Rolleafklaring

Rolleafklaring is a structured practice for clarifying roles and responsibilities within teams and organizations by creating a dynamic document that records who does what, who has decision rights, and how collaboration should occur. The core idea is to maintain a living reference that guides handoffs, accountability, and workflow interactions.

The term appears in management discussions that blend Dutch and English terminology, and it conveys the function of clarifying role boundaries through a formal, document-based approach. It is treated as a methodology or governance practice rather than a fixed product.

In practice, rolleafklaring typically begins with a kickoff to define project goals, then inventories all roles involved, assigns ownership, and specifies decision rights and communication interfaces. A living document is produced and stored in a shared workspace, with versioned updates and scheduled reviews tied to project milestones or organizational changes. Changes are captured, approved, and communicated to all stakeholders to keep the reference current.

Applications for rolleafklaring include project management, product development, nonprofit governance, and cross-functional teams where ambiguity about authority or responsibilities can impede progress. It supports onboarding, improves handoffs, and can align dispersed teams around common expectations.

Benefits include clearer accountability, faster onboarding, and smoother collaboration. Potential challenges involve the ongoing maintenance overhead, the risk of over-structuring or rigid roles, and resistance to frequent updates. Success hinges on lightweight governance, agreed review cadences, and a culture that treats the rolleafklaring as a living, negotiable tool rather than a permissionless mandate.

Related concepts include RACI/RASCI charts, responsibility assignment matrices, and governance documents that delineate authority, accountability, and collaboration protocols.