What is Microsoft Viva Goals (in plain words)

• Microsoft Viva Goals is a simple, business-ready way to set and track goals using the OKR method. It lives in Microsoft Teams and on the web, so people can see priorities, update progress, and keep work aligned without hunting through spreadsheets or slide decks. (microsoft.com)

• The app is built for clarity: set objectives, define measurable key results, and connect them to the work happening in your tools so updates flow automatically. Less status chasing, more progress. (microsoft.com)

Why Back Office teams care

• Shared clarity across Finance, HR, IT, Legal, and Operations. Everyone sees the same priorities and how their work contributes.

• Faster business rhythms. Weekly check-ins, quarterly reviews, and monthly close prep become repeatable, light-touch routines.

• Proof, not promises. Auto-updated key results pull real data from systems, so reviews focus on decisions, not data disputes.

• Compliance-friendly visibility. A clear audit trail of goals, check-ins, and ownership reduces review time and risk.

What it does (at a glance)

• OKR creation and alignment. Create goals, align them up, down, or across teams (including multiple alignment), and keep everyone pulling in the same direction. (learn.microsoft.com)

• Automated progress tracking. Connect OKRs to data sources so progress updates happen for you. (microsoft.com)

• Check-ins and nudges. Set a weekly or monthly rhythm, send reminders, and capture context with check‑in notes. (learn.microsoft.com)

• Governance when you need it. Use approval workflows, roles, and permissions to keep goals high quality and on track. Lock plans once approved. (learn.microsoft.com)

• Present in minutes. Export goals and progress to PowerPoint for exec reviews and town halls. (techcommunity.microsoft.com)

How it fits with your stack

• Microsoft 365 and Teams. Use the Viva Goals app in Teams, share goal cards in chats, and get activity feed notifications; the web app works standalone. Teams license required for the Teams app. (learn.microsoft.com)

• Engineering and work tracking. Integrations with Azure DevOps, Jira (cloud and on‑prem), and GitHub keep delivery work tied to outcomes. (learn.microsoft.com)

• Data and reporting. Connect key results directly to Power BI metrics for live KPI updates; export snapshots to Excel or PowerPoint. (learn.microsoft.com)

AI that speeds up planning and reviews

• Copilot in Viva Goals helps draft OKRs from prompts or strategy docs, suggests key results, and summarizes progress so leaders can prep for reviews in minutes. It also answers methodology questions right in the app. (learn.microsoft.com)

• Copilot respects enterprise privacy and security boundaries; it runs within your tenant controls and does not train on your data. (learn.microsoft.com)

Security, privacy, and control

• Built on Microsoft’s enterprise-grade security and compliance. Role-based permissions, private objectives, and approval workflows help you share what’s needed and shield what’s sensitive. (learn.microsoft.com)

Pricing and availability (United States, as of September 27, 2025)

• Viva Goals standalone: typically listed at about $6 per user/month (annual). Viva Suite: about $12 per user/month (annual) and includes Viva Goals plus other Viva apps. Licensing for the Teams app requires a Teams license; the web app has no prerequisites. Always confirm with your Microsoft representative. (microsoft.com)

• Important update: Microsoft has announced Viva Goals will be retired on December 31, 2025. The service remains available and supported until then; plan your transition and export options accordingly. (learn.microsoft.com)

Back Office use cases that work right away

• Finance: Shorten monthly close and track working-capital KPIs with Power BI-backed key results.

• HR: Reduce time-to-fill and boost onboarding completion with weekly check-ins and nudges.

• IT: Improve SLA compliance and incident MTTR by linking OKRs to Azure DevOps/Jira work.

• Legal/Compliance: Increase policy adoption and audit readiness with clear ownership and an approval workflow.

• Operations: Cut cycle times and supplier risk with auto-updated KPIs and cross‑team alignment.

Quick rollout checklist

• Pick 3–5 company priorities and define draft OKRs with Copilot; pressure‑test them with Finance/HR/IT leads. (learn.microsoft.com)

• Turn on key integrations (Power BI, Azure DevOps/Jira/GitHub) and set a weekly check‑in rhythm. (learn.microsoft.com)

• Enable permissions and an approval workflow for consistent planning quality. (learn.microsoft.com)

• Share progress in Teams and export to PowerPoint for business reviews. (learn.microsoft.com)

• If you’ll need OKRs beyond 2025, schedule a data export and transition plan during Q4 2025. (learn.microsoft.com)

Bottom line

• Viva Goals gives Back Office teams a practical, low-friction way to turn strategy into measurable outcomes, keep everyone aligned, and run reviews with evidence, not anecdotes. It’s available and supported today, integrates with the tools you already use, and can be rolled out quickly. Given the announced retirement timeline, it’s a strong near‑term choice to standardize OKRs and build a durable operating rhythm—while you plan a smooth transition for 2026. (microsoft.com)