Challenge
Shifting from Task Execution to Strategic Thinking
ABB Electrification, one of the world’s leading technology companies in electrification and automation, launched a professional development program across five business divisions to strengthen core competencies in product management. The goal: enable 650 product managers to think and act strategically in creating innovative products.
But integrating OKRs into the program surfaced major challenges:
- Define Outcome-Based OKRs: Help product managers move beyond task lists to focus on measurable, strategic results.
- Align with Corporate Strategy: Ensure all OKRs contribute meaningfully to ABB’s broader vision and long-term goals.
- Drive a Mindset Shift: Support product managers in evolving from operational execution to strategic leadership.
Without proper coaching, most OKRs risked becoming reworded task lists—missing the opportunity to drive real impact.
“Product management is one of our most strategic roles, and we need them to drive strategy with a clarity of purpose linked to our high-level business strategy.” — Franco Gatti, Product Management Excellence Lead, ABB Electrification
The Solution: A Competence-Based Implementation Journey
From Learning Theory to Strategic Execution
To avoid the pitfalls of an abstract rollout, ABB partnered with Wave Nine and integrated the OKR methodology into a hands-on, three-step development journey. This program was designed to build lasting strategic capabilities across all divisions.
- Wave Nine Academy: Product managers received live OKR trainings, on-demand learning, and certification through the Wave Nine Academy.
- Coaching at Scale: One-on-one coaching sessions helped participants apply OKRs to real-world challenges and align with ABB’s mission.
- Learning by Doing: 70% of the program was dedicated to on-the-job learning, ensuring strategic thinking became part of the daily workflow.
The result was a scalable, mindset-shifting OKR approach tailored to ABB’s unique organizational structure—empowering product managers to act as strategic drivers across the business.
