15 customisable OKR examples for Software Development
What are Software Development OKRs?
The Objective and Key Results (OKR) framework is a simple goal-setting methodology that was introduced at Intel by Andy Grove in the 70s. It became popular after John Doerr introduced it to Google in the 90s, and it's now used by teams of all sizes to set and track ambitious goals at scale.
Creating impactful OKRs can be a daunting task, especially for newcomers. Shifting your focus from projects to outcomes is key to successful planning.
We have curated a selection of OKR examples specifically for Software Development to assist you. Feel free to explore the templates below for inspiration in setting your own goals.
If you want to learn more about the framework, you can read our OKR guide online.
Building your own Software Development OKRs with AI
While we have some examples available, it's likely that you'll have specific scenarios that aren't covered here. You can use our free AI generator below or our more complete goal-setting system to generate your own OKRs.
Feel free to explore our tools:
- Use our free OKR generator
- Use Tability, a complete platform to set and track OKRs and initiatives, including a GPT-4 powered goal generator
Our customisable Software Development OKRs examples
You'll find below a list of Objectives and Key Results templates for Software Development. We also included strategic projects for each template to make it easier to understand the difference between key results and projects.
Hope you'll find this helpful!
1. OKRs to become proficient in React.js
Become proficient in React.js
Complete an online React.js course with a passing grade by end of quarter
Enroll in an online React.js course- Dedicate consistent study hours each week
- Complete and pass all required assessments
- Read and understand documentation for 5 React.js libraries
- Thoroughly read the documentation for each library
- Summarize key functions and features of each library
- Select 5 React.js libraries for review and understanding
- Build and deploy a small, functional web app using React.js
- Test the app locally to ensure full functionality
- Develop a small React.js web app following online tutorials or guidelines
- Deploy the web app on a preferred hosting platform
2. OKRs to establish a secure software development lifecycle (SDLC)
- Implement secure software development process
- Provide secure coding training to development team
- Conduct thorough security code review during development
- Achieve certification for secure software development process
- Establish vulnerability management process for production systems
3. OKRs to successfully implement the "asdf" system
- Successfully implement the "asdf" system
- Achieve 70% completion of "asdf" coding tasks by Week 9
- Prioritize most complex coding tasks to complete first
- Regularly assess weekly progress and adjust workload if necessary
- Allocate daily hours specifically for ASDF coding tasks
- Conduct satisfactory testing and fix all major bugs by Week 12
- Develop comprehensive test plans by Week 10
- Debug and fix major errors by Week 12
- Carry out rigorous testing by Week 11
- Complete system design documentation by end of Week 4
- Review, edit and finalize design documentation
- Draft the initial system design document
- Outline desired structure and content for design documentation
4. OKRs to achieve promotion to software engineer 3
- Achieve promotion to software engineer 3
- Complete advanced software development certification
- Mentor and provide guidance to junior software engineers
- Schedule regular one-on-one meetings to discuss progress, challenges, and career goals
- Offer constructive feedback and actionable suggestions for improvement on their code
- Actively involve them in meaningful projects to gain real-world experience and build confidence
- Provide resources and recommend learning opportunities to enhance their technical skills
- Receive positive performance reviews from team members and supervisors
- Regularly check in with team members and supervisors to receive feedback and updates
- Actively listen to team members and supervisors, and address any concerns or suggestions
- Set clear and measurable goals with team members and supervisors
- Continuously improve skills and knowledge through training and professional development opportunities
- Deliver three high-impact software projects successfully
- Implement effective project management methodologies to ensure efficient coordination and communication
- Define clear project goals, timelines, and deliverables for each software project
- Assemble a skilled and dedicated team with the necessary expertise for each project
- Regularly monitor and evaluate progress, making adjustments as needed to meet project objectives
5. OKRs to enhance technical proficiency and efficiency in software development
- Enhance technical proficiency and efficiency in software development
- Improve code efficiency by reducing average debugging time by 25%
- Implement regular peer code reviews to catch errors early
- Provide training on more advanced debugging tools
- Adopt test-driven development practices
- Complete four advanced programming courses relevant to job role
- Enroll in the identified courses
- Identify four advanced programming courses relevant to job role
- Consistently engage in coursework until completion
- Implement at least three new features in the ongoing project, positively impacting user experience
- Identify three potential enhancements based on user feedback
- Code and test the new features thoroughly
- Deploy updates and collect user feedback
6. OKRs to enhance the quality of software releases through manual testing
- Enhance the quality of software releases through manual testing
- Increase manual test case effectiveness by 25%
- Provide continuous training for manual testing techniques
- Implement peer reviews for manual test case validation
- Develop exhaustive, realistic use-cases scenarios for better test coverage
- Reduce critical bugs in live software by 15%
- Implement rigorous testing procedures before software deployment
- Regularly update and debug software code base
- Train developers in best practices for bug prevention
- Raise manual test coverage for each release to at least 95%
- Identify areas of software currently lacking full manual testing
- Develop comprehensive manual test plans for those areas
