Key Result Actions

Overview

Key Result actions are essential management functions that allow you to maintain, update, and optimize your measurable outcomes throughout their lifecycle. Understanding how to effectively use these actions ensures your key results remain accurate, relevant, and aligned with your objectives.

Available Key Result Actions

The Key Result management interface provides several action options accessible through the detail view and action menus:

Primary Actions

• Update Progress: Modify completion percentage and current values
• Edit Key Result Detail: Change measurement parameters and configuration
• Update Key Result Name: Modify title and description
• Change Owner: Reassign responsibility
• Delete Key Result: Remove the key result entirely

Secondary Actions

• View Details: Access comprehensive key result information
• Export Data: Download key result metrics and history
• Add Comments: Document progress notes and context
• Set Reminders: Configure update notifications

Updating Key Result Progress

Progress updates are the most frequent key result action, essential for maintaining accurate tracking and objective progress calculation.

Progress Update Process

Steps to Update Progress:

1. Access Progress Section: Navigate to the "Update progress" area
2. Review Current Status: Check existing progress percentage
3. Input New Value: Enter updated progress information
4. Verify Calculation: Ensure the percentage reflects actual achievement
5. Click "Update": Save the new progress data
6. Confirm Changes: Verify the update appears correctly

Progress Input Methods:

• Direct Percentage: Enter completion percentage (0-100%)
• Actual Value: Input current achievement value
• Slider Interface: Use visual slider for progress adjustment
• Milestone Selection: Choose completed milestones

Best Practices for Progress Updates

Update Frequency:

• Weekly Updates: Standard practice for most key results
• Daily Updates: For critical or time-sensitive initiatives
• Bi-weekly Updates: For longer-term or stable key results
• Real-time Updates: For automated or system-integrated tracking

Accuracy Guidelines:

• Honest Reporting: Reflect actual progress, not aspirational
• Consistent Methodology: Use the same measurement approach
• Documented Changes: Note reasons for significant progress jumps
• Context Provision: Explain progress patterns and variations

Impact Considerations:

• Objective Progress: Updates automatically affect parent objective
• Team Visibility: Changes are visible to all stakeholders
• Reporting Systems: Progress feeds into dashboards and reports
• Performance Reviews: Updates influence performance assessments

Editing Key Result Details

When key results need refinement or reconfiguration, the edit details function provides comprehensive modification capabilities.

Modifiable Key Result Elements

Measurement Configuration:

• Goal's Unit Measurement: Change measurement unit (%, $, count, etc.)
• Start Value: Modify baseline or starting point
• Target Value: Adjust desired end result
• Weight: Change relative importance within objective
• Criteria: Update success direction (Higher/Lower is better)

Assignment and Ownership:

• Owner: Reassign responsibility to different person
• Team: Change team assignment
• Department: Modify departmental ownership

When to Edit Key Result Details

Measurement Refinement:

• Initial measurement approach proves inadequate
• More accurate data sources become available
• Business context changes requiring different metrics
• Stakeholder feedback suggests improvements

Target Adjustments:

• Market conditions change significantly
• Resource availability differs from initial assumptions
• Strategic priorities shift requiring recalibration
• Learning reveals targets were unrealistic or too conservative

Ownership Changes:

• Role transitions or organizational restructuring
• Expertise requirements change
• Workload balancing needs
• Performance management considerations

Edit Detail Process

Step-by-Step Editing:

1. Click "Edit KR Detail": Access the edit interface
2. Review Current Settings: Understand existing configuration
3. Modify Required Fields: Update necessary parameters
4. Validate Changes: Ensure modifications make sense
5. Click "Update": Save the changes
6. Verify Impact: Check how changes affect progress calculation

Validation Checks:

• Ensure new targets are achievable but challenging
• Verify measurement units are appropriate
• Confirm ownership assignments are valid
• Check alignment with objective and timeline

Updating Key Result Names

Clear, descriptive key result names are crucial for understanding and communication.

