A comparison of two similar companies and their dramatically different BOS implementation outcomes

Executive Summary

Two technology companies chose different paths for Business Operating System implementation. Company A self-implemented over six months while Company B hired a coach and achieved the same results in half the time.

The Challenge Everyone Faces

You've probably tried implementing improvements in how you and your team work. You may be convinced using a Business Operating System could transform your company, but past attempts with other frameworks have left you skeptical.

This is the story of two technology companies, both mid-sized teams struggling with the same fundamental issues: ineffective meetings that dragged on for hours, unclear priorities, and poor execution despite having passionate, engaged people.

Company A: The DIY Approach

Company A had already tried implementing OKRs with an online tracking tool. Like many companies, they jumped in without proper training or guidance. The framework had good ideas, but without knowing how to create effective OKRs or sustain the practice, it eventually faded away.

When the CEO introduced BOS, the leadership team was skeptical. "Here we go again with another framework," was the general sentiment.

But this time was different. Using Ninety.io, a SaaS-based BOS implementation tool, gave ease and structure. They slowly began incorporating BOS concepts into their leadership practices. Progress was gradual and required persistence:

The "Before" Reality:

• Leadership meetings were inconsistent with no clear agenda, regularly running 2+ hours instead of the scheduled one hour
• Meetings ended when someone ran out of time or the team got frustrated talking in circles
• Passionate discussions about problems rarely reached actionable next steps with poor accountability for follow-through.

After 6 Months of Self-Implementation:

• Regular Weekly Team Meeting schedule with consistent agenda
• Shared Issues list with regular resolution of Issues each week
• Structured goal setting at team and individual levels
• Improved accountability and progress tracking

The transformation took about two full quarters to see strong results. The key difference from previous frameworks was a BOS's comprehensive approach. Our BOS-UP framework is a complete system addressing vision, goals, customer, structure, people, data, meetings, process, and exit planning.

Even without expert guidance, the leadership team at Company A was able to make progress on their own and find transformational value in a Business Operating System.

Company B: The Coached Approach

Company B had been using another business improvement framework which encouraged setting regular goals. It was bringing value, but it was not a complete framework and lacked the concrete guidance for implementation found in a BOS.

Their quarterly planning consumed 2-4 weeks through multiple rounds of goal proposals, evaluation, and approval.

When they decided to implement BOS, they hired a coach who made a bold promise: "I can help you complete your quarterly planning in a single day instead of your usual 2-4 week process."

The Coached Transformation: The coach delivered on that promise, facilitating a structured one-day planning session that introduced quarterly Rocks at company, team, and individual levels. Because of the company's immediate planning needs, the coach had to teach foundational BOS concepts on the fly during the session.

This unconventional approach—starting with planning rather than foundational training—provided quick value. Goal clarity and accountability improved immediately, then they systematically introduced better meetings, issue resolution, and vision work over the following months.

The Critical Difference

Both companies achieved BOS success, but the contrast in speed and efficiency was striking:

Self-Implementation: Two quarters to see strong results

Coached Implementation: Immediate value with planning, and most BOS practices working at a basic level within one quarter. This is 2x faster

The coached company's advantage wasn't just speed. Having an expert guide meant they made fewer mistakes and got unstuck quickly when challenges arose. Instead of figuring everything out through trial and error, they had real-time expertise to navigate obstacles and optimize their approach.

The Bottom Line

Company A's persistence paid off, and they continued using their BOS long after initial skeptics became believers. Company B achieved the same level of implementation in half the time while avoiding the common pitfalls that derail DIY efforts.

As one leadership team member reflected: "Having a coach didn't just speed up our implementation. It gave us confidence that we were doing things right from the start."

Ready to skip the trial-and-error approach? Our proven coaching methodology makes your BOS implementation effective and efficient.

Curious about how you can implement the benefits of a BOS in your own business? Let's Talk.