---
id: "action-define-goals-first"
type: "action-item"
source_timestamps: ["¶4"]
tags: ["process-design", "conflict-prevention"]
related: ["claim-roles-before-goals-turf-wars", "framework-decision-rights-mistakes"]
speakers: ["Lindy Greer", "Maxim Sytch", "Jennifer Jordan"]
action: "Carefully define specific objectives before assigning any decision-making roles to team members."
outcome: "Prevents ego-driven turf wars and clarifies ownership."
sources: ["tail1"]
sourceVaultSlug: "hbr-seg-tail1"
originDay: 1
articleStem: "hbr-tail-106-decision-frameworks-fail"
sourceUrl: "https://hbr.org/2026/06/gg-why-decision-making-frameworks-fail"
sourceTitle: "Why Decision-Making Frameworks Fail"
---
# Define Goals Before Assigning Roles

**Action.** Before attempting to assign decision-making roles (like [[entity-raci-d1]]), teams must **carefully define their objectives**. Ensure goals are **neither too broad nor too narrow** — either extreme makes it impossible to identify who should own what.

**Outcome.** Prevents discussions from devolving into ego-driven turf wars and clarifies ownership.

Direct countermeasure to failure mode #1 ([[claim-roles-before-goals-turf-wars]]) in [[framework-decision-rights-mistakes]].