OKRs are an essential tool for leveraging every team’s performance across the organization, and it includes the engineering team as well. The objectives are set on the individual levels or the organizational levels, and the key results are then collaboratively targeted towards those objectives. The engineering OKRs can be classified into team-level OKRs and individual OKRs. Here are the best practices for implementing engineering OKRs through engineering OKR examples:
Team-Level OKRs
The team-level OKRs are as follows –
Improving Performance of the Team
The team-level OKRs start by building a high performing team. It can be achieved through set KRs aligning with the objectives. The set goals should enhance the performance of the engineering team. For this, the engineers and managers can set unified goals with the help of discussions. The objective should be the maximum potential performance. The key results can be set at individual levels for each team member and unified with its goal.
Objective: Efficient Team
KR 1: Hire ten new engineers by the end of FY 21-22
KR 2: Performance metrics to be set for individual contributions
KR 3: Increasing performance in comparison with industry-related patterns
Software Quality and Releases in Time
If the organization is a software product-based organization, the quality of the software is essential. The engineering team has to work with the utmost zeal and efficiency. Any glitches in the software should be promptly acted upon within time. The other important aspect of a software release is time.
The engineering team sometimes works for longer working hours to make timely releases. With the existing industrial competition, timely and quality releases are crucial. For this, the OKRs can be set at the team level for target-based releases.
Objective: Improving Quality
KR 1: Minimize the bugs in the production
KR 2: Engineering team should review 1000 code reviews by the end of the day
KR 3: The release to be held till the planned date
Efficiency Audits
After the launch of the software, it is essential to maintain the quality of the software. It can be ensured by consistent updating of the software from time to time. In case of any bugs found, there should be timely fixes of the same. Any defaults in the software should ever compromise end-user satisfaction.
For this, the management should form a separate team. It should be responsible for auditing the performance of the software for a smooth user experience. You should always measure the set objective with the key results. If the key results are not measurable, the OKRs are of no use.
Objective: Increasing efficiency of the QA process
KR1: Testing of the software to be done on every level and the development team to work upon it
KR2: All bugs to be cleared before one week of the release date
KR3: Less than three bugs reported by the end-users after the release
Data Security
Data security is an essential aspect of protecting the data integrity of the company. Any data leaks will compromise it, and the company will bear huge losses. The engineering team is responsible for maintaining the security standards of the organization. There should be no other interference by the third parties.
The team should immediately report any data breaches, and the team should take suitable action. Cloud security today is the primary concern of all big and small organizations. Any breaches can open doors for hackers and other malpractices.
Objective: Data security and integrity
KR1: Daily data backup, encryption, and recovery
KR2: Upgrade and reduce the data migration time by 80%
KR3: Problems found in the cloud audit
Implement Efficient Project Management
The team should establish the Objectives with the KRs in the project management process. The project management individuals should efficiently manage the team of engineers, which will also help in the project’s efficient management. In the cases of external coaches hired, the project assignment should be proportionate regarding the team’s size.
Objective: Efficient project management
KR1: Projects within the department are agile
KR2: 1 coach per 2.5 projects
KR3: All the documentation should be agreed upon
Individual-Level OKRs
The individual-level OKRs can be set at individual levels as follows:
Objective: Product Performance
KR 1: Reduce critical bugs
KR 2: Create a FAQ sheet for performance evaluation
KR 3: Increase the quality of coding
The OKRs at the individual levels and the team level are for organizational growth and individual growth. You can alter the engineering OKR examples from time to time, according to the industry standards. The KRs should be measurable with the objectives and audited simultaneously.