- Train team to execute new test plans efficiently
7. OKRs to improve testing efficiency through AI integration
- Improve testing efficiency through AI integration
- Reduce software bugs by 25% with AI algorithms
- Train AI algorithms to identify and fix recurring software bugs
- Invest in AI-based debugging tools for code review and error detection
- Integrate AI algorithms into the software development and testing process
- Decrease manual testing hours by 30%
- Implement automated testing protocols for recurrent tests
- Train staff in automation tools usage
- Prioritize test cases for automation
- Implement AI testing tools in 60% of ongoing projects
- Procure and install AI testing tools in identified projects
- Train project teams on using AI testing tools
- Identify projects suitable for AI testing tool integration
8. OKRs to implement efficient test automation processes
- Implement efficient test automation processes
- Reduce manual testing work by 40% through customized automated scripts
- Implement and monitor the automated scripts’ efficacy regularly
- Develop customized automated scripts for these processes
- Identify repeated manual testing processes suitable for automation
- Successfully automate 70% of all repetitive tests while maintaining accuracy
- Research suitable automation tools or software
- Implement, monitor, and adjust automated processes accordingly
- Identify and catalog all existing repetitive tests
- Achieve a 30% decrease in software bugs and glitches through automated testing enhancement
- Regularly evaluate and refine our testing processes
- Train developers in advanced automated testing
- Implement enhanced and rigorous automated testing protocols
9. OKRs to improve software development team leadership effectiveness
- Improve software development team leadership effectiveness
- Improve team efficiency by implementing agile practices and metrics to track progress
- Conduct training on Agile practices and ensure all team members understand the principles
- Implement regular stand-up meetings to enhance communication, identify obstacles, and resolve them promptly
- Utilize Agile metrics like velocity and burndown charts to track progress and optimize productivity
- Establish clear goals and prioritize tasks using Agile frameworks like Scrum or Kanban
- Foster effective communication and collaboration within the team to drive successful project delivery
- Promote cross-functional collaboration by assigning individuals from different departments to work together
- Utilize project management tools and software to streamline communication and document sharing
- Implement regular team meetings to discuss project updates, challenges, and opportunities
- Encourage open and honest communication to foster a collaborative and trusting environment
- Increase team satisfaction and engagement through regular feedback and recognition
- Enhance technical skills by facilitating ongoing training programs and knowledge sharing sessions
10. OKRs to enhance SaaS product development in our Tribe team
- Enhance SaaS product development in our Tribe team
- Reduce client-reported bugs by 15%
- Increase staff training on bug prevention and detection
- Review current client bug reporting system for improvements
- Improve software testing methods before releasing
- Increase new feature releases by 20%
- Prioritize features based on user demand and feasibility
- Implement more efficient project management strategies
- Boost development team's productivity through trainings
- Improve customer retention rate by 10%
- Enhance customer service training for staff
- Improve response times to customer inquiries
- Implement a loyalty program rewarding regular customers
11. OKRs to improve mastery of behavioral-driven development (BDD)
- Improve mastery of behavioral-driven development (BDD)
- Complete certification on BDD principles and techniques
- Enroll in a reputable BDD (Behavior-Driven Development) certification course
- Take and pass the BDD certification exam
- Study and comprehend course materials on BDD principles and techniques
- Implement 3 projects utilizing BDD to improve understanding and real-world application
- Identify 3 projects suitable for Behaviour-Driven Development (BDD) implementation
- Conduct team training about BDD and its benefits
- Start application of BDD on identified projects
- Reduce the test failure rate to 5% or less by refining BDD processes
- Establish regular monitoring and analysis of failure rates
- Train staff on behavior-driven development updates
- Review and upgrade current testing software to reduce errors
12. OKRs to implement a new CI/CD platform for seamless software deployment and delivery
- Implement a new CI/CD platform for seamless software deployment and delivery
- Configure and successfully integrate the chosen CI/CD platform with the existing development toolchain
- Integrate the CI/CD platform with version control systems and build automation tools
- Test the integration to ensure a seamless workflow within the existing development toolchain
- Set up and configure the chosen CI/CD platform to align with the development toolchain
- Research and select an appropriate CI/CD platform for the existing development toolchain
- Identify and evaluate at least three potential CI/CD platforms based on specific criteria
- Improve the average deployment time by 30% through automation and optimization efforts
- Optimize server and network configurations to speed up deployment and improve efficiency
- Automate manual tasks during deployment process to reduce time and human errors
- Implement continuous integration system to streamline software deployment process
- Identify and remove bottlenecks in the current deployment workflow
- Increase deployment frequency by 50% compared to the previous quarter, with zero critical production incidents
13. OKRs to mitigate the risk associated with software maintenance
- Mitigate the risk associated with software maintenance
- Implement efficient risk management model for 90% of maintenance projects
- Develop a comprehensive risk management model for maintenance projects
- Apply the model to current maintenance projects for evaluation
- Train project managers in risk management implementation
- Achieve zero unresolved critical issues for all maintained software
- Train staff in proactive problem identification and resolution
