Most organizations run on goals that sound great in meetings but dissolve into confusion during execution. Objectives get lost in translation. Dependencies go unacknowledged. Accountability turns into finger-pointing. Collaborate by Contract (CBC) was built to solve that problem—replacing informal aspirations with formal, execution-ready agreements that remove ambiguity and enforce commitment.

At its core, CBC is a structured goal-setting and execution methodology. It works by requiring that all work be explicitly negotiated, documented, and approved before it begins. Each “CBC Agreement” captures the objective, deliverables, ownership, dependencies, and success criteria in clear, measurable terms. Nothing moves forward until every stakeholder has signed off—not symbolically, but with the explicit understanding that they are committing to the agreement’s terms.

CBC forces the hard conversations upfront, before work starts, so execution happens within a known and agreed set of boundaries.

This commitment-first model stands in sharp contrast to frameworks like OKRs (Objectives and Key Results). OKRs aim for alignment but often stop short of specifying exactly how the work will be done, who will do it, and what dependencies need to be secured in advance. They leave room for ongoing adjustments, which can be useful for aspirational goals—but risky when deadlines, cross-team coordination, or external commitments are involved. CBC, on the other hand, forces the hard conversations upfront, before work starts, so execution happens within a known and agreed set of boundaries.

Here’s how CBC works in practice:

1. Negotiate the agreement – Contributors and stakeholders define scope, deliverables, dependencies, and success criteria.
2. Commit before execution – No one starts work until the agreement is signed off by all parties.
3. Manage dependencies explicitly – Linked agreements capture cross-team or vendor deliverables, with fallback plans built in.
4. Adapt by design, not reaction – Changes happen through predefined review cycles or conditional clauses, not last-minute scope creep.
5. Align at every level – Agreements scale from the individual level to teams, departments, and company-wide objectives, ensuring each layer connects to the one above it.

CBC works because it eliminates the two biggest execution killers: vague expectations and unowned dependencies. By making commitments explicit, measurable, and mutually agreed upon, it prevents misalignment, reduces mid-project churn, and enforces accountability in all directions—leaders included. It transforms “we’ll try” into “we’ve agreed,” and “we’ll see” into “here’s what success looks like.”

In short, OKRs and similar frameworks help you decide what you want to achieve. CBC makes sure you’ve agreed on exactly how you’ll achieve it—and holds everyone to that agreement. For organizations that care less about aspirational alignment and more about disciplined, dependable execution, CBC offers a high-clarity, high-accountability alternative that actually delivers.