OKRs vs. Daily Grind: A Tale of Two Teams

2025-01-06

This post explores the contrasting uses of Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) in engineering and marketing teams. The author argues that marketing teams find OKRs easier to define because their work is more project-based, whereas engineering work is more product-driven. Engineering OKRs shouldn't simply reiterate the product roadmap; instead, they should highlight what's unique about the quarter, what's changing, and what challenges need addressing. For example, an OKR for a "smooth launch of Frontend Observability" focuses not just on the launch itself, but on ensuring a smooth launch and its positive impact on the business. The post emphasizes that OKRs should highlight special focus areas for the quarter, not try to encompass everything.

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Development

OKRs: Tool or Trap?

2024-12-25

This article explores the duality of OKRs (Objectives and Key Results). The author points out that many companies misuse OKRs for performance reviews, leading teams to overemphasize measurable metrics while neglecting the actual objectives and external effects. The author uses the example of Alexa to illustrate how blindly pursuing key results can be counterproductive. In contrast, Honeycomb uses OKRs as a tool for communication and reflection, treating key results as clues to observe the world and improve work, rather than ultimate judgment criteria, thus avoiding metric distortion.

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