How granular should a RACI matrix be?

The right level of granularity depends on the project. For high-level governance, create a RACI for major project phases or deliverables (10-20 rows). For detailed task management, create a RACI for individual tasks (30-50 rows). Avoid going so granular that the RACI becomes unmanageable. Focus on areas where roles are genuinely unclear or where cross-functional coordination is needed.

What is the difference between Responsible and Accountable?

Responsible is the person who does the work. Accountable is the person who must answer for the outcome. The Accountable person delegates the work to the Responsible person but retains ultimate ownership. For example, a developer is Responsible for writing code, but the tech lead is Accountable for the code meeting quality standards. One person can be both R and A.

Can a RACI have multiple Accountable people?

No, this is a fundamental rule of RACI. Each task must have exactly one Accountable person. If accountability is shared, nobody is truly accountable. If two people seem equally accountable, clarify which one has the final authority. "If everyone is accountable, no one is accountable."

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RACI Matrix

Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, Informed

Also known as:responsibility assignment matrixRAMRACI chart

A responsibility assignment chart that defines who is Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, and Informed for each task or deliverable in a project.

In-Depth Explanation

A RACI matrix clarifies roles and responsibilities for project tasks and decisions, ensuring clear ownership and preventing confusion about who does what. It is particularly valuable for cross-functional projects with multiple stakeholders.

RACI definitions:

Responsible (R): The person(s) who do the work to complete the task. There can be multiple people responsible.
Accountable (A): The person who is ultimately answerable for the task being completed correctly. There should be only ONE accountable person per task.
Consulted (C): People whose input is sought before a decision or action (two-way communication).
Informed (I): People who are kept updated on progress or decisions (one-way communication).

RACI variations:

RASCI: Adds Supportive (assists the Responsible person)
DACI: Driver, Approver, Contributor, Informed
RAPID: Recommend, Agree, Perform, Input, Decide

Creating a RACI matrix:

List all tasks, deliverables, or decisions in rows
List all roles or people in columns
Assign R, A, C, or I to each intersection
Review for balance (no one is overloaded, no tasks lack accountability)
Validate with stakeholders

RACI validation rules:

Every task must have exactly one A (accountable)
Every task must have at least one R (responsible)
Minimise the number of C (consulted) to avoid decision bottlenecks
The accountable person can also be responsible
If too many people are consulted, decisions slow down
If too many people are informed, communication overhead increases

Common RACI mistakes:

Multiple A's for a single task (accountability is shared, which means nobody is truly accountable)
Too many C's creating decision paralysis
Missing R's (nobody is doing the work)
RACI created but not followed
Not updating the RACI when roles or scope change

Business Context

RACI matrices prevent the confusion, duplication, and gaps that occur when responsibilities are unclear, ensuring every task has clear ownership and appropriate stakeholder involvement.

How Clever Ops Uses This

Clever Ops uses RACI matrices for client projects to ensure clear responsibility assignment between our team and the client's team. This prevents gaps and overlaps, ensuring smooth collaboration on Australian business transformation projects.

Example Use Case

"A cross-functional project team creates a RACI for their CRM implementation, clarifying that IT is responsible for technical setup, the sales director is accountable, marketing is consulted on workflow design, and finance is informed of cost decisions."