Responsibles

Responsibles is the plural noun form used in some organizational and contractual contexts to refer to people who are accountable for specific tasks or outcomes. In standard English, responsible is primarily an adjective, but in formal documents it can appear as a noun to designate the individuals charged with duties. The term is more common in European usage and in procedural or policy language where roles must be identified.

In practice, the responsibles are the responsible parties, owners of tasks, or lead personnel who bear accountability for results, safety, compliance, or delivery. The exact scope and duties of the responsibles vary by organization and jurisdiction; the term is typically defined within policies, procedures, or project charters to avoid ambiguity.

In project and risk management, the concept aligns with role assignments such as the RACI matrix, where individuals are designated as Responsible for performing work, Accountable for final outcomes, Consulted for input, and Informed of progress. While responsible or responsibles is not a universal legal term, it is commonly used in workflows to make clear who holds responsibility.

Overall, the meaning of responsibles is context-dependent. In some documents it may refer to a single person in charge or to a group of individuals collectively responsible for a domain. When encountered, readers should consult the defining document to understand who is included and what duties apply.