The C2O Model
Map contributions to outcomes across the full lifecycle of cross-functional work.
C2O replaces static responsibility charts with dynamic ownership and explicit decision rights—built for AI-heavy, transformation initiatives where RACI breaks down.
Who is C2O for?
Teams that need to coordinate across functions toward shared outcomes
Product & Platform Teams
Coordinating launches, migrations, and capability builds across engineering, design, and ops.
AI & Transformation Leaders
Rolling out AI tools where the "productivity paradox" of verification overhead is real.
PMOs & Governance Teams
Looking to move from heavyweight oversight to lightweight, outcome-focused coordination.
Agile Coaches & Change Leads
Seeking a framework that complements Scrum/SAFe without adding ceremony.
The C2O Loop
A repeatable cycle you can apply to any initiative. Hover over each step to learn more.
The Mindset Shift
From gatekeeping "owners" to collaborative partners
Old Pattern
Provider Mindset
Work flows through gatekeeping "owners"
Single "A" verifies all AI outputs
Creates bottlenecks and queues
"Who owns this?" → Waiting → More waiting
C2O Pattern
Partner Mindset
Drive, Contribute, Enable share ownership
Work flows through networks
Teams become true partners
"How do we win together?" → Fast decisions
Impact & Evidence
Results from organizations implementing C2O
Key Findings
Fosters Collective Psychological Ownership (CPO), correlating with 15-20% retention uplift and doubled team performance
Distributes AI's evaluative burden across teams, mitigating the 19% expert productivity paradox
Transforms the 3:1 change management cost ratio by making Adopt phase explicit from Day 0
Creates 'New Collar' talent pipeline through formal mentorship in Contribute roles
Reframes internal services from gatekeepers to Enable partners, breaking Provider mindset
Reduces decision escalations by 40% through clear Drive authority within phases
Your Quick Win: Define One Outcome Today
Pick one initiative that's stuck or unclear
Write a measurable outcome statement: "We will [result] by [date] as measured by [metric]"
Identify who should Drive each lifecycle phase
Templates & Tools
Everything you need to get started
Methodology
The principles and patterns behind outcome-driven collaboration
C2O pairs a vertical lifecycle with horizontal contribution modes so teams see the full journey of work and how each person advances outcomes. Instead of reacting to tasks, contributors align around measurable shifts in customer value, operational health, and adoption. The structure is lightweight—captured in a one-page matrix—yet powerful enough to coordinate complex initiatives, govern AI programs, and unblock transformation efforts that previously stalled in silos.
The framework begins by mapping the five lifecycle phases that every initiative travels through. Even when deliverables change, the lifecycle creates a shared mental model. Then C2O overlays verb-based contribution modes that describe how people participate regardless of job title. Together they create Collective Psychological Ownership: everyone knows why the work matters, how they help, and when to escalate.
Strategic Lifecycle Phases
These phases force an end-to-end perspective. Teams spot gaps, handoffs, and dependencies early because the entire lifecycle stays visible—no more linear checklists that ignore adoption or ongoing stewardship.
Discover: Frame the opportunity, surface insights, and test desirability before committing heavy resources.
Decide: Evaluate options, build the business case, secure funding, and establish success criteria.
Build: Develop solutions, validate with users, and integrate across systems with a clear definition of done.
Run: Operate, monitor, and optimize for resilience and scale while feeding learnings back upstream.
Adopt: Drive change management, enablement, and value realization so outcomes stick beyond launch.
Verb-Based Contributions
Verb-based roles turn collaboration into action. They distribute AI oversight, reduce hero bottlenecks, and give support functions explicit value in every outcome. Junior talent gains clear pathways to stretch, while senior experts stop drowning in verification work.
Drive (D) – The Pilot: Owns momentum for a phase, makes daily trade-offs, and convenes contributors to keep outcomes on track.
Contribute (C) – The Co-Pilot: Builds deliverables shoulder-to-shoulder with the Drive role, sharing accountability for quality and learning.
Enable (E) – Ground Support: Supplies prerequisites—funding, data, security, tooling—so contributors never wait on invisible services.
Advise (A) – The Guide: Provides expertise at critical moments, pressure-tests decisions, and prevents blind spots without owning execution.
Inform (I) – The Watchtower: Stays aligned on progress and risks, ensuring stakeholders adapt quickly when direction shifts.
Hybrid Governance
C2O complements existing accountability frameworks. RACI still names the accountable sponsor for compliance and phase-gate approvals, while C2O clarifies how work flows between phases. Decision protocols live in the Pre-emptive Ownership Pact, documenting escalation triggers, cadence, and tooling in a single page. The result is governance without gridlock—rapid execution with traceability, psychological safety, and measurably faster outcomes.
Lifecycle deep dives
Verb-based contributions
Get Started in 3 Steps
Use Outcome Definition, Contribution Mapping, and one lifecycle playbook.
Start Here
Answer three quick questions to get a focused 3-step plan.
Your 3-step plan
Complete the three questions above to generate your personalized 3-step plan with templates and playbooks.
Where are you today?
Quick assessment: how strongly are outcomes, decision rights, and signals embedded?
Quick check
C2O maturity self-assessment
Answer three questions to see where you are today and what to do next. No scores are stored.
Outcomes
We define clear, measurable outcomes with acceptance criteria before starting work.
Decision rights
People know who Drives decisions, who Advises, and when to escalate.
Signals & metrics
We use a small set of leading/lagging indicators with thresholds to steer gates.
Answer each question to see your stage and recommended next steps.
Decision Protocols
Governance without drag. Keep protocols lightweight—one page per initiative.
Decision Rights: Drive has full authority within phases; Sponsor holds gate veto power
Escalation: Only when phase outcomes are threatened, not for daily decisions
Cadence: Weekly syncs for Contributors, phase-gate reviews for stakeholders, quarterly OODA adaptation
Traceability: Decision logs in existing PM tools, Pre-emptive Ownership Pacts, no-blame AARs
Frequently Asked Questions
How is C2O different from RACI?
RACI assigns static letters to tasks. C2O assigns dynamic verbs to outcomes across lifecycle phases. The "Driver" shifts as work moves from Discover to Build to Adopt—the right expert leads at the right time.
Can I use C2O with my existing frameworks (OKRs, SAFe, Scrum)?
Yes. C2O sits between strategy (OKRs) and execution (Scrum/SAFe). Use OKRs for "what," C2O for "how we collaborate," and your agile framework for delivery mechanics.
How long does it take to implement?
Start with one initiative. Define the outcome, map contributions for each phase, set basic decision rights. Most teams have a working C2O map in 1-2 hours. Refinement happens as you run the loop.
What if my org already has governance processes?
C2O doesn't replace governance—it makes it explicit and lightweight. Your DRB becomes the escalation point in the ladder. Your reviews become phase gates with clear criteria.
Is C2O only for tech teams?
No. C2O works for any cross-functional work: marketing campaigns, compliance programs, M&A integration, facilities projects. If multiple functions must coordinate toward a shared outcome, C2O helps.
Ready to Apply C2O?
Transform your team's collaboration with outcome-driven practices