Accountability

(Lipshitz, Popper & Friedman)

One of the five normative behaviours that characterise a learning culture. Accountability means holding oneself responsible not only for one's actions but for learning from their consequences — refusing, in other words, the infinite supply of available excuses. What distinguishes accountability from the other four cultural norms (transparency, integrity, issue orientation, inquiry) is that it drives action, not just understanding. An organisation can be transparent and inquisitive and still fail to act on what it learns; accountability closes that gap.