Alignment means coordination. This means that objectives are clearly defined and then pursued. There are so-called subordinate metrics (key results) that can be used to measure success. In this way, a product defect becomes visible long before publication and can be rectified immediately. This improves quality at all levels. Urs is an expert in this field, he explains this method in great detail and also applies it to software testing.
“A typical problem, a typical challenge, when I develop products is customer satisfaction. (…) I often only find out very long after the fact.” - Urs Reupke
Urs is a consultant, trainer and coach for agility at it-agile. In almost 15 years of experience with agility, he has learned that cooperation, process and technology must go hand in hand to achieve the right result. Today, he passes on this experience and helps companies of all sizes to find elegant solutions to their structural problems. Urs is drawn to strategy, leadership and product development.
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Learn how OKRs can align teams and lead to better decisions. This article reveals the importance of alignment in the team context and provides practical insights into the use of OKRs.
Today we are taking an in-depth look at the topic of team alignment. In an interview with Urs Reupke, we discuss how closely the topic is linked to software quality, the challenges it poses and how OKRs can help to better align teams and make decisions more efficiently. This discussion offers a valuable insight into the practice of alignment and its importance for quality assurance in software development.
Urs explains that ‘alignment’ refers to the alignment within a company or team. Often different areas of a company pull in different directions - especially at middle management level where career thinking can play a role. Effective alignment focuses everyone involved on common goals and how to achieve them. A distinction is made between ‘alignment’ - the common focus on challenges and their importance - and ‘focus’, which is about concentrating on a specific solution.
OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) provide an effective tool for making coordinated decisions more quickly. By setting clearly defined objectives and corresponding key results, managers can set priorities and ensure that the entire team is aligned with these objectives. This not only leads to better coordination within the team but also to more efficient goal achievement.
Urs provides an illustrative example of the application of OKRs based on customer satisfaction: an overarching goal could be to increase customer satisfaction. Supporting metrics could then be, for example, the number of defects found during a sprint. By defining and using such metrics, a team can recognize early on whether it is on the right track and make adjustments if necessary.
Urs recommends some best practices for the successful use of OKRs: It makes sense to take inspiration from others when defining goals and to use proven metrics. It is also important to bring the team together regularly to discuss progress and make adjustments where necessary. Sharing ideas within the team not only promotes an understanding of common goals but also motivates everyone involved.
Urs has illustrated how essential alignment is for a productive team environment and how OKRs can support this. By clearly defining and regularly reviewing their goals, teams can increase their efficiency and ultimately achieve better results. It turns out that a well thought-out application of OKRs not only contributes to the achievement of goals but also strengthens the team spirit.