You may think the main success factor for a business project is a well-structured project and a stellar team. Spoiler alert: it’s not. Effective communication and accountability among stakeholders at every step eliminates inefficiencies and clarifies responsibilities. The Raci Chart is the framework that identifies ownership of key deliverables and guarantees accountability. However, it is not a little league game to efficaciously use the chart. This guide simplifies creating Raci charts and important considerations for it.
What Is a Raci Chart?
A Raci chart or a responsibility assignment matrix is a visual representation of delegation of roles, the accountable parties, and stakeholders to be informed or consulted. The chart is a key project management tool managers and analysts use to establish which stakeholders are responsibly accountable for every element of the project at the task level and identify the parties to be consulted or informed in the decision-making process.
The Raci acronym denotes Responsible, accountable, consulted, and informed. Whether a departmental project or a company project, every project needs a Raci to manage delegation and avert confusion, which is a major bottleneck to project success.
What Is a Raci Chart Template?
A Raci chart template is a predesigned customizable Raci chart with the metrics enlisted. With A Raci chart template, you fill it, customize it to suit your project’s needs, and distribute it among team members.
Note: Raci charts vary considerably depending on the project, albeit somewhat retaining the same format. Ensure the template you choose is close to your ideal project delegation chart.
The basic structure of a Raci chart template is a Microsoft Excel compatible sheet(s) with cells and columns for assigning milestones requiring co-occurrence and Independent tasks with the individual members responsible for carrying out each task.
Project managers list the team members in rows and assign roles under any of the four cells of a Raci. The manager then shares the Raci with approving stakeholders, and once approved, it is shared with all individuals or placed at the workplace’s noticeboard.
Raci Chart Templates & Examples
Four Aspects of Raci Model
As previously stated, RACI stands for:
- Responsible
- Accountable
- Consulted
- Informed
Many projects fail to take off due to communication breakdowns between departments. It is essential to understand each aspect of the Raci chart to develop straightforward responsibility charts better.
Responsible
In a Raci matrix, responsible delineates the individual responsible for completing a specific task or subtask in the project. Usually, a single participant is responsible for the deliverable; however, it is common for participants to be jointly responsible for a task.
Tip: Assign specific tasks to individuals within the domain of expertise required for completing a task. Refrain from assigning a task to more than one person to keep the level of involvement simple and effective.
Accountable
The buck stops here. An accountability manager ensures proper delegation in the Raci chart and oversees project execution at the task level. They are responsible for approving the work done by the responsible party. In some cases, the accountable person doubles up as the responsible person. However, in other scenarios, the project owner is the accountable person; this is not always the case.
Consulted
The consulted in Raci is for individuals whose input is valuable in making decisions. The consulted stakeholders are usually the ones most affected by the project’s course and those who have expertise in relevant fields of the project.
Informed
Some key stakeholders must be kept in the loop through major milestones in the project life cycle. Informed parties do not participate actively in the project but require periodic updates on the project’s progress.
How to Create a Raci Chart
Making a Raci chart is simple if you preview examples and set the foundation for assigning roles. However, if the process seems arduous, you can follow the following four steps:
1. List all the tasks
In a blank Excel sheet or Raci template, list all the tasks in order of completion on the left-hand side down the columns. Review your project cycle and determine which deliverables come first
2. Enlist the project participants
In the top row, list the stakeholders across the spreadsheet. You can list the team names or individual members’ names.
3. Assign Raci values
Assign a Raci value underneath each participant’s name alongside the task. Resolve any responsibility issues and appoint one accountable person for each deliverable.
Tip: Use different color codes for each Raci value. Color-coding distinguishes roles and imparts a stellar visual effect to your chart.
4. Compile the report and get feedback
Once done, review the chart to ensure every stakeholder has an assigned value. Proceed to share the Raci chart among key stakeholders and participants and seek their feedback. Incorporate constructive feedback into your chart and modify it accordingly before submitting the final chart.
Important Considerations
Since the Raci matrix involves complex responsibility assignments, some things to keep in mind when creating the chart are:
- Appoint only one accountable person.
- Inform the key stakeholders after every major project event. You can perform a stakeholder analysis to determine which stakeholders you need to inform and develop a communication strategy.
- Map out the tasks and deliverables before creating the chart to save vital time.
- Develop an inclusive approach when developing the Raci chart. Include the senior executive and the Lowe level employees in your project. Get everyone on board who has expertise in executing a certain project.
FAQs
No. One accountable person is enough to avert any confusion and ensure oversight of task completion.
Typically one R is enough per task. However, it is wise to assign two R’s who will be jointly responsible for a single task for a taxing project.
Yes, the same person can be both R and A; however, they are not similar. R’s are task-oriented, while the accountable person is result-oriented.
Conclusion
A Raci chart makes or breaks your project. Incorporate this effective project delegation tool into your project to ensure clarity around the roles and responsibilities of project participants. Now that you know how to create a Raci chart go ahead and make one. Don’t wish for project success when you can prepare for it through a Raci chart.
