RACI MATRIX
RESPONSIBILITY ASSIGNMENT MATRIX (RAM)
LINEAR RESPONSIBILITY CHART

COMMON ACRONYMS
RACI, RAM

COMMON STANDARDS OF PRACTICE
A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide)

DEFINITION
A RACI matrix has three inputs, Roles, Tasks, and Duties. It defines and documents the roles and duties for completing tasks or deliverables for a project or a business process.

1. R = Responsible: People or stakeholders who do the work. They must complete the task or objective or make the decision. Several people can be jointly Responsible. A responsible is the one able to be trusted to do what is right or to do the things that are expected or required.
2. A = Accountable: The one ultimately answerable for the correct and thorough completion of the deliverable or task, the one who ensures the prerequisites of the task are met and who delegates the work to those responsible. The one who is able to report, explain, or justify. An accountable must sign off (approve and receive) work that the responsible provides. There must be only one accountable specified for each task or deliverable.
3. C = Consulted: These are subject matters experts, whose opinions are sought, and with whom there is two-way communication.
4. I = Informed: People or stakeholders who need to be kept "in the picture." They need updates on progress or decisions, but they do not need to be formally consulted, nor do they contribute directly to the task or decision.

WHY
Integrating the RACI model into an organization's project life cycle (PLC) creates a powerful synergy that enhances and improves project outcomes. Knowing exactly who is responsible, who is accountable, who needs to be consulted, and who must be kept informed at every major step, KPI or milestone (as listed in the RACI) will eliminate confusion while making decisions. It ensures that everything that needs to be done on a project is being taken care of by a person/ entity. It brings structure and clarity to describing the roles that stakeholders play within a project. The benefits are listed below;

1. Assures that there is an entity assigned to complete each major task, meaning nothing is left un-attended
2. Assures that all stakholders are in agreement on distribution of roles and responsibilies
3. Eliminates Confusion while making decisions
4. Clarifies the role of each team member
5. Keeps the project on track
6. Reduces the chances of missing important tasks or changes
7. Ensures smooth handovers and transitions
8. Ensures communication between all stakeholders, team members, decision makers
9. Avoids individual burnout, e.g. too may responsibilites assigned to a single person.
10. In case of a conflict or failure, RACI can be a visual reminder, and a reference.
11. Helps newer team members to understand the structure
12. Helps in reorganising/ restructuring
13. Helps in mapping the stakeholders, especilly when the number of stakeholders is large.

WHEN
As early as possible in the Project Life Cycle. It is also important to keep in mind that the RACI matrix does not replace the project implementation plan.

HOW
There are 6 basic steps

1. Columns: Identify the Roles/ Team members (including the stakeholders)
2. Rows: Establish key tasks (including milestones, KPIs, decision hold points)
3. Assign the RACI to each team member and task, no empty cells allowed. No tasks should have more than one stakeholder Accountable. Ensure every task has at least one stakeholder Responsible for it.
4. Get all team members to agree on the chart
5. Get all stakeholders to agree on the chart
6. Include it in the Project Implementation Plan, Publish it, implement it and make it useful

EXAMPLES
An example of data for a RACI Matrix is given below;

1. Roles/ Team Members
1. Sponsors (Owner, Proponent, Advisor, Committee etc.)
2. Execution Team (Project Manager, PMC, Design Manager, Construction Manager, Lead Discipline Engineer, Commercial Manger etc.)
3. Operations Team (Facilities Manager, Operations Manager, Utilities Manager etc.)
4. External Resources (PMO, Consultants, Public Representatives etc.)
2. Tasks
1. Develop a Strategy
2. Submit the Strategy for Approval
3. Approve the Strategy
4. Develop a Business Case
5. Submit the Business Case for Approval
6. Approve the Business Case
7. Develop a Pre-Concept Design
8. Submit the Pre-Concept Design for Approval
9. Approve the Pre-Concept Design
10. Develop an Asset Brief
11. Submit the Asset Brief for Approval
12. Approve the Asset Brief Design
13. Develop a Concept Design
14. Submit the Concept Design for Approval
15. Approve the Concept Design
16. Develop a Procurement Strategy
17. Submit the Procurement Strategy for Approval
18. Approve the Procurement Strategy
19. Develop a Detailed Design
20. Submit the Detailed Design for Approval
21. Approve the Detailed Design
22. Develop a Request for Proposals
23. Submit the Request for Proposals for Approval
24. Approve the Request for Proposals
25. Issue Request for Proposals to the market
26. Review Received Proposals
27. Approve the Winning/ Lowest Proposal
28. Develop the Contract Documents
29. Approve the Contract Documents
30. Issue the Contract Documents to Winning Bidder
3. Duties
1. Responsible
2. Accountable
3. Consulted
4. Informed

DOWNLOADS
Some files are attached as downloadable examples or viewable webpages

1. RACI template (Spreadhseet | Webpage)