The roles component – in detail
Describes the work that needs to get done in the business.
Part of the building the organisation layer
INTRODUCTION
This component of the framework breaks down the work to be done in a business into coherent roles. A role is a collection of accountabilities taken on by one or more people.
By scoping and describing roles using accountabilities, we create a clear understanding of what’s expected of each person in the business in their work.
This understanding is aligned clearly with the strategy and operating model of the business.
Once the accountabilities of a role have been identified, identify the criteria for success for a role and the competencies needed to be able to fulfil that role.
A role is properly defined when the person doing the role can answer yes to these three questions:
- “What’s my contribution to the business?”
- “How shouId I work with others?”
- “How do I know when I’m succeeding?”
In detail
What is an accountability?
An accountability is an outcome in a business that needs to be achieved.
Every accountability should contribute positively towards the strategy and be consistent with the operating model that have been defined in the making a business layer.
What does “being accountable” mean?
To be accountable, a team member acknowledges and takes on responsibility for all the decisions, actions and work needed to achieve that particular outcome.
They embrace being ultimately answerable for the consequences of achieving or not achieving that outcome.
Why use accountabilities to define roles?
In the B3 framework, accountabilities are preferred over activities as a way to describe a role.
Traditional approaches to role definition often focus on describing activities. This restricts change as roles evolve and hinders innovation.
Using accountabilities enable space for people to have greater autonomy over how to do their work.
Background reading
- Designing High-Performance Jobs (article)
- Job descriptions: dead or alive? (article)
- Shall we give up on job design? (article)
- Fluid Job Titles and Job Descriptions at Teal Organizations (article)
- Humanocracy by Gary Hamel and Michele Zanini (book)
- Building businesses with accountability (article)
Practical resources
- Role definition template (Google Docs)
- Role definition template (PDF)
