[xNeil]

What's a line of blame?

[innrautha]

I took it to mean clearly delineated responsibilities (i.e. who gets blamed when a part / aspect doesn't work).

If there are unclear boundaries between responsibilities, things will fall through the gaps when one group assumes another will take care of something.

[firewolf34]

Furthermore, when people are held responsible for quality completion of a task, they are often more driven to achieve the task at-quality. This must be balanced with not over-taxing them, but that's a given.

[GlenTheMachine]

Correct!

[e40]

I take it to mean when blame is being aimed you are not in the line of fire.

[Eduard]

interesting - I understand it differently, namely as in:

"at a project's beginning, define rules such as 'if component X explodes, it is team ABC's fault'".

context:

> 37. (Henshaw's Law) One key to success in a mission is establishing clear lines of blame.

[bombcar]

Blame is just another word for responsibility. If you don’t have clear lines of blame you don’t have clear responsibilities.

[jiveturkey]

think org chart. now put your cynical hat on.