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Accountability

Clarifying ownership of outcomes within systems of work to drive alignment, transparency, and effectiveness.

Accountability is a structural concept describing who is answerable for outcomes in a system of work. It defines ownership for results, not activity.

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Overview

Accountability is a structural concept that defines who is answerable for outcomes in a system of work. Unlike task-level responsibility or decision-making authority, accountability is about owning the result, not just the activity.

In Scrum, there are three clearly defined accountabilities: Product Owner, Scrum Master, and Developers. These accountabilities clarify who is answerable for value, for the system of work, and for the delivery of Done Increments. Together, they form the accountability of the Scrum Team.

Accountability is essential in Agile, Scrum, and DevOps environments where self-management, decentralised control, and transparency are critical. Without it, organisations revert to unclear ownership, blame diffusion, or command-and-control.

Accountability differs from:

Clear accountabilities allow for inspection and adaptation. They enable organisations to make decisions based on evidence, detect delivery bottlenecks, and improve flow and value delivery.

Accountability is not a behaviour or value—it is a defined structural mechanism that supports clarity, alignment, and effective delivery in complex systems of work.

Learn More about Accountability

Scrum Team

The Scrum Team is a defined accountability within Scrum, composed of a Scrum Master, Product Owner, and Developers working together toward a shared Product Goal.

Product Management

Product Management is the strategic discipline of balancing customer needs, business goals, and technical feasibility to maximise product value. It involves defining vision, prioritising opportunities, and guiding development efforts to ensure alignment with market demands and organisational objectives. Effective Product Management enables teams to deliver impactful solutions, adapt to change, and drive continuous value delivery through evidence-based decision-making and cross-functional collaboration.

Hybrid Agile

A critical lens on attempts to combine project management with agile delivery approaches.

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