After setting and assigning your objectives and key results it is time to set your action plan. The actual implementation of the key results comes through the tasks associated with each key result.
The main difference between the key results and tasks is that the key result is the way of achieving the objective and has a measurable outcome whereas the tasks are all the actions needed to be completed to achieve a key result.
The tasks have their own priority and completion status, and they can be assigned only to team members, not departments.
You may add as many tasks as necessary for achieving the associated Key result and you will need to achieve the majority of them (if not all) to reach each key result within its specified due dates to stay on track. You can keep adding additional tasks throughout the key result’s timeline if needed.
Objective, Key result and Task example
OBJECTIVE
Create new user interface for product
KEY RESULT 1
List all existing problems with the current user interface
KEY RESULT 2
Reduce loading time by 20%
KEY RESULT 3
Reduce training of the new interface by at least a 40%
TASK 1
Engage with existing customers to get feedback
TASK 1
Set up meetings with the Design and Engineering teams
TASK 1
Report to Project manager twice a week
This is an example to clearly outline the difference between objectives, key results and tasks:
Even though the tasks in the example above fall under the sphere of OKRs, they are clearly independent of the OKR process itself. In this example, an executive defined the objective, managers were assigned the key results and afterwards assigned the tasks to team members. This procedure promotes transparency and enables managers and executives to supervise and manage their employees while still making sure that their organisational objectives are being achieved.
Team members are expected to complete the tasks contributing to their department achieving its key results timely. Both the performance and alignment of the corporate strategy depend on this procedure.
OKR vs Tasks: How to identify.
- Tasks are small activities and actions done on a daily basis that contribute to the key results.
- Tasks will not inform team members if they are achieving a goal or not. Tasks are small bits and pieces of the broader strategy.
- Tasks can have no measurable results to the team members e.g. when the task is just about writing a blog article once a week.
- Team members might work on tasks assigned on different key results contributing to multiple goals.
- Tasks are easier and faster to complete and can only be assigned to team members, not departments.
- OKRs are based on a result-focused culture with continuous improvement.
- Objectives describe the big picture of what is needed to accomplish.
- Objectives are mostly inspirational and connect back to your overall organisational strategy.
- Key results are concrete and measurable and at the end of the cycle, they must have an answer whether the result was achieved or not.
- Key results are constantly being evaluated and throughout the assigned cycle.
- Key results describe the measurable results, or the actions required to accomplish an objective.
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