RACI Matrix
A RACI matrix is a type of responsibility assignment matrix that defines roles as Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, or Informed for each work package or activity.
Explanation
The RACI matrix is one of the most commonly used formats of the responsibility assignment matrix (RAM). For each task or deliverable, it assigns exactly one person who is Accountable (the decision-maker who approves the work), one or more people who are Responsible (those who do the work), people who are Consulted (who provide input before the work is done), and people who are Informed (who are kept updated on progress or decisions).\n\nA key rule is that there should be exactly one Accountable person for each task. Having more than one Accountable person creates confusion about who has final authority. There can be multiple Responsible, Consulted, and Informed parties. The matrix is typically presented in a grid with tasks on the rows and team members or roles on the columns.\n\nThe RACI matrix is developed during the Plan Resource Management process and helps clarify roles and responsibilities, reduce ambiguity, and ensure that no tasks fall through the cracks. It is particularly useful on cross-functional projects where team members report to different functional managers.
Key Points
- •R = Responsible (does the work), A = Accountable (approves/owns), C = Consulted (provides input), I = Informed (kept updated)
- •Exactly one Accountable person per task is required
- •Multiple Responsible, Consulted, and Informed parties are allowed
- •Developed during Plan Resource Management
Exam Tip
On the exam, if a question mentions confusion about who is making decisions, the answer often involves creating or updating the RACI matrix. Remember: only one A per task.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Topics
Responsibility Assignment Matrix (RAM)
A responsibility assignment matrix (RAM) is a grid that shows the project resources assigned to each work package, used to illustrate the connections between work that needs to be done and project team members.
Plan Resource Management
Plan Resource Management is the process of defining how to estimate, acquire, manage, and use team and physical resources for a project.
Stakeholder Register
The stakeholder register is a project document that records identification information, assessment details, and the classification of each project stakeholder.
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