Objectives and Key Results Model
​Objectives give us direction. Key Results give us focus. Together, they turn ambition into achievement and strategy into measurable impact.
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In this article:
What Is the Objectives and Key Results Model?
​Why Is It Important to Develop the Objectives and Key Results Model?
What Is the Objectives and Key Results Model?
The Objectives and Key Results Model defines how strategic goals are translated into concrete, actionable intent during a transformation.
It introduces two closely related constructs:
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Objective
A clear, action-oriented statement that defines what must be done to achieve a goal. -
Key Result
A measurable indicator used to track progress and validate whether an objective is being achieved.
In the AlignedX Model:
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Goals define intent and value direction
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Objectives define execution intent
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Key Results define evidence
This separation ensures that objectives focus on doing the right things, while goals remain focused on achieving the right outcomes.
Above: Figure 3a. Objectives and Key Results Model Illustration for AlignAir
Below Figure 3b. Illustrates how the North Star Goal and Outcome Model drives the Objectives and Key Results Model
Why Is It Important to Develop the Objectives and Key Results Model?
Organizations often blur the distinction between goals, objectives, and metrics, leading to:
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goals written as tasks,
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objectives that restate outcomes,
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metrics that track activity rather than impact.
This creates confusion and weakens accountability.
The Objectives Model addresses these issues by:
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clearly separating value intent (Goals) from execution intent (Objectives),
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ensuring that objectives remain actionable and controllable, and
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making progress visible through explicit Key Results.
By enforcing this structure, the model enables teams to execute transformation work with clarity, focus, and measurable accountability.
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How To Develop the Objectives and Key Results Model
The Objectives Model is applied by translating each goal into one or more objectives and tracking their progress using key results.
1. Define Objectives for Each Goal
For every Goal, one or more Objectives are defined.
Each objective:
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is explicitly linked to a single Goal,
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describes a concrete action or change to be delivered,
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avoids restating the outcome or value already captured at the goal level.
Objectives answer the question:
What must we do to achieve this goal?
2. Specify Key Results to Measure Progress
For each objective:
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one or more Key Results are defined,
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each key result is measurable, time-bound, and verifiable.
Key results answer the question:
How will we know the objective is being achieved?
This creates a closed execution loop where intent is continuously validated by evidence.
3. Track Progress Without Diluting Intent
As transformation progresses:
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objectives remain stable anchors for execution,
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key results are used to assess progress and course-correct,
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goals and outcomes are not rewritten to reflect short-term fluctuations.
This prevents metric churn and preserves strategic clarity.
Alignment and Relationships
The Objectives Model sits at the intersection of strategic intent and execution and is tightly aligned with other AlignedX models.
Key relationships include:
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A Goal is achieved through one or more Objectives.
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An Objective is measured by one or more Key Results.
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Objectives inherit context from their Goal, including:
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the Opportunity being pursued,
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the Transformation Value Stage being targeted, and
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the Outcome being realized.
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In the broader AlignedX Model:
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Objectives guide the design of capabilities, applications, processes, and experiences.
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Key Results provide evidence that execution is progressing toward the intended outcome.
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Objectives do not directly redefine value; they operationalize it.
This ensures consistency across planning, execution, and measurement.
Summary
The Objectives Model ensures that transformation goals are translated into focused, actionable execution.
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By:
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separating value intent from execution intent,
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linking objectives directly to goals, and
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validating progress through key results,
the model enables teams to move from aspiration to action without losing strategic coherence.