Measure what matters
by John Doerr · first published 2017
51% recommend46% neutral3% critical
Why HN recommends it
Introduces OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) through the history of how Google and other Silicon Valley companies used them; suits managers and founders who want a simple system for setting goals and focus.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
In the fall of 1999, John Doerr met with the founders of a start-up whom he'd just given $12.5 million, the biggest investment of his career. Larry Page and Sergey Brin had amazing technology, entrepreneurial energy, and sky-high ambitions, but no real business plan. For Google to change the world (or even to survive), Page and Brin had to learn how to make tough choices on priorities while keeping their team on track. They'd have to know when to pull the plug on losing propositions, to fail fast. And they needed timely, relevant data to track their progress, to measure what mattered. Doerr ta
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…and "DevOps Handbook" by Eugene Kim, on how different parts of a tech + non-tech organization come and work together. 3. "High Output Management" by Andrew Grove on overall technical management. 4. "Measure What Matters" by John Doerr on setting objectives and measuring their progress. 5. "The Checklist Manifesto" by Atul Gawande on thinking through replicable processes. 6. "Who" by Geoff Smart on hiring. 7. "Start…
on “Ask HN: What makes a good technical leader – any recommended books?” ↗Measure what Matters by John Doerr had a similar effect on me to what you're describing with Freakonomics. I don't remember a lot of details from that book, but the way I set and measured goals after reading it changed almost…
on “Ask HN: What books changed the way you think about almost everything?” ↗…single organization that adopted the principles in a Bridgewater-like manner” https://www.institutionalinvestor.com/article/b184ggn6dd6090... This is in stark contrast with John Doerr’s recent book, Measure What Matters, which is only examples of implementation.
on “Ray Dalio AMA” ↗I set a goal to read atleast 3 books a month, so this is my July list: - A mind at play: halfway through ,good read so far Shanon is a legend - The subtle Art of Not Giving a FK : Refreshingly good - Measure What Matters : Using this as a reference for everything now on, good read
on “Ask HN: 2018 Summer Reading List?” ↗1. Measure What Matters - John Doers book about OKR’s is awesome, best business book since Lean Startup 2. Bad Blood - Just started it and it reads like John Grisham 3. The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaur - Narrative about dinosaurs,…
on “Ask HN: 2018 Summer Reading List?” ↗If you're interested in setting good targets and metrics, I highly recommend these books on OKRs: Measure what matters, Doerr: The newest book on OKRs, by the guy who introducted OKRs to Google Move, Patty Azzarello: A really really great book on executing strategic change, that has a section about setting 'Control Points',…
on “When targets and metrics are bad for business” ↗Pairs very well with Grove's dictum of Objectives and Key Statements (OKRs). These and Grove's management philosophy are captured very well in John Doerr's book 'Measure what Matters'
on “Andy Grove's Paranoia: Universal Lessons (1996)” ↗For more info on Operation Crush, I rec. John Doerr's Measure What Matters. The beginning of the book outlines the intense competition Intel had with Motorola, Intel's strategy, and Andy Grove's sales/business philosophies.
on “The Intel 8086 processor's registers: from chip to transistors” ↗Measure what matters - John Doerr | To understand how to measure success (with OKRs). Empowered - Marty Cagan | For digital product leadership insights.
on “Ask HN: Best book/resources on business modelling?” ↗--> One Minute Manager --> Hard things about hard things --> The Phenix Project --> Measure what matters
on “Ask HN: Favorite books on how to be a good manager?” ↗During Summer 2018, I read 2 very interesting books called “Measure What matters” by John Doerr and “High Output Management by Andy Grove. I found that OKR (Objectives and Key Results) is part of the secret sauce in Silicon Valley to succeed as a business or a person as it helps…
on “Free OKR tool for the community (startups, VC, SME, large organizations...)” ↗Three of my favorites were: 1. The Culture Code by Daniel Coyle An excellent analysis of what makes some cultures great and others toxic. 2. Measure What Matters by John Doerr John Doerr describes a simple yet effective management system that has helped Google succeed and scale. The Objective and Key Results approach can be effective for anyone from a single contributor…
on “Ask HN: Favorite nonfiction books of 2018?” ↗Few suggestions that didn't make that list: The Innovator's Dilemma (and everything by) - Clayton M. Christensen Measure What Matters - John Doerr Obstacle is the Way - Ryan Holiday Factfulness - Anna Rosling Rönnlund, Hans Rosling, and Ola Rosling Grit - Angela Duckworth
on “Founder Books” ↗On the topic of General Management - High Output Management by Andrew Grove Visibility and Alignment - Measure What Matters by John Doerr Understanding People and Teams - Surrounded by Idiots by Thomas Erikson
on “Ask HN: Best book / resources on leadership, especially for tech teams?” ↗…Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable https://www.amazon.com/dp/0787960756/?coliid=I12MQNI6MIK6JR&... High Output Management https://www.amazon.com/dp/0679762884/?coliid=I2G1Y1JLPP55SY&... Measure What Matters https://www.amazon.com/dp/0525536221/?coliid=I1G6EQRC0QYPE1&... Death by Meeting https://www.amazon.com/dp/0787968056/?coliid=I38A8AYMZGSLYZ&... Work Rules!: Insights from Inside Google That Will Transform…
on “Ask HN: What makes a good technical leader – any recommended books?” ↗