Accountability without authority is not ownership.
Outcome owned:
Accountable owner:
May decide without approval:
Must consult before deciding:
Must escalate when: value or risk exceeds an agreed threshold; a customer promise changes; consequences fall outside the owner’s authority; or the facts no longer match the agreed conditions.
Resources the owner may use:
What the owner must not change:
Who acts when the owner is absent:
Where the decision and reason are recorded:
Review date or trigger:
Keep boundaries based on consequences and conditions, not the founder’s mood. Exact financial, legal and regulatory limits must fit the company and jurisdiction.
Related: Locate One Point of Friction · Universal Handoff Card · MVS Canvas