What is a RACI Chart?

The RACI chart is an effective tool that improves team responsibility, defines roles and duties, and expedites project workflows. Being familiar with charts like RACI may significantly improve the effectiveness and success of your initiatives, regardless of experience level or level of exposure to organizational leadership. Let’s understand it in detail in this blog.

Overview of the RACI chart

RACI stands for Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, and Informed. These are the four rules under the RACI chart in a matrix form. Let’s understand their role in detail.

• Responsible (R): Those in charge of finishing particular duties or activities are given this rule. They are the ones who put in the energy necessary to accomplish a certain objective or outcome. Within a project, various people might be given distinct roles of responsibility for different tasks.
• Accountable (A): The accountable role is designated to individuals with ultimate ownership and authority over a task or decision. They are responsible for ensuring that the task is completed satisfactorily and that the project progresses as planned. Basically, there should be only one person assigned as accountable for each task or decision.
• Consulted (C): Before making judgments, persons in the consulted role have their opinions or areas of expertise asked. Although they are not directly in charge of finishing the activity, their insights are crucial to its effective completion. Individuals who have been consulted provide the responsible party comments, counsel, or pertinent information.
• Informed (I): While they are not actively involved in carrying out a job or decision, those in the informed function are constantly updated about its advancement. They are team members or stakeholders who must be updated on any changes, results, or choices pertaining to the assignment or project.

It is organized as a matrix, with the roles (Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, and Informed) listed along one axis and the tasks or activities listed on the other. Every cell inside the matrix denotes the role or roles linked to a certain job or activity. Thus, teams may minimize misunderstandings, make expectations clear, and make sure that everyone knows their part in the project.

Steps to use a RACI template

Creating and using a RACI template involves the following steps:

• Make a list of every action or activity that has to be finished for your project or procedure. Make sure these assignments are precise and well-defined.
• Thereafter, identify the key roles involved in the project or process. Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, and Informed are some examples of these positions.
• For each task or activity, assign the appropriate role(s) using the RACI chart.
• Assign the person or people responsible for completing the task.
• Thereafter, designate the person who is ultimately answerable for the task’s success or failure.
• Furthermore, identify individuals who need to provide input or expertise before the task can be completed.
• Specify stakeholders or team members who need to be kept informed about the task’s progress or outcomes.
• Arrange the roles or individuals along one axis (columns) and the duties or activities along the other (rows). This will create a matrix in which every cell denotes the point where a role and a task converge.
• Fill in the appropriate role(s) for each task in the corresponding cell of the matrix. Make sure to clearly specify who is responsible, accountable, consulted, and informed for each task.
• Review the completed RACI chart with the project team to ensure that roles and responsibilities are accurately assigned and understood. Make any necessary revisions or adjustments based on feedback.
• Share the finalized RACI chart with all relevant stakeholders and ensure that everyone understands their roles and responsibilities. Use the RACI template as a reference tool throughout the project to guide decision-making and ensure accountability.

Below are some RACI templates you can use:

• Excel RACI template
• Google Sheets RACI template
• Google Sheets task distribution RACI template

Difference between Responsible and Accountable in RACI

Responsible and Accountable are two distinct roles that serve different purposes in RACI:

• People who are directly involved in carrying out the duties or activities necessary to accomplish a certain objective or deliverable are designated as ‘Responsible’ roles. They are the ones who perform the task and guarantee that it is finished in accordance with the established criteria and standards. In short, the task’s actual execution and completion are the responsibility of the people in this relevant role.
• On the other hand, individuals who own ultimate ownership and responsibility over a task or decision are assigned the ‘Accountable’ role. Even though they might not be doing the work themselves, they are in charge of making sure the project moves forward as intended and that the tasks are performed to a high standard. Those who play the accountable position are responsible for the decisions or tasks’ results. They have the power to decide on matters that cannot be changed, to assign tasks to others, and to settle disputes.

Frequently asked questions