In this episode of Definitely Maybe Agile, hosts Peter Maddison and David Sharrock dive into the world of Objectives and Key Results (OKRs). They explore how this increasingly popular framework helps organizations create alignment, measure progress, and foster autonomy while moving away from traditional KPIs. From the origins at Intel in the 70s to widespread adoption by tech giants like Google, Peter and David discuss the nuances of implementing OKRs effectively and why they're particularly well-suited for organizations operating in rapidly changing environments.

This week´s takeaways:

• Unlike KPIs which measure performance, OKRs measure progress and alignment to strategy. They should never be tied to individual performance metrics as this undermines their exploratory nature.
• Successful OKR implementation requires ongoing conversations, regular reviews, and a cultural shift. Many organizations underestimate the effort needed to maintain OKRs effectively.
• Effective OKRs should be limited in number (3-5 objectives with 3-5 key results each), represent stretch goals beyond business-as-usual, and serve as a prioritization mechanism for the organization.