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I think there's a subtle, but distinct, semantic difference between someone being "responsible" for something vs "accountable" for something. The former means t
by kylec 14y ago
I think there's a subtle, but distinct, semantic difference between someone being "responsible" for something vs "accountable" for something. The former means that someone is expected to do something or have that thing done, while the latter implies the person will face consequences if something is not done or not done well. Or, put another way, accountability means negative consequences if someone doesn't do what they're responsible for.
- Udo 14y agoI get that. But all things being equal I wouldn't read too much into his phrasing here, especially since we're talking about a small startup company. Sure, most of us have traumatic experiences with big company culture, and sometimes certain phrases remind us of that trauma... ;-)
- lifeisstillgood 14y agoPost Traumatic Corporation Disorder ?
- dworin 14y agoIn most project management approaches, the difference between responsibility or accountability doesn't have to do with consequences, it has to do with separating out the person responsible for actually completing the work from the person who is accountable for making sure it happens, even if they aren't the one doing it themselves. Once a company gets big enough that people have teams, its not unreasonable for a senior level manager to delegate a task to someone to get done. The CEO doesn't need to be involved in the details of who they delegate it to, or how that person does it, they just need to be sure that the work is going to get done. If they micromanaged to that level it would get annoying fast.