Each task in Productive has one assignee. Many people can work on a task, but one person owns it, so it’s always clear who makes sure it gets done.
Why One Assignee
When several people share a task, each can assume someone else is taking care of it, and work gets delayed or dropped. One owner per task means:
Accountability: one person drives the task forward.
Clarity: nobody has to guess who’s responsible.
Speed: decisions happen faster.
This follows the idea of a directly responsible individual, used by companies like Apple.
How to Involve More People
Subtasks for Shared Work
Split the work into subtasks and assign each to a different person. The main task stays with its owner, who keeps an eye on progress.
To-Dos for Smaller Pieces
Add to-dos to the task and assign each to the person responsible. This works well when a full subtask would be too much.
Subscribers to Keep People Informed
Add people who should follow the task as subscribers. They get updates and can comment, without being responsible for finishing it.
No Assignee
If a task doesn’t need an owner yet, leave it unassigned. A task only needs a title and a place in a project.
