RE: Who owns the system

["Robert A. Ferrell" <ferrell1@home.com>]

JDKromkowski wrote in part -- So do many Top Management proclaim that
the have empowered their workers and therefore may hold them
accountable for too many read beads.


I as curious how many different definitions exist in the DEN for words
such as:
accountable
responsible
empowered

To me these words are overused, misused, and carry widely diversified
meaning.
If these are important parts of management and leadership, to what
extent?
How do we make that clear to those so crowned?
Is the use of such terms just another means for managers to say what
(or who) they did to handle a problem, it didn't work, and wash their
hands of any unfavorable opinions?

How does holding someone accountable produce improvement?
Is it just another stick of fear?

Does being responsible mean you are the designated stick receiver?
Is being responsible the same as being a target?

If I empower someone does that mean I tell them they are the target
before a mistake is made?
If I am empowered does that mean I am fore-warned?

I might say 'I empower you with responsibility to manage work flow X.
You are accountable for Y results' or I might say 'you are the
pre-designated (empowered) target (responsible person) for the
production of Y and this is my giant stick. (accountability)

My understand of the terms in brief:
Accountable - a previously agreed upon understanding of the logical
and natural consequences
Responsible - the ability to choice a response within the boundaries
of the system
Empowered   - provided the resources (training, money, equipment,
policies, people, freedom, creativity, talent, initiative and
energy...)

IMO, none of these can happen usefully unless leadership designs a
good system.

That should start the gears turning,
Robert A. Ferrell
mailto:ferrell1@home.com

careerism - n
the policy or practice of advancing one's career often at the cost
one's integrity
Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary
Copyright 1990
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