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Comment by mcluck | Hacker News Reader

This is nonsense. You're allowed to criticize a system without having a solution. For what it's worth, I've worked at a few OKR driven companies and it sure seemed like a waste of time. Metrics and measurements shifted, goals changed as the product changed, and we wasted time measuring the thing instead of doing the thing. The measurements for OKRs never lead to meaningful action. Meaningful action was driven by customer interviews, market analysis, and R&D.

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It makes complete sense if you don't strawman comments in bad-faith. This isn't about "allow" or "disallow" - there is no attempt here to abridge somebody's free speech.

Anyone can criticize anything. It takes genuine effort to create a new system that works across an industry - if you think you can do better, go for it - I'll cheer you on.

There isn't a system, new or otherwise, that works across the industry.

The belief that there can be is a root cause of bad systems like OKRs.

You are entitled to your opinion, but pro tip: Telling people they're wrong when a system is working for them doesn't get the point across. Often those same people are well aware that each system has its flaws and no system is perfect.

I didn't say a system doesn't work in one specific company or situation.

I said it isn't universal and cannot be universal.

Of course, these things are assumed. Nobody actually claims systems to be universally applicable to everyone in every situation. So that is a bit of a nitpick, and not very substantive.

Sorry bud, no strawmen in sight. I was giving you an example of the system failing for me. This is a valid reason to criticize the system. If I had a solution that I had been able to test and validate then I would present it. In the absence of that, there's value in pointing out that it's not a panacea and it may not be valuable for others to jump on the bandwagon

> I was giving you an example of the system failing for me.

"In this scenario that only I know the details of, here is my opinion, and my opinion is correct, which proves OKR is bullshit". You're simply stating your feelings, which nobody can discuss/examine. That isn't an example of anything.

I in no way claimed that I proved OKRs are bullshit. I only stated that they have been ineffective in producing actionable data at the companies I've been at. If OKRs work for you, great. It doesn't mean that they are a universally good solution.

Fair enough, I'll drop it. Have a nice day :)

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