- Implement regular system checks for software performance
- Establish efficient issue reporting and resolution procedures
- Provide tailored training for all software engineers on identified critical areas
- Schedule and conduct tailored training sessions for engineers
- Develop customized training programs focusing on these critical areas
- Identify critical areas needing tailored training for software engineers
14. OKRs to streamline SPX single membership SDLC process
- Streamline SPX single membership SDLC process
- Reduce the cycle time of SDLC stages by 20%
- Implement automation tools in testing and deployment stages
- Streamline communication channels between different teams
- Adopt agile methodologies in project management
- Implement a new tracking system to eliminate 30% of process errors
- Train staff on implementing and using new system
- Identify current errors and determine their root cause
- Research and select appropriate tracking system
- Enhance team productivity by delivering 25% more modules within deadlines
- Encourage regular communication to swiftly resolve issues
- Implement efficient project management tools for better task tracking
- Offer training sessions to improve team's technical skills
15. OKRs to improve software engineering skills through effective time management
- Improve software engineering skills through effective time management
- Increase the number of completed coding tasks by 20% each week
- Identify and address any obstacles or challenges that may hinder coding task completion
- Enhance collaboration and communication among team members for efficient task completion
- Provide regular feedback and support to assist in completing coding tasks
- Set clear and achievable coding task goals for each team member
- Improve adherence to project deadlines by delivering work on time in 90% of cases
- Implement effective communication strategies to address obstacles and ensure timely completion
- Set clear and realistic deadlines for each project task
- Prioritize tasks and create a detailed schedule to ensure timely delivery
- Regularly track progress and provide updates to stakeholders to maintain accountability
- Reduce time spent on non-essential activities by 15% during work hours
- Set specific time limits for non-essential tasks to ensure efficient completion
- Prioritize and eliminate non-essential activities based on their impact and importance
- Identify non-essential activities taking up significant time during work hours
- Regularly assess and adjust the allocation of time to non-essential activities as needed
- Attend and actively participate in at least 2 time management workshops or webinars
- Research and identify 2 time management workshops or webinars
- Apply the learned time management techniques in daily activities for improved efficiency
- Take thorough notes during the workshops or webinars for future reference
- Register for the selected workshops or webinars to secure a spot
Software Development OKR best practices to boost success
Generally speaking, your objectives should be ambitious yet achievable, and your key results should be measurable and time-bound (using the SMART framework can be helpful). It is also recommended to list strategic initiatives under your key results, as it'll help you avoid the common mistake of listing projects in your KRs.
Here are a couple of best practices extracted from our OKR implementation guide 👇
Tip #1: Limit the number of key results
Focus can only be achieve by limiting the number of competing priorities. It is crucial that you take the time to identify where you need to move the needle, and avoid adding business-as-usual activities to your OKRs.
We recommend having 3-4 objectives, and 3-4 key results per objective. A platform like Tability can run audits on your data to help you identify the plans that have too many goals.
Tability's audit dashboard will highlight opportunities to improve OKRsTip #2: Commit to weekly OKR check-ins
Having good goals is only half the effort. You'll get significant more value from your OKRs if you commit to a weekly check-in process.
Being able to see trends for your key results will also keep yourself honest.
Tability's check-ins will save you hours and increase transparencyTip #3: No more than 2 yellow statuses in a row
Yes, this is another tip for goal-tracking instead of goal-setting (but you'll get plenty of OKR examples above). But, once you have your goals defined, it will be your ability to keep the right sense of urgency that will make the difference.
As a rule of thumb, it's best to avoid having more than 2 yellow/at risk statuses in a row.
Make a call on the 3rd update. You should be either back on track, or off track. This sounds harsh but it's the best way to signal risks early enough to fix things.
How to turn your Software Development OKRs in a strategy map
OKRs without regular progress updates are just KPIs. You'll need to update progress on your OKRs every week to get the full benefits from the framework. Reviewing progress periodically has several advantages:
- It brings the goals back to the top of the mind
- It will highlight poorly set OKRs
- It will surface execution risks
- It improves transparency and accountability
We recommend using a spreadsheet for your first OKRs cycle. You'll need to get familiar with the scoring and tracking first. Then, you can scale your OKRs process by using a proper OKR-tracking tool for it.
Tability's Strategy Map makes it easy to see all your org's OKRsIf you're not yet set on a tool, you can check out the 5 best OKR tracking templates guide to find the best way to monitor progress during the quarter.
More Software Development OKR templates
We have more templates to help you draft your team goals and OKRs.
- OKRs to ensure Successful Onboarding onto Salesforce Marketing Cloud (SFMC)
- OKRs to attract 400 new members to our community
- OKRs to externalize authorization models from monolith
- OKRs to establish ourselves as cloud specialists with Atlassian
- OKRs to enhance technical proficiency and efficiency as a Cloud Architect
- OKRs to enhance leadership abilities for a novice team lead
OKRs resources
Here are a list of resources to help you adopt the Objectives and Key Results framework.
- To learn: What is the meaning of OKRs
- Blog posts: ODT Blog
- Success metrics: KPIs examples
Create more examples in our app
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