Which term refers to being held responsible for actions within a professional setting?

The term that refers to being held responsible for actions within a professional setting is accountability. This concept emphasizes the obligation of individuals or organizations to explain their decisions and actions to stakeholders and to accept the consequences that come with their actions. In professional environments, accountability is crucial because it fosters transparency, trust, and reliability among team members and the larger organization.

Authority pertains more to the power or right to make decisions and enforce rules. Responsibility, while related to accountability, typically refers to the duty to complete tasks or manage certain obligations, rather than the broader implication of being answerable for the outcomes of those tasks. Discretion involves the ability to make choices based on one's judgment, which may not necessarily include the aspect of being held accountable for those decisions. Thus, accountability uniquely captures the essence of being answerable for one's actions in a professional context.