When work has no clear owner Work bounces
When work has no clear owner Assumed responsibilities create invisible gaps
When work has no clear owner Everyone assumes that Someone will handle it
When work has no clear owner Silos create gaps that someone has to fill
WHEN WORK HAS NO CLEAR OWNER
Common signs
- Work bounces
- Assumed responsibilities create invisible gaps
- Everyone assumes that “Someone” will handle it
- Silos create gaps that someone has to fill
When work has no clear owner, it is tempting to start by clarifying roles and responsibilities. Sometimes that’s exactly what is needed. But if unclear ownership isn’t the root cause, clarifying roles alone may not solve the problem.
Before jumping to solutions, ask:
- What would change if roles were clarified tomorrow?
- What happens to ownership when work moves between people or teams?
- Is it clear what target teams and individuals are aiming for?
- How do teams and individuals know where to focus first?
Look beyond ownership. Explore also:
- Targets & communication about targets
- Prioritization & communication about priorities
- How work is organised (governance, organization, stakeholders)
When work has no clear owner Explore