long-term goals that are based on your vision and mission. They are descriptions of what you want to achieve. They should be short, ambitious, easy to understand and they should set a clear direction. If your Objective doesn’t motivate and challenge the team, it’s not a good Objective.
OKR’s Key Results are the measurements of the Objectives. If you get a Key Result, it must contribute to one of the Objectives. OKR’s Key Results provide an indication of the Objective’s progress. They should be SMART: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound. Alternatively, Key Results can be defined as ‘action results’, as concrete deliverables.
Who invented OKR?
Like OGSM, OKR originated from Management by Objectives. While Management by Objectives was conceived by Peter Drucker, Andrew Grove first spoke about OKR in his book High Output Management. When Andrew Grove founded his own company, Intel, he also introduced this method of goal management at his own company. At Intel, John Doerr got to know and work with the method. John Doerr eventually introduced OKR to Google, and nowadays the OKR method is used by large companies worldwide including Spotify and Netflix.
It will show you how to fit your OKRs in an OGSM plan on a single page or screen
Why use OKR?
OKR is a proven method used around the world. It’s very easy to understand and can offer quick benefits to organisations looking to become more goal-focused. OKR can benefit anyone who needs to set and reach goals as part of their work. Because it helps you translate your organization’s vision and mission into measurable goals, OKR helps people understand what their work is contributing to.
Once you have come to grips with this way of thinking and making progress, you should consider putting your OKRs in an OGSM framework, as this provides a nice overview for all your OKRs and offers some other benefits: see below.
OKR as part of an OGSM
How does OKR compare to OGSM?
You may have noticed that OKR is very similar to other popular management frameworks, such as OGSM. This is because both methods stem from Management by Objectives.
To briefly summarize the difference, you could say that OKR is a very focused, minimalist version of Management by Objectives, while OGSM is an expanded, upgraded version of the same. OKR is a great starting point for your strategic plan. Representing your OKR in a one-page OGSM format gives you the following benefits:
- Add Strategy: not just your goals, but also define how to get there!
- Gaps in your plan are instantly visible thanks to the well-structured single page format of the OGSM.
- OKR puts all results on one pile, but OGSM separates “Numbers” and “Action” Results. This is preferred, as you want numbers and actions visualized in different ways: numbers belong in graphs, while actions are best shown in a timeline.
Want to know more about OGSM? We’ll tell you all about it here!
An example of OKR upgraded to an OGSM
Here you can see how an OKR can be converted to an OGSM. As an example, we’re using the OKR from John Doerr’s book Measure What Matters.
Represented in an OGSM format, you’ll see that the Objective, the Goals and the Measures show all elements of the original OKR. Meanwhile, OGSM also adds additional key information in the Strategies and Dashboard columns. In addition, the OGSM is easier to read, fitting perfectly on a single page, while adding more information and allowing you to spot any gaps in your plan at a glance! Using OGSM Software, you can turn your OKR into an OGSM and make your plan even more effective.
Manage OKR in OGSM Software
Do you already use OKR in your organisation or are you planning to use it? OGSM Software can help you with the daily implementation and execution of the OKR plan. You will have access to a clear overview of your OKR on one screen and all relevant progress data. Your team or department will be driven by the sense of progress toward the Key Results. In addition, the software can automatically request progress updates on key results, so you will be able to see problems before they escalate.
How do I manage OKR in OGSM Software?
Because OKR and OGSM are fairly similar and OKR can be viewed as a minimalistic version of OGSM, OGSM Software lends itself perfectly for managing OKR. You enter the objectives of OKR in the ‘Goals’ field, you enter the key results in ‘Measures’ dashboard and the ‘Actions’ column. And voila! Your OKR can now be tracked to perfection.
Upgrading your OKR to an OGSM
Have you uploaded your OKR to OGSM Software? Then you can now upgrade your OKR into a high-quality OGSM. Add a (main) Objective, determine your Strategies, and apply the goal-by-doing formula. For more information on how to fill an OGSM, click below.
OGSM + OKR Compared
This video explains how OGSM can add value to your OKR.
Frequently asked questions about OKR
OKR is a popular management method that prioritises goal-setting and a focus on results. It translates an organisation’s most important Objectives into several Key Results that everyone in the organisation in some way contributes to.
OKR is a proven method used by organisations around the world. It’s very easy to use and accessible, and can help make an organisation more goal-oriented. It lacks some important elements of strategic planning that can be found in OGSM, which can be seen as an expanded version of OKR.
OKR’s Objectives are the long-term goals that are based on your vision and mission. The Objectives in OKR are simply your ultimate goals: “win the Super Bowl”, for example. In OGSM, an Objective includes more information: it is written in a ‘what-by-how’ format, representing your organization’s desired future state from the perspective of your most important stakeholder, and the way you want to achieve that. This makes OGSM Objectives more inspiring and motivating: Our club wins the Premier League and makes our city proud by investing in youth training and neighborhood soccer clubs, for example.
OKR’s Key Results are the quantitative translations of the Objectives into SMART goals or actions that need to be completed.
OKR can be seen as a minimalist version of OGSM. OKR’s Objectives and Key Results correspond with OGSM’s Goal Headers, Goals and Measures respectively. OGSM expands on OKR in three main ways:
- OGSM adds Strategies and ‘how’ explanations to elements of the plan, so you aren’t only describing what to achieve, but also how to get there;
- Your one-page OGSM plan turns your OKR into a coherent story, and gaps in your plan are instantly visible
- OGSM differentiates between ‘measurement’ results and ‘action’ results, creating more clarity and enabling you to visualize these in different ways (graphs vs timelines)
There are many great books about OKR. Some of our recommendations are:
- John Doerr: Measure What Matters: How Google, Bono, and the Gates Foundation Rock the World with OKRs
- Christina Wodtke: Radical Focus: Achieving your Most Important Goals with Objectives and Key Results
- Paul Niven & Ben Lamorte: Objectives and Key Results: Driving Focus, Alignment, and Engagement with OKRs
You could also visit these websites for more information on OKR:
- Wikipedia: learn more about OKR
- Toolshero: OKR explained