What's KRA?

What does KRA stand for — yes, the dreaded term that crops up during many companies’ annual assessment periods? According to a software services major, the definition has been changing over time. While it may be “key result areas” for the assessor, it may not be so for assessees, the firm’s CEO was heard saying recently. His subordinates referred to KRA as “kyun rakhe aapko” (why should we keep you) given that there’s a more-than-ample supply of required people during the slowdown. Of course, the moment the market picks up, and the industry recovers, and there’s an acute shortage of talent, the definition changes — to “kaun rehta hai aaj-kal” (who will stay on nowadays).