Responsibility assignment matrix


A responsibility assignment matrix, RACI matrix or linear responsibility chart, is a project management technique that describes the responsibilities of various stakeholders in completing tasks or deliverables. The matrix assigns one of four responsibilities to each stakeholder in executing a deliverable: Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, and Informed.
Under the RACI framework:
  • Responsible stakeholders are involved in the planning, execution, and completion of the task;
  • Accountable stakeholders are held to be individually and ultimately responsible for the success or failure of the task;
  • Consulted stakeholders are sought for their opinions on a task;
  • Informed stakeholders are updated as the project progresses.

    RACI model

RACI is a model that describes the participation of various roles in completing tasks or deliverables for a project or business process. The four key responsibilities most typically used are: responsible, accountable, consulted, and informed. It is often used to define roles and responsibilities in cross-departmental projects.
R: Responsible — Those who complete the task. There is at least one role with a participation type of responsible, although others can be delegated to assist in the work required.
A: Accountable — The one ultimately answerable for the correct completion of the deliverable or task, ensuring the prerequisites of the task are met, and delegating the work to those responsible. Accountable stakeholders sign off and approve work that responsible stakeholders provide. According to some theories of project management, there must be only one accountable stakeholder specified for each task or deliverable.
C: Consulted — Those whose opinions are sought, such as subject-matter experts, and with whom there is two-way communication.
I: Informed — Those who are kept up-to-date on progress, often only on completion of the task or deliverable, and with whom there is just one-way communication.
The RACI model is also known as a responsibility assignment matrix and linear responsibility chart.

Alternatives

There are a number of alternatives to the RACI model, including:
  • DACI: Driver, Approvers, Contributors, Informed
  • PARIS: Participant, Accountable, Review required, Input required, Sign-off required
  • RACI + F: includes Facilitation in Scrum projects
  • RACIS/RASCI/RASIC/RASI: includes Support
  • RACIO/CAIRO: includes Omitted
  • RACIQ: includes Quality review
  • RACI-VSL includes Verifier and Signatory

    Charting

Responsibility assignment matrices are charted with the vertical axis representing tasks or deliverables and the horizontal axis representing roles.
TasksMaintenance supervisorsMaintenance analystMaintenance plannerMaintenance technicianMaintenance supportRel specialistCMMS project engineer
Inputting failure dataACIRCC
Work order completionRCCCAII
Work order closeoutCRCIIA
QA of failure data inputCRICICA
Analyze failure reportsCCICARI
Maintenance strategy adjustmentsCIICARR
Implementing new strategiesRIRCAII