How OKRs and SMARTER Goals Compare

While OKRs and SMARTER goals share many of the same strengths—clarity, focus, and measurability—SMARTER goals can offer added flexibility and built-in reflection, all within your existing performance platform.

This makes SMARTER goals especially useful in dynamic environments where priorities shift and learning is continuous. Incorporating regular evaluation and adaptability encourages teams to stay aligned while evolving their strategies in real time.

First, the Similarties

At their core, each is a framework for setting and achieving goals. With miviva SMARTER goals, you can:

  • Set goals at the organizational or individual, and include key contributors
  • Include KPIs for measurable metrics
  • Define clear timeframes, whether quarterly, annual, or custom
  • Track and evaluate progress over time
  • Encourage regular check-ins and accountability

So if you’re already using OKRs, the transition to SMARTER goals in miviva will feel familiar—and might even solve some pain points.

Then, the Differences

While OKRs push for stretch goals and bold targets, SMARTER goals in miviva take things a step further by embedding structure for continuous improvement. The acronym stands for:

  • Specific
  • Measurable
  • Achievable
  • Relevant
  • Time-bound
  • Evaluated
  • Revise

What sets SMARTER goals apart is that final step—Evaluated and Revised. Without regular reflection, goals often fade into the background. But when they’re built with ongoing evaluation in mind, they stay active, visible, and far more likely to succeed.

And because SMARTER goals in miviva live inside your performance system, they’re easy to connect to 1:1s, action items, and real-time feedback—so goals aren’t just written. They’re worked on.

OKRs vs. SMARTER Goals: A Quick Comparsion

Feature OKRs SMARTER Goals (in miviva)
Structure Objective + Key Result Comprehensive goal that can be broken into milestones
Metrics/KPIs Required in Key Results Can embed KPIs
Timeframe Typically Quarterly Fully customizable (weekly to annual)
Scope Org-wide, personal, or team Org-wide, team, or personal
Stretch Focus Aspirational Flexible — stretch or steady improvement
Reflection Built-In Not always Evaluated + Reviewed components encourage ongoing learning
System Integration Often tracked in spreadsheets or external tools Fully integrated in the miviva performance management system

The Bottom Line

You don’t need to choose between OKRs and SMARTER goals. With miviva, you get a robust framework that does both—and then some.

So if you’re moving from OKRs or just looking for a better way to set and track meaningful goals, using SMARTER goals in miviva is a flexible, built-in solution that keeps your team focused, aligned, and improving.

Next Steps