Digital Maturity: OKR reporting tool improvement and automation
The Situation
The client (SVP) lacked an efficient, automated, and transparent reporting tool. Leadership and stakeholders expressed concerns about the disproportionate amount of time spent on reporting rather than problem-solving. Additionally, there were instances of inaccurate and invalid data being reported, which did not align with the final figures. SMA’s also faced challenges in comprehending the data.
The Task
Given the situation where the client lacked an efficient and transparent reporting system, which led to discrepancies in data and difficulties in understanding, the task is to enhance and automate the reporting tool to ensure improved data flow, transparency, and accurate validation.
The Action / Approach
I engaged in active employee feedback sessions, examined existing data and workflows, evaluated the current tools, collaborated with other team leads to gather pertinent data, and identified key archetypes.
In addressing the prevailing challenges within our reporting processes, I embarked on a series of strategic interventions to optimize our workflow and enhance transparency. Specifically, I took the following steps:
Typical areas where value is realized:
- Engaging in active employee feedback sessions to understand ground-level issues.
- Examining existing data and workflows to spot inefficiencies and redundancies.
- Evaluating the current tools to determine their fit for purpose.
- Collaborating with other team leads to gather pertinent data and insights.
- Identifying key archetypes to better inform our approach.
Pains typically relieved include:
- Ambiguity in reporting.
- Time-consuming data retrieval.
- Inaccuracies in data representation.
To counter the challenge of insufficient good data and reporting tools, I:
- Invested in thorough analysis sessions to diagnose the root causes of data discrepancies.
- Explored tool enhancements and automation options to streamline reporting.
- Organized cross-team discussions to brainstorm solutions and ensure that the chosen tool was user-friendly and addressed the core needs of all stakeholders.
The Result
I successfully implemented a new OKR (Objectives and Key Results) reporting tool that not only automated processes but also seamlessly integrated cross-functionally. This tool bridged the disciplines within digital technology, encompassing all three domains, and was further harmonized with other key areas such as product management, transformation, and change management.
