Roles, responsibility & decision rights · Working

Role conflict

Also called: conflicting responsibilities

ELI5

Incompatible expectations placed on a person or role.

Used in conversation

“The announcement should not get ahead of the agreed process for role conflict.”

Pitch context

You will see “Role conflict” in organisation plans, workforce reviews, change programmes and people reports when the discussion reaches roles, responsibility & decision rights.

Why it matters: In roles, responsibility & decision rights, the definition can change who is affected, accountable, protected or entitled to act.

Caution

Employment law and workplace practice vary by jurisdiction and agreement.

Sources & evidence · 2

Direct term-level sources and supporting source families.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — BLS GlossaryDirect source · primary · checked 2026-08-16
OECD — G20/OECD Principles of Corporate Governance 2023Direct source · institutional · checked 2026-08-16