Small Improvements→OKIAR

Migration guide · Small Improvements

Small Improvements migration: export each objectives cycle

Facts checked October 27, 2026

Before you start: one cycle, one file

• You need HR Admin. The objectives export sits in the Admin menu.
• List the cycles. Each export covers one cycle. Most teams move the current cycle and keep the rest as files.
• Check for cascades. On the plans that include it, Cascading Objectives link company, group and individual objectives. Note which cycles use them.
• Don't move objectives between cycles first. The FAQ says moving or copying an objective to a new cycle breaks its alignment. Export each cycle as it is.
• Price your plan. Small Improvements' pricing starts at $3 per user a month, billed annually, with minimum pricing. If reviews stay there, ask how your plan changes.

Step 1: Pick your Small Improvements export

Exporting one cycle

Go to Objectives from the Admin menu. Next to the cycle you want, open the Export dropdown. Pick Ordered by Objectives, select the columns and choose .csv or .xls. A confirmation window appears, and the file stays under Settings, Latest Exports if you need it again.

Repeat for each cycle you want to keep. Name files by cycle so the periods are clear later.

The full XML export

Small Improvements' Exports article describes a full XML export of the company database. It's off by default, support has to enable it, and you need both HR Admin and Tech Admin permissions. The files arrive as ZIPs grouped by feature. Small Improvements says the format suits loading into another system, but for goals the cycle CSV is easier to read and check.

Step 2: Check the Small Improvements file

Before you plan the move, check:

1. The number of objectives matches the cycle's admin view.
2. Aligned objectives point to parents in the same cycle's file.
3. Owners are current employees.
4. Status labels are noted, including any custom labels support set up for you.

Custom status labels only apply to cycles created after the change, so different cycles can use different labels. Check each file.

Weighing other tools first? See the Small Improvements alternatives page for six options and what each costs.

Step 3: Rebuild your Small Improvements objectives in OKIAR

Upload the CSV or .xls file to OKIAR's goal import. It also reads multi-sheet Excel, PDF, Word, text, Markdown up to 5 MB, and helps map people, teams and parent links for you to review. Import during sign-up or later.

1. Sign up free at okiar.app/signup.
2. Import the current cycle.
3. Look over the parent links. Company objectives should sit at the top, then group, then individual.
4. Create teams for group-level objectives.
5. Add extra owners only for shared objectives. They're optional.
6. Weight key results that count more. OKIAR supports weighting.
7. Set the period to the cycle's dates. Custom periods are supported.

Where each Small Improvements field goes in OKIAR

Column names depend on what you tick in the picker, so treat this as a map of concepts rather than exact headers.

Status in OKIAR

OKIAR works status out from pacing. Its objective docs list On track at 0.7 or more of expected progress, Behind at 0.4 to 0.69 and At risk below 0.4. Owners can set Not started, Closed or Abandoned themselves. Check-ins carry a confidence score from 0 to 10.

Step 4: Swap the integrations

Small Improvements' integrations list covers Google Workspace, calendars for 1:1 meetings, a REST API, HRIS and SSO. Its MCP connection lets Claude, Slack or Teams read objectives, and it's read only.

Step 5: The first check-in

Agree a weekly day. In the first round, every owner records a value, a confidence score and any blockers. Compare top objectives with the cycle in Small Improvements, then keep the cycle files under a clear name.