OKR Software vs Project Management Tools
Do you need OKR software when you already have Asana or Jira? What's the difference? Here's a clear breakdown.
Answers "What should we achieve this quarter?" Focuses on outcomes, alignment, and strategic direction.
Answers "What tasks do we do today?" Focuses on deliverables, assignments, and deadlines.
Most teams need both. OKRs set direction, PM tools manage execution. They complement each other.
Key Differences
| Aspect | OKR Software | Project Management |
|---|---|---|
| Primary question | "What do we want to achieve?" | "What tasks do we need to complete?" |
| Time horizon | Quarterly (sometimes annual) | Daily, weekly, sprint-based |
| Focus | Outcomes and results | Activities and deliverables |
| Measurement | Progress toward goals (0-100%) | Task completion (done/not done) |
| Scope | Company, team, individual goals | Projects, epics, tickets, tasks |
| Updates | Weekly check-ins | Real-time as work happens |
How They Work Together
OKRs cascade down to tasks. Here's how the hierarchy works:
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Which Do You Need?
- Leadership team setting company direction
- Small team using simple to-do lists for tasks
- Strategy-focused teams
- Agency with clear client deliverables
- Support team with ticket queues
- Teams with externally-defined goals
- OKRs set the 'why' and direction
- PM tools manage the 'what' and 'how'
- Link initiatives in OKRs to epics/projects
Popular Tools in Each Category
- LoachPlanning + OKRs for startups
- TabilityReal-time OKR tracking
- PerdooStrategy + OKRs + KPIs
- WeekdoneOKRs + weekly reporting
- QuantiveEnterprise OKR platform
- AsanaWork management, projects
- LinearIssue tracking for dev teams
- JiraAgile project management
- Monday.comVisual work management
- ClickUpAll-in-one productivity
- NotionDocs + databases + tasks
Tips for Using Both Together
Set OKRs at quarter start, then create projects/epics in your PM tool to support each initiative.
Update OKR progress based on PM tool completion. Some tools automate this with integrations.
Leadership sees OKR dashboards for strategy. ICs work in PM tools daily. Both are visible as needed.
Connect your OKR tool to Slack, Jira, or Asana. This reduces context-switching and keeps progress synced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Add OKRs to Your Stack?
Loach integrates with Slack and connects your quarterly goals to weekly work. Free for up to 5 users.