RACI Chart: Definitions, Uses And Examples For Project Managers

It is then clear that all activities must have one responsible person or department. This is where Responsible Accountable Consulted Informed framework kicks in. If we define a list of activities and a list of people (or departments), the RACI tells us which role each person will have in each activity. Here’s a sample RACI chart for a project that involves delivering a slide deck for an upcoming presentation the marketing manager is giving. In this RACI matrix example, we’ve assigned RACI roles to 7 key team members.

If the project has already started, it’s not too late to implement a RACI matrix. Accountable parties ensure accountability to project deadlines, and ultimately, accountability to project completion. Just like the responsible, and even more importantly in this case, we should have one accountable person. So, there is just one person to blame or praise for the work, and since she knows she will bear all the consequences, she will strive to get things done. Now, the subtle part is that you can have only one responsible per activity. Yes, you heard it right, it is not possible to have two people responsible to do the work.

What Is a RACI Chart? Here’s Everything You Need To Know

Each letter in the RACI acronym defines the level of responsibility each person involved in a project will have on an individual task, milestone, or decision. Responsible designates the task as assigned directly to this person (or group of people). The responsible person is the one who does the work to complete the task or create the deliverable. Every task should have at least one responsible person and could have several. Think carefully about the level of details, defining tasks and roles, and bring the model to a level that is both succinct and sensible.

If you are still confused, think about Accountable-Responsible dichotomy with an activity that is performed by an external supplier, say mowing the garden. The Facility Team of your company will be accountable, and they will have the budget to do so, but they will hire an external company to do the actual mowing – that external company will be responsible. If we take Responsible Accountable Consulted Informed roles, Accountable is probably the hardest to understand. Yet, it is the most crucial, the one that can make or break your project.

What Is a RACI Matrix?

For each task, enter an R, A, C or I to assign a level of involvement for each stakeholder in each task. For example, a company’s website redesign would require design, copy and development teams to work on tasks concurrently. Each task would affect work in sales, marketing, finance and business development. Structural changes, timelines and major costs would require input and approval from senior management. A project manager should use the tools and techniques available to them and adapt them to the demands of the project. Resource management is a crucial area of management, and tools for data visualization, like RACI charts, give the project manager a clear picture while including the stakeholders.

• The first step is to compile a list of everyone involved in the project.
• Consulted individuals’ opinions are crucial, and their feedback needs to be considered at every step of the game.
• The milestones are also different and the team members may have changed, or the team may have been completely replaced.
• Since RACI matrix are high-level, it is common to prepare them in Microsoft PowerPoint rather than Excel or other tools.
• The responsible team is comprised of the project’s “doers”, working hands-on to ensure that each deliverable is completed.
• The process of managing individual tasks can be incredibly challenging if you don’t have a system in place to support you.

If you want everyone to know what’s expected of them, you need to communicate that early and often. Finally, Wrike makes it effortless to set up a RACI chart, even if you have no experience with them. Let’s examine how you might use a RACI chart to develop a new software application.

How Does a RACI Chart Help Project Managers?

Sure, they might not be able to control how good website copy is, but if they’re accountable for its integration into a website design, they need to make sure it ends up in the right place. To make things as easy as possible for you, we’ve created a simple blank RACI chart template, plus an example of how to fill one out. Now that you know what a RACI matrix is, and why it’s so beneficial to businesses, it’s time to learn how to create one of your own. HereHere are some key benefits a project manager should consider when using a RACI chart.

They simply need to be kept updated as a project or tasks progresses, usually because it touches their role in some way or they’re managing people involved in the project. If only every situation in life had something like a RACI chart to guide it. While there may be a few Responsible team members, there can only be one Accountable person assigned to a task or deliverable.

Using RACI with Other Project Management Methodologies

Now GreyCampus has updated their course to align with the latest 6th edition of the PMBOK Guide, so I am reviewing their course again to give you better insight. From the second column, label each column with your project role. The project manager is Tom, while the marketing manager is Mark. It is the responsibility of a team member or group to carry out the plan and finish the work.

Tackle complex projects with Wrike’s award-winning project management software. Break projects into simple steps, assign tasks to team members, and visualize progress with Gantt charts, Kanban boards, and calendars. Manage resource allocation and forecasting definition of raci with software that’s easy to launch. Automation and AI features strip away time-consuming admin tasks so you can do the best work of your life. Streamline your practices, align your team, and ensure you hit deadlines and stay on budget.

Excel-Based RACI Chart Template

You will find many other RAM charts which are alternatives to RACI charts. Team members will be more driven, take ownership of their tasks, and perform better. By making access to scientific knowledge simple and affordable, self-development becomes attainable for everyone, including you! Join our learning platform and boost your skills with Toolshero. In this case, the executive sponsor is accountable, and the developer must be kept informed of the result.

Copy and paste that cell to apply the drop-down list to other cells in your RACI matrix worksheet. Verify your Data validation settings are correct, then hit Enter to add the drop-down list to your selected cell. Let’s take a closer look at how you might put the RACI model to practical use on a project.

Consulted in RACI

In fact, they are so common that we tend to use the acronym RACI, and with it create a document we call RACI Matrix. As a bonus, you will also learn what the RACI Matrix is, and how to use it. TeamGantt makes it easy to build a project plan your whole team can contribute to and collaborate on, with RACI assignments built right in. And because everything happens online, you can stay on top of deadlines and keep up with project progress in real time. Go down the list of tasks on your RACI matrix, and assign a role to every person who will be involved in that project step or deliverable.