Accountability for Cross-Functional Work

Part 5 of the Effective Managers? Understanding Accountability Series 

As we know, accountability within an organization is one of the most critical concepts that leaders and managers should master. Understanding accountability and implementing the Effective Point of Accountability? methodology leads to increased efficiency and better organizations.

However, things aren’t always so simple when it comes to determining the Effective Point of Accountability? for cross functional work. Especially in this case, there may be some overlap between the departments working on the same project, which would prove to be challenging. How do you determine where the Effective Point of Accountability? is when it comes to the delegation of cross-functional work? 

Single Team Accountability

To determine this, we should first have a look at the most straightforward example — accountability within a single team. Every person on the team has separate accountability, as well as authority for the work that they need to do to complete the process successfully. If there are differences between the members of the team regarding the best way to move forward with a project, or if one team member is unable to do the work required of them, who’s the person that deals with this issue? The Effective Point of Accountability? would be the manager of that team, as they would be the one who can decide to work differently and then direct the team members.

 Effective Point of Accountability for Two Teams

Determining the Effective Point of Accountability? for two different teams is where it can get a little more complicated. It will depend on the organizational structure. If we have two groups within the same department, that disagree in the hand-off between them, you need find the person with the authority to make decisions on how to work different and then direct that it happens. It would be a position of one level above the team managers who can decide and direct how work will take place in a process that goes across both of those functions. In some organizations, that might be the leader of the organization, depending on its size and structure.

 Organization-Wide Effective Point of Accountability

The most complex processes go across the entire organization. It is a frequent occurrence, and also the one that is difficult to get right. Unless the organizations correctly identify the Effective Point of Accountability?, it can cause inefficiency in cross-functional work. In this case, the only person that can be the Effective Point of Accountability in organization-wide cross-functional work is the head of the organization. It might even be a small process to resolve, but there is no one manager between the groups and the head of the organization that has the authority to decide and direct.

In all of these cases, it’s crucial for the organization to identify the person that has the authority to change how work is done within a team or multiple teams if that becomes necessary. Cross-functional work can be challenging, so remember the key takeaway to get it right.

Key Takeaway: To identify the Effective Point of Accountability for cross-functional work, you have to determine that individual within the organization who has the authority to both decide to do work differently and to direct people to work differently.

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Dwight Mihalicz is an internationally recognized speaker, author and management consultant. He helps organisations improve performance by focusing on manger effectiveness; ensuring that all managers, from the CEO to the front line, are focused on their key strategic priorities and that they have the accountability and authority required for success. 

Dwight has founded and is President of Effective Managers?, a management consulting firm based in Canada, providing services globally. The firm uses the Effective Managers? Survey to assess manager effectiveness, and The Effective Point of Accountability? to help organizations focus managers on the right work while breaking down silos.

He is the Chair of CMC-Global, the international Management Consulting professional standards body made up of 48 country-based Institutes of Management Consulting.

To learn more about Dwight's work, visit his web site here.

Check out our YouTube channel for free VidCasts and recorded Webinars.