Interrole

Interrole is a term used to describe the relationship or interface between distinct roles within an organization, system, or process. It refers to how responsibilities, permissions, data, or tasks are exchanged or coordinated across role boundaries. Interrole definitions specify inputs, outputs, communication protocols, and governance rules to ensure proper collaboration, data integrity, and security.

In organizational theory, interrole coordination covers how different roles align activities to achieve shared objectives. It includes task handoffs, accountability lines, escalation procedures, and cross-functional workflows. Effective interrole design clarifies ownership, reduces duplication, and improves performance through explicit role mappings and performance metrics.

In computing and software engineering, interrole interactions describe the messages and interfaces between components that implement different roles, such as user-facing roles and system roles. In access control, interrole constraints, such as separation of duties, can be used to prevent conflicts by restricting combinations of roles that a single actor can hold.

Examples include a procurement workflow where a requester submits a purchase request and an approver reviews and authorizes it, or an API-based system where a client role communicates with a service role under defined contracts. Interrole considerations also influence governance, compliance, and security policies by defining how roles collaborate while maintaining appropriate controls.

See also: role-based access control, separation of duties, business process management, governance, interprocess communication.