A RACI matrix is a table that lists the tasks of a process in rows and the roles involved in columns. Each cell holds one letter:
- Responsible: does the work. There can be more than one.
- Accountable: owns the outcome and signs off. Exactly one per task.
- Consulted: gives input before or during the work (two-way).
- Informed: is told about the result (one-way).
Why it matters
Most process problems are ownership problems. A task with no clear owner waits, and a task with three owners gets done three different ways. A RACI makes ownership explicit before something goes wrong.
Example
Part of a RACI for employee onboarding (illustrative):
| Task | HR | Hiring manager | IT | Payroll |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Send offer letter | R | A | I | I |
| Set up laptop and accounts | I | C | A, R | |
| Complete Form I-9 | A, R | I | ||
| Add to payroll | C | I | A, R |
Common pitfalls
- More than one A on a task. If two people are accountable, nobody is.
- Too many Cs, which turns every task into a meeting.
- Everyone is an I, so people learn to ignore the notifications.
- Names instead of roles, so the matrix breaks with the first reorganization.
- A matrix nobody uses. It should match who actually gets assigned each step, not sit in a slide.