VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd

VTT‘s strategy unit already had some knowledge and experience of the OKR model when the company decided in 2021 to start OKR deployment across the entire 2200-person organisation. However, an experienced guide was needed to train and guide the strategy work.

“We met and compared different organisations in Finland and abroad that use or consult on the OKR model. There were very few service providers in Finland whose work we could verify, but we found the best OKR guru in the country. We started the implementation of OKR with Henri Sora and Juuso Hämäläinen, authors of the book “Implementing OKRs: The Practitioner’s Guide for Executives, Managers and Team Leaders”. They are leading the way in OKR work in Finland, and their practical approach suited us well,” say VTT’s Senior Vice President, Strategy Laura Juvonen, Manager, Operating Planning Sanna Tuominen, and Strategy Manager Maija Ojanen-Saloranta.

The introduction of the OKR framework at VTT commenced in early 2022, initially with the management and strategy teams, where Sora and Hämäläinen acted as trainers and coaches. Subsequently, Sora took the OKR training initiative forward with the management teams of various functions and team leaders of all research and service divisions at VTT. At present, an online course for the entire organisation is under development.

“The OKR adoption is a marathon and not a one-time occurrence.” “This is a significant and ongoing learning journey for the entire organisation. Henri has played a crucial role in guiding us through this transformation. He not only provided us with training sessions but also helped us to develop the philosophy behind the OKR method at VTT. Essentially, this is a significant shift in the way we operate and discuss strategy throughout the organisation. While we have made progress, there is much more work to be done,” stated Juvonen.

At VTT, OKR work happens at all levels of the organization, in both Finnish and English. The trainer must be collaborative and understand diverse needs, starting points, and attitudes.

“Henri is highly imaginative with both concrete and abstract concepts. He has experience in other specialist organizations of equivalent size and with comparable logic. From these experiences, he has introduced us to some ideas and tools that we can experiment with. Henri has identified crucial nodes in our model that require addressing.”

The OKR model has enabled VTT to redirect its attention from individual technologies and research projects towards the collective objectives of a large organisation. Its implementation has sparked discussions on the strategic direction of the company at all levels. The OKR approach involves the inclusive development of objectives through collective dialogue, rather than a top-down approach. Interestingly, the partnership with Sora on OKRs has also opened up VTT to a broad and diverse network of potential collaborators.

“Henri invited us to join the OKR Community in Finland, where we connected with other organizations utilizing the OKR model. It’s impressive that Henri takes an active role in building a community as a partner. Peer learning within the network has provided us with tremendous value,” Juvonen and Ojanen-Saloranta explain.

VTT’s strategy team reports that collaborating with Sora has been exceptional. It has been advantageous for the company to have an external partner in the strategy work who possesses a wealth of experience with OKR and is invested in the organisation’s success.

“Henri genuinely wants to assist and cultivate our business. He listens and analyzes situations and people with great proficiency. Additionally, he is capable of crafting training sessions that are both engaging and insightful, generating enthusiasm and interest.” “Tuominen, Juvonen, and Ojanen-Saloranta all agree that his composed demeanor aptly suits this position and aligns with the engineering-focused ethos of our organisation.”