Over the last few decades, Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) have become something of a staple for startups. OKRs are the goal-setting framework that has propelled companies like Intel, Uber, Amazon, LinkedIn, and many more to success. Think of a tech startup, and chances are they use OKRs.
And in the world of OKRs, there’s one name that reigns supreme: John Doerr. The author of Measure What Matters, Doerr was taught this framework by its original creator and CEO of Intel, Andy Grove. He’s now considered by many, including myself, to be the preeminent expert on the topic. When it comes to OKRs, Doerr’s word is law.
Yet when Sundar Pichai took over as Google’s CEO in 2019, he made a pivotal change that went against conventional OKR wisdom and even the personal advice of Doerr himself.
The result? Under Pichai’s tenure, Google has now doubled its workforce and its parent company, Alphabet, has tripled in value. And I’d say that’s no coincidence.
Thinking long term
I’m convinced that…
This article was written by Nicholas Sonnenberg and originally published on www.inc.com