Track a delivery improvement with a key result
Create a measurable key result for an improvement, then update its progress from the work actually completed rather than from a reassuring status label.
Part of Measure a delivery improvement
Track a delivery improvement with a key result
Create a measurable key result for an improvement, then update its progress from the work actually completed rather than from a reassuring status label.
Before you start: Have an existing goal and objective in Goals, access to add a key result, and a defined measure. Decide the target, unit, included work and completion rule before entering a percentage. For example, count reviewed checklist steps only when they meet the agreed review standard.
Steps
1. Open Goals → Goals and check the active period and filters. Find the intended goal, then expand it and identify the correct objective. Confirm the parent’s purpose and timeline before adding a measure.
2. Check whether the intended key result already exists under that objective. If it does, skip steps 3–4 and inspect its saved measurement in step 5. Do not add another key result merely because a similar title appears elsewhere.
3. Use the objective’s Add Key Result route. Enter a clear KR title and verify Parent objective. Select the appropriate Owner where available, rather than assuming the creator is responsible for the measure.
4. Choose the Metric, enter the Target, and set the Unit. For a count-based measure, use a meaningful whole-number target and a unit such as reviewed steps or completed deliveries. Check defaults deliberately, then select Add Key Result.
5. Open the key result’s square-arrow detail. Read its full Measurement and Parent chain. Check the target, unit, owner and dates. Return through the hierarchy to confirm you are working on the saved key result under the intended objective.
6. Calculate the current result from the actual underlying work using the same rule and target. For a simple count measure, four qualifying items out of five is 80%. A task marked Done should count only if its output meets the measure; avoid double-counting the same work.
7. Open that key result’s P progress control and first check its current value. If your result is current and you are responsible for the update, set the justified percentage. The demonstrated control saves automatically. Do not overwrite a newer result with an older checkpoint or move the control repeatedly to obtain another confirmation.
8. Navigate away and reopen the same key result to check its retained percentage. Read Status, Confidence and the parent percentages separately. Share the result with the underlying count, target and period so the team can understand what improved.
Expected result
The key result has the intended parent, target and unit, and its progress matches a defined calculation from current work. The team can distinguish the measured improvement from other outcomes that have not yet been measured.
Common pitfalls
- Progress and confidence are different values. Neither automatically proves customer satisfaction or business impact.
- Do not assume a child’s percentage automatically changes the parent objective or goal. Read each value.
- A saved goal link or task title is not proof that execution evidence is linked to the exact key result.
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