# RACI matrix

> A RACI matrix maps each task to who is Responsible, Accountable, Consulted and Informed, so every step of a process has exactly one owner.

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.

Page: https://easy.wf/glossary/raci-matrix