Name Update Process

Steps for Name Updates:

1. Click "Edit key result name": Access the name editor
2. Review Current Name: Understand existing description
3. Enter New Name: Type the updated key result title
4. Consider Guidelines: Follow naming best practices
5. Click "Update": Save the new name
6. Verify Display: Confirm the new name appears correctly

Warning Considerations: The system may display: "Key Result should include a measurable number"

• Ensure names include specific, quantifiable targets
• Avoid vague or qualitative descriptions
• Include numerical goals and timeframes when possible

Best Practices for Key Result Names

Naming Guidelines:

• Specific and Clear: Avoid ambiguity or jargon
• Include Numbers: Specify quantifiable targets
• Action-Oriented: Use active voice and action verbs
• Time-Bound: Include deadlines or timeframes when relevant
• Measurable: Clearly indicate how success will be measured

Examples of Strong Key Result Names:

• Good: "Increase monthly active users from 10,000 to 25,000 by Q4"
• Poor: "Improve user engagement"
• Good: "Reduce customer support response time from 4 hours to 2 hours"
• Poor: "Better customer service"
• Good: "Launch 5 new product features with zero critical bugs"
• Poor: "Build more features"

When to Update Names:

• Clarity improvements needed based on stakeholder feedback
• Measurement approach changes requiring name adjustment
• Strategic focus shifts affecting key result emphasis
• Better alignment opportunities with objective language

Changing Key Result Ownership

Ownership changes ensure the right person is accountable for each key result's success.

Owner Change Process

Steps to Change Owner:

1. Click "Change owner": Access the owner selection interface
2. Search for New Owner: Use search or browse user list
3. Review Permissions: Ensure new owner has appropriate access
4. Select New Owner: Choose the person to take responsibility
5. Click "Change": Confirm the ownership transfer
6. Notify Stakeholders: Communicate the change to relevant parties

Permission Considerations:

• Admin Override: "Only admin can be change owner" for certain key results
• Team Membership: Owner must be member of relevant team
• Role Requirements: Owner must have appropriate organizational role
• Capacity Assessment: Consider new owner's current workload

Common Ownership Change Scenarios

Organizational Changes:

• Team restructuring or reorganization
• Role transitions or promotions
• New hires taking over responsibilities
• Departures requiring ownership transfer

Performance Management:

• Capacity or capability issues with current owner
• Workload balancing across team members
• Skill development opportunities for team members
• Performance improvement initiatives

Project Evolution:

• Key result focus shifts requiring different expertise
• Technical requirements change
• Cross-functional coordination needs
• Strategic importance elevation

Deleting Key Results

When key results become irrelevant or obsolete, deletion removes them from tracking and reporting.

Deletion Process

Steps for Deletion:

1. Click Delete Button: Access deletion option
2. Review Warning Message: "Are you sure you want to delete this key result? This action cannot be undone"
3. Consider Alternatives: Evaluate modification instead of deletion
4. Click "Confirm": Proceed with permanent deletion
5. Verify Removal: Ensure key result no longer appears in lists

Impact of Deletion:

• Permanent Removal: Cannot be undone or recovered
• Progress Loss: All historical progress data is deleted
• Objective Recalculation: Parent objective progress automatically adjusts
• Reporting Changes: Key result disappears from all reports and dashboards
• Team Notification: Stakeholders should be informed of the deletion

When to Delete Key Results

Appropriate Deletion Scenarios:

• Strategic priorities have fundamentally changed
• Key result proves to be unmeasurable or irrelevant
• Duplication with other key results discovered
• Resource constraints make achievement impossible
• Business context changes make key result obsolete

Alternatives to Deletion:

• Modify Targets: Adjust goals rather than deleting
• Change Scope: Refine the key result focus
• Pause Tracking: Temporarily suspend without deleting
• Archive: Move to completed or inactive status
• Transform: Convert to different type of key result

