RACI Matrix

The RACI Matrix is a responsibility assignment chart that maps every task or deliverable to the people involved. RACI stands for Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, and Informed. It eliminates ambiguity about who does what, preventing the classic problem of "I thought someone else was handling that."

1. List all tasks or deliverables — Write them as rows in a table.
2. List all roles or people — Write them as columns.
3. Assign RACI codes to each cell:

• R = Responsible — Who does the work? (Can be multiple people)
• A = Accountable — Who is the single decision-maker and owner? (Only ONE person per task)
• C = Consulted — Who provides input before the work is done? (Two-way communication)
• I = Informed — Who needs to be updated on progress or outcomes? (One-way communication)

• Every task must have exactly ONE Accountable person
• Every task should have at least one Responsible person
• If everyone is Consulted, no one can move fast
• Review for overloaded individuals (too many R's or A's)

The RACI Matrix eliminates confusion about who owns what and ensures nothing falls through the cracks. It's especially valuable when projects span multiple teams or when new team members join.