raci

The RACI matrix is a responsibility assignment tool used in project management and process design to clarify who does what. It maps tasks or activities to roles using four designations: Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, and Informed.

Responsible are the individuals or groups who perform the work or contribute directly to the deliverable. Accountable is the single person ultimately answerable for the task and its outcome; this role is often called the owner. Consulted includes those whose input is sought, typically through two-way communication. Informed covers those who are kept updated on progress, usually through one-way communication.

To use RACI, create a list of activities or deliverables and identify the stakeholders or roles involved. For each activity, designate one or more Responsible, assign a single Accountable, and specify who should be Consulted and who should be Informed. Ensure there is one Accountable per activity, avoid overloading tasks with too many Responsible or Consulted roles, and confirm that assignments align with authority and decision rights. Review and revise the matrix as the project evolves.

Benefits of the RACI matrix include clearer responsibilities, faster decision-making, reduced duplication of effort, and improved stakeholder communication. Limitations include potential oversimplification of complex tasks, the risk of role conflicts if definitions are vague, and maintenance overhead to keep the matrix current. Variants such as RACI-VS (with verification and sign-off) and RACIQ (with questions or information flow) are used to address specific governance needs.