overall responsibility
[/ˌoʊvərˈɔːl rɪˌspɑːnsəˈbɪləti/]
noun phrasefemininepl: overall responsibilities / responsabilidades gerais
responsabilidade geral
1. The primary or comprehensive accountability for something; the final authority and duty to ensure that all aspects of a task, project, or area are properly managed and executed
The project manager has overall responsibility for meeting the deadline.
O gerente de projeto tem a responsabilidade geral de cumprir o prazo.
2. Ultimate accountability that cannot be delegated, even when tasks are assigned to others
Although she delegated tasks to her team, she retained overall responsibility for the outcome.
Embora ela tenha delegado tarefas a sua equipe, ela manteve a responsabilidade geral pelo resultado.
3. The overarching duty or obligation that supersedes all other responsibilities in a given context
The CEO has overall responsibility for the company's financial performance.
O CEO tem a responsabilidade geral pelo desempenho financeiro da empresa.
This term is extensively used in both American and Brazilian corporate environments, particularly in hierarchical organizations. In Brazil, it reflects the importance placed on clear chains of command and defined accountability structures. The concept emphasizes that while delegation is acceptable, the person with overall responsibility cannot escape their ultimate obligation for results, a principle deeply embedded in business culture across both countries.
Related Idioms & Phrases
to shoulder overall responsibility
to bear overall responsibility
to take overall responsibility for something
the buck stops here (figurative equivalent of ultimate responsibility)
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