Narrative Commitments Tasks is a goal setting framework that can be used to augment OKRs1. NCTs provide a connective tissue between strategy and execution1:
- Narrative: Explains the goalâs context and rationale.
- Why is this a priority
- Recent learnings relevant to the goal
- Any past efforts like this goal
- How the goal ties to the larger vision
- Commitments: A set of measurable goals (SMART could be helpful here). Commitments are flexible (i.e. the result can be achieved in several ways as the quarter proceeds) but deterministic (you either hit the commitment or you do not)
- Tasks: Tasks are known work to achieve a goal, they are a suspected path towards the commitment while not being the prescribed path. Enumerating tasks seeks to solve the cold start problem. Achieving all your commitments without completing any tasks is a fine outcome (although it should be interrogated why your suspected tasks werenât done). Achieving all your tasks and none of your commitments is a failure.
1. Mehta, R. An alternative to OKRs: How to set and achieve ambitious goals. https://www.ravi-mehta.com/an-alternative-to-okrs-how-to-set-and-achieve-ambitious-goals/ (2024).