Directly responsible individual (DRI)
In short
A directly responsible individual (DRI) is the one person who is fully accountable for the result of a specific project, task, or decision. The practice became widely known through technology companies and is now common in GTM teams.
The idea is simple: when everyone owns something, nobody does. A DRI does not do all the work, but is the person who makes sure it happens and who answers questions about it.
What a DRI does
- Owns the outcome: Is the person asked when the result is late or wrong.
- Drives decisions: Collects input, then decides or escalates quickly.
- Coordinates others: Pulls in the people needed but is not required to do every task.
- Communicates status: Keeps stakeholders updated without being chased.
DRI examples in GTM work
A DRI can be named for a launch, a territory realignment, a CRM migration, or a lead-routing change. Say marketing is launching a new outbound play: one named SDR manager is the DRI for the whole play, even though marketing, sales ops, and reps all contribute.
DRI vs. RACI
A DRI is a single owner for one initiative. A RACI chart maps four roles across many tasks. The DRI is roughly the Accountable person in a RACI. Use a DRI for a focused project and a RACI when many people and handoffs are involved.
How to assign a DRI well
Pick someone with authority
The person needs enough decision power to unblock the work, not only the title of owner.
Name exactly one
Co-DRIs defeat the purpose. If two people truly share it, split the project into two parts.
Write it down
Put the name next to the project in the tracker so everyone sees it.
Common DRI mistakes
- Owner with no authority: Responsibility without power leads to frustration and delays.
- Overloading one person: Spread ownership across the team.
- Blame culture: A DRI is an owner, not a scapegoat.
Directly responsible individual FAQs
What is a directly responsible individual (DRI)?
A directly responsible individual is the one person accountable for the outcome of a project or decision. Others may contribute, but the DRI is the named owner who ensures it gets done and answers for the result.
What is the difference between a DRI and a project manager?
A project manager coordinates schedules and tasks, often across many projects. A DRI owns the outcome and the key decisions for one initiative. Sometimes the same person plays both roles, but the DRI role is about accountability.
Can a DRI be more than one person?
By definition, no. The practice depends on a single named owner. If two people seem to share ownership, it is usually better to divide the work into two projects, each with its own DRI.
How does a DRI differ from the Accountable role in RACI?
They are similar: both mean one person owns the outcome. A DRI is used for a single project or decision, while RACI assigns Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, and Informed roles across many tasks in a process.
