Lessons · Project management · the RACI chart

RACI: who does it, who answers for it, who is asked, who is told

A RACI chart lists work packages down the side and people across the top, marking each as Responsible (does the work), Accountable (answers for it), Consulted (asked before) or Informed (told after); every row has exactly one A.

Hone is a place to practise a career, one idea a day. This is one of its lessons, written out in full and free to read without an account.

What it is for

The report was late because three people each thought another was doing it, and when the sponsor asked who owned it, three people looked at the floor. One letter A in one cell would have answered him, and would have got the report written.

How to think about it

Rows are deliverables from the WBS, columns are people. Fill in the A first, one per row, no more and no fewer. Then the R or Rs who do the work. Then C for anyone whose input is needed before, I for anyone who needs to know after. Walk the chart with the team so every A has agreed to be one.

Worked example

Row: payroll export. Columns: PM, developer, payroll manager, finance director

One deliverable, four people.

Developer: R. PM: A

The developer builds it; the project manager answers for it. One A.

Payroll manager: C. Finance director: I

Asked about the format before; told when it works after.

Row check: exactly one A, at least one R

The rule, applied to every row before the chart is shown to anyone.

Your turn

Write the one rule every RACI row must obey.

Exactly one  per row.

The trap

Making the project manager A for everything. Then the chart says nothing, and a real owner who could have caught a problem never knew it was theirs.

Practise the RACI chart on HoneA question on it now, a coding challenge where there is one, and it is remembered for review. Free, no email needed.