RACI Analysis

A RACI Chart is simply a way of documenting responsibilities.  This can be for a specific project, or for ongoing roles within an organization.  We discuss the following aspects of the RACI Chart below:

• Definitions for a RACI Chart.
• What is a RACI Chart, and why it is important.
• Guidelines and Rules for building a RACI Chart.
• How a RACI Chart works
• RACI Chart horizontal & vertical analysis

Definitions for a RACI Chart

RACI is an acronym that stands for:

R – “The Doer”: Position working on activity

A – “The Buck Stops Here”: Position with yes/no authority.

C  – “In The Loop”: Position involved prior to a decision or action

I – “Keep In The Picture”: Position that needs to know of decision or action

What is a RACI Chart, and Why it is Important:

The RACI Chart serves a variety of functions:

• It is a technique used to clarify roles and responsibilities.
• It describes the participation by various roles in completing tasks or deliverables for a business process.
• It is especially useful in clarifying roles and responsibilities in cross-functional/departmental projects and processes.

Benefits of a RACI Chart

• Eliminates misunderstandings and encourages teamwork.
• Reduces duplication of effort.
• Encourages communication and debate.
• Increased productivity through well defined accountability.
• Streamlined organization structure by collapsing unneeded layers and placing accountability where it belongs.
• Reinforces empowerment at the appropriate level of the organization.

Guidelines for Building a RACI Chart:

1. 100% accuracy is not always required, and certainly not at first.
2. It is an iterative process.
3. Place accountability (A) and responsibility (R) at the lowest feasible level.
4. There can be only one accountability (A) per activity.
5. Authority must accompany accountability.
6. Minimize the number of Consults (C).
7. Actions/functions identified must be appropriate to this team’s level.  Cascading RACIs will be put in place for other levels of the organization.
8. Actions should focus on positions not Individuals

Rules of Engagement

• Debate is encouraged, but must be considered and respectful
• Argue your viewpoint, but respect the outcomes of the group
• Need to work towards an 80% solution.  Do not consider exceptional circumstances

How a RACI Chart Works:

There are two primary perspectives or uses of a RACI Chart:

• An analysis tool
• To chart the current system
• To identify issues or where things may be falling between the cracks

• An Improvement tool
• Focus on how the organization should be
• Very useful after a reorganization, or acquisition/merger

RACI Chart Horizontal and Vertical Analysis:

A larger RACI Chart process

A simple RACI has been described here.  A few other considerations for the use of the RACI Chart:

• Consider cascading RACIs throughout an organization.
• RACI Charts are most often iterative, that will need refinement.
• The RACI Chart should be revisited at least annually or as jobs or organizations change
• Connect RACI Charts to job or position descriptions
• Connect RACI Charts to organizational scorecards or measurement systems

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