The RACI matrix: How it helps you

What is meant by a RACI matrix?

The RACI matrix, also known as the RACI diagram, is a tool for analyzing and presenting responsibilities.

Translated from English into German, the abbreviation RACI stands for:

• R for responsible
• A for accountabel (accountable)
• C for consulted


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Teams consist of different people who are supposed to perform different tasks. After …

• I like informed (informed)

Visually, you can think of this matrix as a graph with a y-axis and an x-axis. The tasks are entered on a y-axis and the people or employees involved are shown on the x-axis. Each person can then be assigned one of the letters (RACI) for each task.

What does RACI stand for?

The four letters of RACI each represent their own specific role in completing the task. They stand for:

(responsible)

The person who carries out the task is responsible for the task. She is directly involved in the work and is the contact person for questions about the task.

There may sometimes be more than one responsible person. However, it is advisable to limit the number of people responsible so that the process remains clear.

accountable.

This role is responsible for completing the entire task. She does not carry out the work herself, but delegates it and makes decisions about who will do it. Accountable people are often executives and managers; they accept the work.

consulted.

People who have important information that is helpful for the task are consulted. They help complete the task by providing their knowledge, reviewing the work or advising.

informed (informed)

This role includes people who are kept up to date during or after the completion of the task.

So you have a so-called right to information. To ensure that they are always informed in a timely manner, other people have an obligation to inform.

When is a RACI matrix useful?

The RACI chart is particularly beneficial for complex projects that require multiple people to complete. By using a RACI matrix, responsibility for tasks in a project can be assigned to those responsible Employees can be better coordinated, which has the advantage of a better overview of who is doing what work is busy.

Tips for good implementation

In order to benefit from the advantages of such a diagram, you should heed a few tips:

• Formulate the tasks clearly and precisely to avoid misunderstandings.
• The number of responsible people should be kept as low as possible so that there is less confusion when making decisions.
• The current status of the project should be checked regularly and the work progress documented. This means you can quickly... Update and adjust roles and tasks.
• It's okay to get help setting up the chart. Especially if you are not sure, it helps a lot to get another opinion in order to be able to make good plans.
• When it comes to digitalization, appropriate software can also help here, with which the diagram can be created so that it can then be shared more easily with those involved.

With a RACI diagram you can ensure clear distribution of roles when carrying out larger projects in which several people are involved.

However, the goals that are to be achieved should be taken into account to an appropriate extent and in a feasible time. This is not always easy. With the help of a clear plan, but definitely possible.