Pros
It’s important to understand the difference between accountability and responsibility in order to keep your workplace structure organized and even help prevent costly misunderstandings. In this article, we review the difference between accountability and responsibility in the workplace, including seven tips for managers to develop their own accountability and responsibility to help their teams achieve success.
Cons
Can a person be accountable and not responsible, and vice versa? Certainly, according to the above scenarios. Responsibility is project- and task-oriented. For example, a project manager may be considered more accountable vs. responsible as the lead overseeing a group of processes or tasks, whereas every individual on a work crew may be held responsible for completing a small fraction of the larger project. In this scenario, let’s say a worker or workers were responsible for building the set of aforementioned stairs and ensuring their safety. If the workers neglect their responsibilities to this project, they could be accountable for the consequences.