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RACI Matrix

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The RACI matrix is a responsibility assignment chart that maps out tasks, milestones and key decisions involved in completing a project. It assigns which roles are Responsible for each action item, which personnel are Accountable, and, where appropriate, who needs to be Consulted or Informed on tasks.

What is it?

The RACI matrix is a responsibility assignment chart. It maps out every task, milestone or key decision involved in completing a project throughout the different phases.

It assigns which roles are Responsible for each action item, which personnel are Accountable, and, where appropriate, who needs to be Consulted or Informed on tasks.

Responsible
The person/people who complete the task or deliverable. There can be more than one person assigned to this role for each item.

Accountable
The person who is Accountable has the final authority or approval for the task’s completion. There should only be one Accountable person for each task.

Consulted
A Consulted role is an adviser to a task. They usually provide subject matter expertise or guidance. Try not to assign to many Consulted roles as this can create time delays and risk poor performance.

Informed
People in Informed roles are kept up to date on progress on a task. The task may impact their work, but they are not involved in decisions about or delivery of the task.

What does this tool look like?
Example RACI matrix
Why use this tool?

The RACI matrix is a project management tool that visually displays the different roles for each member involved in a project. It shows the level of involvement required from each role on the different tasks. It is also a useful tool to support team communication.

RACI is a helpful way to display clear roles and responsibilities of the project team members. This can reduce confusion that may come up through the life of your project.

RACI places equal weighting to each role and encourages communication between roles which will aid the smooth running of your project.

Your Project Board and Project Team should create this tool in collaboration. It is an ever evolving tool which you should update throughout your project.

Where does this tool fit in the improvement journey?
Project Management and Communications Icon

 

It is relevant to this theme that supports your journey.

The Quality Improvement Journey
How to use it

There are 5 key steps to using a RACI Matrix.

  1. Identify the project roles
     
  2. Identify the project tasks/deliverables within the different phases of your project
     
  3. Assign RACI to each role and task
     
  4. Agreement from your team and key stakeholders that the assigned RACI are correct. This makes it clear to everyone when and how they are involved in the project
     
  5. Keep your RACI Matrix up to date as things change in your project. Revisit steps 1-4 when having project meetings and stakeholder updates.
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