Defining clear Roles &
Responsibilities
The RACI Methodology
How often do you hear this?
•
“I don't know what to do here."
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"I don't know whom to go to for authorisation."
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"I find out after it's too late that I should have informed someone."
•
"I could help but no one asked me."
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"I have the responsibility but not the power to get the job done."
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"No one is prepared to make a decision."
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"Things are going unnoticed and are therefore being neglected "
•
"I am doing work that is part of someone else's job"
RACI – A great organisational design tool
• A method to identify “key” activities and decisions
which assigns the roles involved
– Identify all activities and decisions that must be done or
made to run the day-to-day business effectively
– Identify for the activity or decision:
• Who is Accountable
• Who is Responsible
• Who must be Consulted
• Who must be Informed
– Document on matrix for reference
R
A
C
I
A RACI is helpful to clarify Roles & Responsibilities
Final decision
maker
(R)esponsible:
The person who has to do it
Two way
process
(C)onsulted:
Must always be consulted
before it is done - a two way process
The buck
stops here
(A)ccountable:
The person who has to make sure
it is done
One way
process
(I)nformed
Must always be informed
after it is done - a one way process
RACI Definitions
•
•
•
•
Accountable:
The person who is ultimately accountable for an activity / decision
Only one "A" can be assigned to an activity or decision
Can also be “Responsible” for the activity or decision
•
•
•
Responsible:
People who perform an activity / decision; the “Doers”
“R’s” can be shared
•
•
Consulted:
People who must be consulted before an activity or decision is
performed
•
•
Informed:
People who must be informed after a decision or action; this can be via
email, phone call, visual management, etc.
What are the benefits of using RACI charts
• Clarify the connection between the “A” and the “R”
• Ensure accountability is positioned at the right level
• Push responsibilities and accountabilities down to the lowest level
• Clarify the single “A” concept
• Understand the interfaces between business process areas
• Identify gaps in accountabilities and responsibilities
• Provide employees the authority to get the job done
• Increase productivity through well defined responsibilities and
accountability
• Eliminate overlaps, redundancies and misunderstandings
• Eliminate unnecessary interfaces and place accountability where it
belongs
The 5 step RACI process
• Step 1: Define the activities / decisions
• Step 2: Make a list of role players
• Step 3: Design the RACI charts
• Step 4: Analyse and validate the RACI charts
• Step 5: Get feedback and buy-in
Guidelines for developing a RACI chart
• Remember the new way of thinking when defining roles and
responsibilities:
 Eliminate “checkers checking checkers”
 Encourage teamwork
• Authority must accompany accountability
• Place accountability (A) and responsibility (R) at the lowest possible
level
• Minimize the number of consults (C) and informs (I)
• All roles and responsibilities must be documented and communicated