Accountable vs responsible

The quality of a decision increases directly proportional to the degree to which the person is responsible.

If I tell you to do something, you’re accountable but not responsible. If you seek out the reasons why I’m telling you to do something, you’re responsible.

If you’ve approved a PR, you’re accountable. If you’ve understood the reasons behind the PR and confirmed it meets those requirements, you’re responsible.

If a team is told to create better quality data, they’re accountable. If a team knows why that quality data creates outsized value for the business, they’re responsible.

If you’re told you must use data contracts, you’re accountable. If you agree that by doing a little more upfront you’ll be creating a better outcome for the business at reduced costs, you’re responsible.

Inspired by Brain Food #558

P.S. I’ll be speaking at the Data Vault User Group conference near London on the 11th September, amongst some other great speakers. If you’d like to join you can use the discount code SP50 for 50% off the conference ticket.