---
id: "action-limit-responsible-role"
type: "action-item"
source_timestamps: ["§ How Decision-Rights Tools Are Meant to Work"]
tags: ["team-size", "efficiency"]
related: ["framework-raci-meeting-execution"]
action: "Assign only two to four people to the Responsible role for any decision."
outcome: "Maintains an effective, agile core decision team capable of rigorous debate."
sources: ["governance"]
sourceVaultSlug: "hbr-seg-governance"
originDay: 7
articleStem: "hbr-sig-48-decision-rights"
sourceUrl: "https://hbr.org/2026/07/what-companies-get-wrong-about-decision-rights"
sourceTitle: "What Companies Get Wrong About Decision Rights"
---
# Limit the Responsible Role to 2-4 People

**Do:** Strictly cap the **Responsible** role at **two to four people** for any given decision, keeping the core decision team small and effective.

**Why it works:** a small team can debate rigorously in [[concept-flat-mode]] without diffusing responsibility; it is a structural precondition of [[framework-raci-meeting-execution]] and [[action-restrict-meeting-attendance]].

**Outcome:** an agile core decision team capable of real debate.