Accountability
Functional Standards Common Glossary, published by the Cabinet Office, suggests: ‘Someone who is accountable is required and expected to justify actions or decisions to a person or body with greater authority, from whom the accountability has been formally assigned. [Note: accountability is normally associated with a specific scope of work or set of responsibilities.] [Note: accountabilities can be tiered such that there is a hierarchy of accountabilities, with a higher-level having overall accountability over lower-level accountabilities.] [Note: an accountable person usually has associated formally delegated authority for their actions and decisions, such as through delegated letters.]’
Project Routemap, Setting up projects for success, Organisational Design & Development, UK Module, published by the Infrastructure and Projects Authority in 2021, states: ‘The accountable person is the individual who is ultimately answerable for an activity or decision. This includes ‘yes’ or ‘no’ authority and veto power. Only one accountable person can be held to account. An accountable person has to be accountable to someone for something. Accountability cannot be delegated or shared... The responsible person is the individual who actually undertakes the task: in other words, they manage the action / implementation. Responsibility can be shared. The degree of responsibility is determined by the individual with the accountability.’
Glossary of Capital Budgeting and Infrastructure Governance, published by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in 2018, defines accountability as: ‘The existence of an obligation to demonstrate that work has been conducted in compliance with agreed rules and standards or to report fairly and accurately on performance results vis-à-vis mandated roles and/or plans.’
The glossary of statistical terms, published by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), defines environmental accountability as: ‘…the responsibility for the deterioration of the natural environment, implying the allocation of environmental costs to the economic activities that cause such deterioration.’
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
Featured articles and news
Top 50 firms awarded 52bn of projects in the last year
New engineering data shows.
Enhancing construction site reporting efficiency
Through digitisation and the digital revolution.
Noise in the built environment
BSRIA guide TG 20/2021.
17,000 people suffer conditions as a result of exposure to excessive noise at work.
Turning down the noise: Auditory health
A pervasive risk with far-reaching consequences.
UK Construction Week, London is here !
Debuting major international pavilions and much more.
Getting the most out of heat pumps and heating
How heat pumps work and how they work best.
Plumbing and heating for successful retrofit and renovation
Low temperature underfloor systems and heat pumps.
Cost-of-living crisis and home improvement plans
Starting on the right footing and top tips for projects.
Delays on construction projects
Types, mitigation and the acceleration of works.
From Chaucer to Fawlty Towers.
Electrotechnical excellence, now open for entries.
Net zero electricity grids BSRIA guide NZG 5/2024
Outlining the changes needed to transition to net zero.
CIOB Global Student Challenge 2024
Universitas Indonesia wins for second year running.
ECA 2024 Apprentice of the Year Award
Entries open for submission until May 31.