Operations OKR Examples

OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) are a collaborative management methodology that helps operations teams set and achieve goals. Creating OKRs for operations can be helpful across business units and individuals because they drive alignment, enhance focus, and inherently promote transparency on a fundamental level.   

Learn more about what OKRs are and how to use them

As operations professionals serve the entire organization, their biggest challenge is prioritizing the right tasks and initiatives to drive sustainable growth and development.

When improving every team and process falls under the job description, focus can be tough — this is where OKRs for operations managers can help. Using OKRs for operations can teams to the greater goals of the organization and channel their energy towards that work. 

Operational optimization is a never-ending process, but continuous busy work isn’t the same as focusing on what’s driving impact. OKRs create better functioning operations teams by putting inefficiencies, dependencies, and organizational uncertainty under a microscope.

Operations teams need help in shifting focus from the day-to-day, business-as-usual activities to the strategic priorities of the organization. 

Key results give operations teams the metrics-focused measurements they desire, whether it’s retention, performance, productivity, or beyond. Objectives link team efforts to the overarching organizational strategy, ensuring teams aren’t operating in silos.

OKRs are the perspective shifter, keeping operations professionals focused on the processes and systems needing the most attention while not limiting the adaptation and flexibility required in the role. 

Operations teams tend to work better with bottom-up OKRs, as their specific areas of operational excellence better serve and inform the goals of the organization. Crafting OKRs for operations managers can help define the “why,” using it as a goalpost for initiatives while individuals have control of their execution.

By trusting their team members' expertise, operational leaders get critical insights on the most pressing operations questions. For example:

• Can certain processes be made simpler/shorter?
• How are our turnaround times?
• Are our employees satisfied?
• Are there initiatives that can improve the product/service?

Department members will know what to contribute and how those contributions affect the desired outcomes. 

OKRs bring focus and transparency, as each initiative is connected to a common goal and each team member knows what the other is working on. 

Dependencies and duplicated work are reduced, detractors are eliminated, and operations teams can measure progress in real-time, all through operations OKRs. 

Operations OKRs have different focus areas depending on your organization’s strategic needs and unique opportunities/vulnerabilities. A few OKR focus areas for your operations team might be:

• Process
• Teamwork/culture
• Team efficiency
• Risk management
• Resource optimization
• Cross-functional collaboration

Check out all our OKRs examples for operations teams below. 

Operations process 

Operations OKR example 1

• Objective: Limit bureaucracy in the contract management process
• Key result 1: Review 10 sections in the standard contract for risks
• Key result 2: Reduce contract negotiation work time by 200% 
• Key result 3: Resubmit 10 long-term contracts with timeline improvements 

Operations OKR example 2

• Objective: Maintain a world-class office
• Key result 1: Transfer all company and client records to the cloud
• Key result 2: Reduce spending on office supplies by 10%
• Key result 3: Implement an online conference room reservation system
• Key result 4: Choose and launch a new document sharing platform

Teamwork/culture 

Operations OKR example

• Objective: Develop an excellent company culture
• Key result 1:  Increase employee retention to 90%
• Key result 2: Implement a new onboarding process
• Key result 3: Conduct quarterly work satisfaction surveys across the company
• Key result 4: Reach 95% in average work satisfaction
• Key result 5: Organize monthly company outings

Team efficiency

Operations OKR example 1

• Objective: Maximize executive and office productivity
• Key result 1:  Streamline company approval processes
• Key result 2: Ensure executives arrive at all scheduled meetings and events on time
• Key result 3: Ensure executives reach inbox box zero at the end of every week
• Key result 4: Implement quarterly training for admin staff

Operations OKR example 2

• Objective: Create the Learning Management System
• Key result 1: 85% of employees complete one hour of video courses
• Key result 2: Develop 10 basic training modules
• Key result 3: Employees create at least 30 internal Wiki articles
• Key result 4: Primary learning module completion at 90% 

Risk management OKR 

Operations OKR example

• Objective: Create a new contractor risk management process
• Key result 1: Collect 5 scope of work documents from department leaders
• Key result 2: Formalize the process workflow with 5 key milestones
• Key result 3: Program risk occurrence frequency in our AI tracking system 

Resource optimization OKR 

Operations OKR example

• Objective: Improve internal document management
• Key result 1: Choose and launch new document sharing platform
• Key result 2: Move 100% of existing documents from file servers to new system
• Key result 3: Have each team create a directory structure for documents and share it with the wider organization

Cross-functional communication OKR

Operations OKR example 

• Objective: Improve meeting quality in the department
• Key result 1: Audit 12 departmental meetings in Q4
• Key result 2: Collect 100 anonymous survey responses
• Key result 3: Create a resource FAQ for at least 6 teams
• Key result 4: Host 2 leadership syncs informed by audit findings 

OKR software can streamline your operation team’s communication around OKRs, facilitating quick, transparent, and feedback-driven interactions.

Beyond enhancing collaboration, OKR software helps your operations team stay aligned with evolving circumstances through timely OKR tracking that enables strategic pivots. 

Here’s a quick glimpse into how your operational OKRs would look within an OKR software like Quantive Results:

Quantive empowers modern organizations to turn their ambitions into reality through strategic agility. It's where strategy, teams, and data come together to drive effective decision-making, streamline execution, and maximize performance.    

As your company navigates today’s competitive landscape, you need an Always-On Strategy to continuously bridge the gap between current and desired business outcomes. Quantive brings together the technology, expertise, and passion to transform your strategy and playbooks from a static formulation to a feedback-driven engine for growth.    

Whether you’re a fast-growing scale-up, a mid-market business looking to conquer, or a large enterprise looking for innovation, Quantive keeps you ahead – every step of the way. For more information, visit www.quantive.com.