Quality Quote: Too Many Cooks Spoil Accountability

Quality Quote: The fastest way to starve a horse is to assign two people to feed it. Author Unknown.

The point here isn’t about hungry horses. It is about the allocation and distribution of responsibilities. If one person responsible = one person is wholly and solely accountable. If two people are responsible, the responsibility is shared 50/50 and so on, so that the more people responsible, the less accountable they feel for ensuring the requirement is fulfilled or completed.

So when allocating responsibilities for Quality Management System (QMS) requirements (eg Corrective Actions) always ensure one person is appointed with primary ownership for the action/delivery of responsibility requirements.

Eberhard grossgasteiger 38 XHFO6ycI unsplash — Quality Quote: “The fastest way to starve a horse is to assign two people to feed it” — a reminder to assign single, primary ownership for QMS requirements like Corrective Actions.

Related guide: Clause 4.4: map your business like Google Maps, on giving every process one clear owner.

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General guidance only. This article is general information, not legal, financial, safety or compliance advice, and it does not take account of your specific circumstances. Streamline ISO Consultants are ISO management-system consultants, not lawyers or licensed advisers. Standards, laws and regulator guidance change, and details were correct only at the time of writing. Always seek professional advice before acting. See our full Disclaimer.