Dan Davies discusses the concept of “accountability sinks,” structures within organizations that prevent individuals from being held accountable for their decisions. He provides examples such as a hospitality company reducing cleaning staff, leading to customer service issues with no clear person to blame. Davies emphasizes the importance of maintaining a feedback loop between decision-makers and those affected. He also examines the impact of decision cascades and the lack of accountability in certain situations, such as false information spreading in the media. Davies suggests that true accountability involves the ability to change decisions and understand the context surrounding them. He warns against relying solely on algorithms for decision-making, as they can further obscure accountability within organizations.
https://aworkinglibrary.com/writing/accountability-sinks