🌟 What is it?
The Function Accountability Chart (FACe) is a tool from Verne Harnish’s Scaling Up framework.
It’s designed to make sure that in a growing company:
- Every key function of the business has a clearly accountable leader.
- Responsibilities are not scattered or duplicated.
- The leadership team knows who owns which outcome.
In short → It’s about clarity of ownership, not just job titles.
🧩 How It Works
FACe has three columns:
- Functions (What?)
- The critical functions in your business (e.g., Marketing, Sales, Operations, Finance, People).
- Usually, these are 5–10 key areas that make or break the business.
- Accountable Executive (Who?)
- The ONE person ultimately accountable for that function.
- Doesn’t mean they do everything themselves, but they own the result.
- Example: CFO for Finance, Head of Sales for Sales.
- Key Performance Indicators (How measured?)
- 1–2 metrics for each function that define success.
- Example: Marketing → Lead Generation Rate, CAC (Customer Acquisition Cost).
📋 Example (Simplified FACe)
| Function | Accountable Executive | Key Metrics (KPIs) |
|---|---|---|
| Marketing | CMO | # of qualified leads, CAC |
| Sales | VP of Sales | Conversion rate, Monthly revenue |
| Operations | COO | On-time delivery %, NPS |
| Finance | CFO | Cash flow, Gross margin % |
| People/HR | CHRO | Employee retention, Engagement |
🧠 Why It’s Powerful
- Removes confusion: No two people “half-owning” the same area.
- Sharpens accountability: Everyone knows exactly who to go to for results.
- Aligns growth: As companies scale, it prevents chaos where “everyone thinks someone else is responsible.”
🔑 Key Insight from Verne Harnish
“If more than one person is accountable, then no one is.”
FACe forces clarity → One function, One accountable leader, One or two metrics.
✅ So, the Function Accountability Chart (FACe) is like a CEO’s dashboard to ensure that all core functions have a single point of accountability — making scaling smoother and more disciplined.
