What is KRA (Key Result Area)?
A KRA (Key Result Area) is a broad area of responsibility in your role where results are expected, defining what you are accountable for.
- Key Result Area
- Key Responsibility Area
Updated 2026-07-25 · one of 47 terms in the OnJob career glossary
Key takeaways
- A KRA (Key Result Area) is a broad area of responsibility in your role where results are expected, defining what you are accountable for.
- Also called Key Result Area, Key Responsibility Area.
- In India, KRAs are commonly set at the start of an appraisal cycle and form the basis of performance reviews.
- Understanding your KRAs tells you what success looks like in the role and what your appraisal will actually assess.
What does KRA (Key Result Area) mean?
A Key Result Area defines the main areas of your job where you are expected to deliver results. KRAs describe your core responsibilities — the 'what' you own — rather than the precise metrics used to measure them.
How does KRA (Key Result Area) work in India?
In India, KRAs are commonly set at the start of an appraisal cycle and form the basis of performance reviews. They are often paired with KPIs, which are the measurable indicators within each KRA.
Why does KRA (Key Result Area) matter to a jobseeker?
Understanding your KRAs tells you what success looks like in the role and what your appraisal will actually assess. Ask for them in writing within your first few weeks, because in most Indian companies the KRAs agreed at the start of an appraisal cycle are the ones scored at the end of it. Work that falls outside your KRAs may be appreciated informally, but it rarely moves your rating, your increment or your promotion case.
Is KRA (Key Result Area) the same as Key Responsibility Area?
Yes — KRA (Key Result Area) is also commonly called Key Result Area, Key Responsibility Area. A KRA (Key Result Area) is a broad area of responsibility in your role where results are expected, defining what you are accountable for.
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