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The RACI Matrix

Structuring Accountabilities for Maximum Efficiency and Results

Also called ARCI, RASCI, RASIC, RACI-V and CAIRO

Teamwork is often seen as an effective way to accomplish work goals. And there is no doubt that when teams work well together the results can be impressive. Unfortunately, the opposite is true and all too common: Teams that fail to work well can also fail to deliver the desired results.

When several people work on a project it is easy to assume that someone else is taking care of a particular detail or assignment. It is also easy to point fingers and assign blame when one of those jobs is done poorly or not done at all.

Many factors can contribute to the underperformance of a team, but unless responsibilities and accountabilities are clear, there can be a significant risk that problems will arise.

With complex, time-sensitive or mission-critical projects, or in situations where people are ducking responsibility, it's often worth taking the time to think through the roles that you and your team members must play in every task that your team undertakes. Without this clarity, you will most-likely find gaps, duplication and confusion. Teamwork will be frustrating, inefficient and you are less likely to deliver good results. In these situations, the delegation of tasks and other responsibilities can be too important to leave to chance.

The RACI Matrix is a responsibility assignment matrix system that brings structure and clarity to assigning the roles people play within a team. It is a simple grid system that you can use to clarify people's responsibilities and ensure that everything the team needs to do is taken care of.

RACI explained

The acronym RACI stands for...(Sign in to read more.)

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Key Points

One of the biggest challenges of team working (particularly in areas where there's little margin for error) is to make sure everything is done completely and well. By taking a structured approach to role assignment using the RACI Matrix, you can plot and check who is responsible and accountable for each team task, and also check the integrity of each person's roles. In so doing, you can minimize the risk of gaps, overlaps and confusions and so have a greater chance of running a highly effective and efficient team.

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