A standard project management tool, RACI is used to clarify roles and responsibilities for tasks, milestones, or decisions. By mapping out who does what, teams can eliminate confusion, reduce redundant work, and ensure that nothing falls through the cracks.
How RACI Works
RACI is a responsibility assignment matrix that assigns one of four responsibilities to each stakeholder in executing a deliverable: Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, and Informed.
- Responsible: The doer. This is the individual (or individuals) who actually performs the work to complete the task.
- Accountable: The owner. This person is ultimately answerable for the correct and thorough completion of the task.
- Consulted: The advisor. These are the subject matter experts or stakeholders whose opinions are sought before and during the work.
- Informed: The spectator. These individuals are kept up-to-date on progress or completion but do not provide direct input.
Best Practices for Implementation
To keep a RACI chart effective, organizations generally follow a few golden rules:
- One A per task: If you have two accountable people, you have a recipe for conflicting decisions.
- Avoid R bloat: Too many people Responsible for a single task can lead to social loafing or duplication of effort.
- Minimize Consulted/Informed: Over-consulting can lead to analysis paralysis, while over-informing creates unnecessary inbox noise for people not directly involved.