# RACI Matrix

**Framework:** RACI (Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, Informed)  
**Use for:** Cross-functional clarity — defining who does what for each decision, task, or work area on a project or recurring process.  
**Time required:** 30–60 minutes to draft. Expect at least one round of stakeholder review before locking.

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## How to use this template

**The four roles:**

| Role | Meaning | How many per row |
|---|---|---|
| **R — Responsible** | Does the work; executes the task | One or more |
| **A — Accountable** | Owns the outcome; signs off; answers if it goes wrong | **Exactly one per row** |
| **C — Consulted** | Asked for input before or during; two-way communication | As needed |
| **I — Informed** | Told after a decision is made or a milestone is reached | As needed |

**The cardinal rule:** Every row must have exactly one **A**. Shared accountability is no accountability. If two people are both "accountable," neither is.

**Common mistakes:**
- Too many Rs and Cs (signals unclear ownership and too many cooks)
- No A (the most dangerous pattern — nothing will ship or decide)
- A and R always on the same person (fine, but consider whether the right people are doing the work)
- Putting everyone in every row (this means you haven't actually made clarity decisions)

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## Project / process being mapped

**Project or process name:** _______________  
**Scope (what period or deliverables does this RACI cover):** _______________  
**Date:** _______________  
**Prepared by:** _______________

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## Stakeholder key

List the people or roles involved. Use short names or initials in the matrix.

| Abbreviation | Full name / role |
|---|---|
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |

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## RACI Matrix

*Instructions: For each task/decision row, enter R / A / C / I in the appropriate column. Every row needs exactly one A.*

| Task / Decision / Work Area | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ | ___ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| **PLANNING** | | | | | | | | |
| Define project scope and success criteria | | | | | | | | |
| Set timeline and milestones | | | | | | | | |
| Approve budget | | | | | | | | |
| Identify stakeholders | | | | | | | | |
| **EXECUTION** | | | | | | | | |
| [Add task] | | | | | | | | |
| [Add task] | | | | | | | | |
| [Add task] | | | | | | | | |
| [Add task] | | | | | | | | |
| [Add task] | | | | | | | | |
| **DECISIONS** | | | | | | | | |
| [Decision area] | | | | | | | | |
| [Decision area] | | | | | | | | |
| [Decision area] | | | | | | | | |
| **COMMUNICATION** | | | | | | | | |
| Status reporting to leadership | | | | | | | | |
| External stakeholder communication | | | | | | | | |
| Final sign-off / launch approval | | | | | | | | |

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## Clarity check

After filling the matrix, run through these questions:

- [ ] Does every row have exactly one **A**? (Fix any rows with zero or multiple As)
- [ ] Does every row have at least one **R**? (Work without an executor won't happen)
- [ ] Are there any people who appear in every row as **C**? (May indicate bottleneck or over-involvement)
- [ ] Are there any people who appear in no rows? (They may not need to be in the stakeholder list)
- [ ] Does each person's **A** load seem reasonable? (If one person is accountable for everything, you may have a single-point-of-failure problem)

**Issues to resolve before sharing:**

_______________

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*RACI is a widely used project management framework with origins in the 1950s and popularized in project management literature. Covered in the Frameworks & Mental Models Guide on biztechprimer.com.*