What Is a RACI Chart?

On a project with multiple tasks, multiple people, and multiple phases, it is important to keep track of who is responsible for all the tasks and deliverables. This is where a RACI chart, also known as a responsibility assignment matrix, proves useful. A RACI chart helps you keep track of team member and stakeholder roles and responsibilities by mapping them out in one place.  

RACI is an acronym for:

• Responsible

• Accountable

• Consulted

• Informed

Using a RACI chart helps with decision-making and reduces hold-ups when waiting for approvals. It is particularly useful if you have team members or stakeholders with multiple roles to keep track of. For example, one member might be responsible for a specific task and consult on a different task. 

Sections of a RACI chart

Take a look at the elements of a RACI chart in detail:

Responsible: This refers to the decision-maker who is ultimately responsible for the overall project or task. This section should ideally have only one person listed per task to avoid confusion so that everyone knows who to go to for updates and information. 

Accountable: The person listed here is responsible for reviewing and overseeing work. They may or may not be the person doing the work. In some cases, the project manager who is also listed in the “responsible” category is accountable, but it can equally be someone else in a senior role. For each element of a project, someone different could be accountable, but only one person should be accountable for a single task.

Consulted: The people listed here are generally subject matter experts or stakeholders. Their knowledge or position is needed to complete and sign off on tasks, and dialogue is ongoing between them and the person responsible. Multiple people might be in this part of the chart for different tasks. 

Informed: These can be multiple people or groups who receive updates about project progress and completion. They are not necessarily a part of the team working on the project but need to be updated regularly. If your consulted section is too large, you might be able to move some people into the informed section if you feel it’s appropriate, such as some stakeholders who need to know what is going on but don’t necessarily need to be consulted.

Read more: What Is Project Planning? Benefits, Tools, and More

What is the main benefit of making a RACI chart?

The main benefit of creating a RACI chart is bringing clarity and structure to project roles and responsibilities. By clearly defining who is responsible, accountable, consulted, and informed for each task, you can avoid confusion, duplication of effort, and missed deadlines. This clarity leads to several other advantages, including:

• Improved communication: Everyone knows who to talk to for decisions or updates.

• Enhanced accountability: A culture of ownership is fostered as people are clearly responsible for specific outcomes.

• Efficient decision-making: The RACI chart identifies who needs to be involved in key choices.

• Reduced overlaps and gaps: Ensures all tasks are covered and avoids redundant work.

Who uses RACI charts?

Project managers primarily use RACI charts to define team roles and responsibilities within a project. However, the benefits extend beyond project managers and can be valuable for anyone involved in collaborative work. Some examples are:

• Team members: Understanding their RACI designation helps project team members focus on their assigned tasks and who to consult or inform.

• Stakeholders: RACI charts can improve communication with stakeholders by ensuring they are kept informed about relevant project developments.

• Leadership: RACI charts can help leadership identify any gaps in accountability or potential bottlenecks in the project workflow.

Read more: 4 Phases of the Project Management Lifecycle Explained

When should I use a RACI chart?

RACI charts are most beneficial when:

• A lot of people are involved in your project.

• Your team needs clarity in defining who does what.

• You have new team members or a high turnover rate.

• Your project has overlapping tasks or dependencies.

For complex projects with multiple moving parts, a RACI chart can be an effective tool for project success.

Related terms

• Project plan

• Scrum roles

• Gantt chart

• Sprint plan

Read more: How to Start a Career in Software Project Management

Grow your project management skills on Coursera

A RACI chart, or responsibility assignment matrix, clarifies roles and responsibilities on a project by outlining who is responsible, accountable, consulted, and informed for each task. This reduces confusion, streamlines decision-making, and keeps projects on track.

Learn in-demand skills with the Google Project Management Professional Certificate on Coursera. With this industry-recognized Professional Certificate, you can start a career in project management or build on your existing project management skills.