Dependency

A Dependency is a relationship between two OKRs (or initiatives) where one cannot be achieved without another being completed first or in parallel. In organizational OKR systems, dependencies often cross team lines: Product cannot launch a feature without Engineering building it, Sales cannot expand enterprise deals without Product supporting the use case, etc.

Surfacing dependencies during planning is critical because unmanaged dependencies are a major source of project delay and risk. During OKR planning, teams should explicitly identify: "What other teams' work do we depend on?" and "What teams depend on our work?" These can then be mapped, sequenced, and coordinated.

Healthy OKR systems have visible dependency management: dependencies are mapped before the cycle starts, backup plans exist for high-risk dependencies, and cross-team check-ins happen regularly. A blocked dependency should trigger immediate escalation and problem-solving rather than silent waiting.