Deletion Best Practices

Before Deleting:

• Document Rationale: Record reasons for deletion
• Stakeholder Consultation: Discuss with objective owner and team
• Alternative Evaluation: Consider modification options
• Impact Assessment: Understand effect on objective progress
• Communication Planning: Prepare stakeholder notifications

After Deletion:

• Notify Stakeholders: Inform all relevant parties
• Update Planning: Adjust objective strategy if needed
• Document Learning: Capture lessons for future key result creation
• Monitor Impact: Watch for any unexpected consequences

Advanced Key Result Management

Bulk Actions

Multi-Key Result Operations:

• Bulk Progress Updates: Update multiple key results simultaneously
• Mass Owner Changes: Reassign multiple key results to new owners
• Batch Deletions: Remove multiple irrelevant key results
• Group Modifications: Apply common changes across related key results

Automation and Integration

Automated Updates:

• System Integration: Connect to business systems for real-time updates
• API Connections: Use APIs for automated progress tracking
• Workflow Triggers: Set up automatic actions based on conditions
• Notification Systems: Automated alerts for progress milestones

Historical Tracking

Change Management:

• Audit Trail: Complete history of all key result modifications
• Version Control: Track changes over time with timestamps
• User Attribution: Record who made what changes
• Impact Analysis: Understand how changes affected progress

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Update Failures

Common Problems:

• Permission Errors: Insufficient rights to modify key result
• Data Validation: Invalid values or formats
• System Timeouts: Network or server issues
• Concurrent Modifications: Multiple users editing simultaneously

Solutions:

• Verify Permissions: Check user role and team membership
• Validate Data: Ensure values meet system requirements
• Retry Operations: Wait and attempt update again
• Contact Support: Escalate persistent technical issues

Progress Calculation Issues

Potential Problems:

• Incorrect Percentages: Progress doesn't match expected values
• Objective Impact: Changes don't reflect in parent objective
• Historical Data: Past progress appears inconsistent
• Rounding Errors: Minor calculation discrepancies

Resolution Approaches:

• Verify Formulas: Check progress calculation methods
• Refresh Data: Clear cache and reload page
• Manual Recalculation: Verify math independently
• System Support: Report calculation bugs to technical team

Best Practices for Key Result Action Management

Regular Maintenance

Weekly Activities:

• Progress Updates: Update all active key results
• Status Reviews: Check health indicators and flags
• Blocker Identification: Note obstacles and challenges
• Team Communication: Share updates with stakeholders

Monthly Reviews:

• Target Assessment: Evaluate if targets remain appropriate
• Ownership Review: Confirm owners are still optimal
• Measurement Validation: Verify tracking methods are accurate
• Strategic Alignment: Ensure continued relevance to objectives

Change Management

Documentation Requirements:

• Change Rationale: Record reasons for modifications
• Impact Assessment: Understand effects on objectives and teams
• Stakeholder Communication: Keep all parties informed
• Timeline Tracking: Monitor when changes were made

Communication Protocols:

• Advance Notice: Warn stakeholders of upcoming changes
• Clear Explanations: Provide context for modifications
• Regular Updates: Keep teams informed of progress
• Feedback Collection: Gather input on change effectiveness

Next Steps

After mastering key result actions:

1. Establish Routines: Create regular update and review schedules
2. Train Team: Share knowledge with colleagues and stakeholders
3. Monitor Impact: Track how actions affect objective progress
4. Optimize Processes: Refine approaches based on experience
5. Continuous Learning: Stay updated on new features and capabilities

Related Topics

• Key Result Details - Understanding key result information
• Manage OKR Actions - Broader OKR management guide
• View OKR Details - Complete OKR interface overview
• Change OKR Owner - Ownership management guide

Effective key result action management is essential for maintaining accurate progress tracking and ensuring your objectives remain on track. By mastering these actions, you can keep your OKRs relevant, accurate, and aligned with your strategic goals.