Who Does What? Simplify Roles with the Ultimate RACI Guide

The RACI Matrix is a project management tool used to clarify roles and responsibilities within a team or organization for specific tasks, projects, or processes. The acronym RACI stands for:

1. R – Responsible:
   The person(s) who do the work to complete the task. There can be multiple people responsible, but at least one person must be assigned.
2. A – Accountable:
   The person who is ultimately answerable for the correct and thorough completion of the task. This is typically the decision-maker and ensures that responsibilities are assigned and deadlines are met. There should only be one accountable person per task to avoid confusion.
3. C – Consulted:
   People whose opinions are sought before a decision is made or an action is taken. These are typically subject-matter experts or stakeholders. It involves two-way communication.
4. I – Informed:
   Individuals who need to be kept updated on progress or decisions but are not directly involved in the task. Communication here is usually one-way.

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✅ Example of a RACI Matrix:

Task	Project Manager	Developer	QA Tester	Client
Define requirements	A	C	I	R
Develop the software	I	R	C	I
Test the software	I	C	R	I
Final Approval	R	I	I	A

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💡 Benefits of Using a RACI Matrix:

• Clarifies roles and responsibilities
• Reduces confusion and overlaps
• Improves accountability
• Enhances communication
• Streamlines decision-making processes

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Scenarios:

In a large-scale project like launching a new product, there are multiple teams and stakeholders involved. Here’s how a RACI Matrix can help organize roles and responsibilities:

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Scenario 1:

Company: Tech Innovators Ltd.
Project: Launching a New Mobile Application
Objective: Develop, test, market, and launch a new productivity app within 6 months.

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RACI Matrix Example:

Task	Project Manager	Product Owner	Software Developer	UI/UX Designer	Marketing Team	QA Tester	Legal Team	Stakeholders
Define project scope	A	R	I	I	I	I	I	C
Create wireframes & prototypes	I	C	I	R	I	I	I	C
Develop backend & frontend	I	I	R	C	I	I	I	I
Conduct UI/UX review	I	C	C	R	I	I	I	C
Perform quality assurance testing	I	I	C	I	I	R	I	I
Ensure legal compliance (data privacy)	I	C	I	I	I	I	R	I
Develop go-to-market strategy	C	C	I	I	R	I	I	A
Execute marketing campaigns	I	I	I	I	R	I	I	I
Monitor post-launch performance	R	C	C	C	R	I	I	C
Collect user feedback for improvements	R	C	C	C	R	I	I	I

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Key Takeaways from This Complex Example:

1. Accountability is Singular:
   Each task has one person who is ultimately Accountable (A) — reducing decision-making confusion.
2. Cross-Functional Collaboration:
   • Consulted (C) roles ensure that experts are looped in for important decisions (e.g., Legal Team for compliance).
   • Informed (I) roles are updated but not directly involved, keeping communication streamlined.
3. Risk Mitigation:
   Including the Legal Team in compliance checks avoids potential legal pitfalls post-launch.
4. Stakeholder Engagement:
   Stakeholders are kept Consulted during critical phases like scope definition and UI/UX reviews but are Informed for operational tasks.

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Pro Tip: In complex projects, it’s common for some tasks to have multiple Consulted (C) roles but only one Accountable (A) to maintain clarity in responsibility.

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Scenario 2:

Company: Global Enterprises Ltd.
Project: Company-wide implementation of a new ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system.
Objective: Streamline business processes across departments including finance, HR, supply chain, and sales.

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RACI Matrix Example:

Task	Project Manager	IT Department	Finance Department	HR Department	Operations Manager	Training Team	Legal & Compliance	Executive Sponsor
Conduct needs assessment	R	C	C	C	C	I	I	A
Select ERP vendor	R	A	C	C	C	I	C	A
Develop project plan	A	C	I	I	I	I	I	C
Configure ERP system	I	R	C	C	C	I	I	I
Data migration	R	R	C	C	C	I	I	I
User acceptance testing (UAT)	R	R	C	C	C	I	I	I
Develop training materials	I	I	I	I	I	R	I	C
Conduct employee training sessions	I	I	I	I	I	R	I	I
Manage change communication	R	I	I	C	I	C	I	A
Ensure data security & compliance	I	R	I	I	I	I	A	I
Go-live deployment	R	A	C	C	C	I	I	C
Post-implementation support	R	R	I	I	I	I	I	I

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🔍 Key Insights from This Complex Example:

1. Cross-Department Involvement:
   Complex projects like ERP implementations require collaboration across IT, Finance, HR, and Operations.
2. Dual Responsibility in Critical Phases:
   In tasks like Data Migration and User Acceptance Testing, both the Project Manager and IT Department are Responsible (R) — ensuring technical and managerial oversight.
3. Change Management Focus:
   The Training Team is Responsible for educating employees, while the HR Department is Consulted for employee-related concerns.
4. Compliance & Risk Control:
   The Legal & Compliance Team is Accountable for ensuring that sensitive data follows data privacy regulations.
5. Executive Sponsorship:
   The Executive Sponsor holds high-level Accountability in strategic decision-making (e.g., vendor selection) but is only Consulted in operational tasks.

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