RACI

Identifying roles and responsibilities in change processes. Explanation of RACI. RASCI and RASIC.

What is the RACI model? Description

The RACI model is a relatively straightforward tool that can be used for identifying roles and responsibilities during an organizational change process. Obviously, transformation processes do not work automatically or autonomously. People have to do something so that the change of the processes will happen. Therefore it is useful to describe what should be done by whom so that a transformation process will happen.
 

In stead of the terminology RACI, sometimes also the concepts RASCI or RASIC are used.

The meaning of the abbreviation RACI. Acronym

• R  =  Responsible. Person owns the problem / project.
• A  =  to whom "R" is Accountable. He or she must sign or approve the work before it is OK.
• S  =  can be Supportive. Can provide resources or can play a supporting role in implementation.
• C  =  should be Consulted. Has information and/or capability necessary to complete the work.
• I  =  should be Informed. Must be notified of results, but need not be consulted.

The technique is typically supported by a RACI chart (see figure) which helps to discuss, to agree, and to communicate the roles and responsibilities.

Steps in a RACI process

1. Identify all of the processes / activities involved and list them at the left hand side of the chart.

2. Identify all of the roles and list them along the top of the chart.

3. Complete the cells of the chart: identify who has the R, A, S, C, I for each process.

4. Every process should preferably have one and only one "R" as a general principle. A gap occurs when a process exists that has no "R". An overlap occurs when multiple roles exist that have an "R" for a given process.

5. Resolve overlaps. Every process in a role responsibility map should contain only one "R" to indicate a unique process owner. In the case of multiple R's, there is a need to further detail the sub processes, to separate the individual responsibilities.

6. Resolve Gaps. Where no role has been identified that has the "R" for a process, the individual with the authority for role definition must determine which existing or new role is responsible. Update the RASCI map and clarify the role with the individual that assumes that role.

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RACI Forum

Catherine - USA

RASIC

"After deliberating too much on support versus consult, we use the "S" to mean support, including providing supporting information or capabilities. And the "C" to mean "Consult" for the controlling document, i.e. policy, procedure, work instruction, government standard, contract, etc. The RASIC was developed for contract manufacturing and it was helpful to identify the specific guideline to follow it any clarification was required."

0

- Australia

Ratio of A to R's in disparate Sales territories

"My recent experience is identifying too many "R's" in Sales positions who do their best but may underperform with limited review and/or recourse. This is especially true where ratio of "R's" to "A" is high in a large and/or disparate region e.g. Asia Pacific."

0

- UK

RACI-VS

"I prefer RACI-VS, as I do not see a need for the 1st S. I also think its correct title is: Responsibility Assignment Matrix (RAM). I also see it as a tool for assigning responsibility, using the RACI-VS technique."

1

Craig - UK

Synonyms of RACI Chart

"You may also encounter the term Accountability Matrix or Responsibility Matrix or CIDA Matrix (Consult, Inform, Doer, Accountable)."

0

Dan SInger - US

The big plus of using RACI

"Without finding persons who agree to be responsible and/or accountable for an action, the day-to-day demands of our busy jobs will quickly win from the orginal good intentions we had at the moment the project was started."

19

Danette - U.S.

RACI - who invented it?

"I have been using the RACI technique for some time (applying it to my work in information quality and data governance). I am currently writing a book and wanted to include the RACI technique as it applies to info quality work. I'm looking for the source (inventor?) of RACI so it can be attributed correctly. Any help would be greatly appreciated!"

6

Sue - New Zealand

RACIO and CAIRO

"CAIRO or RACIO is another RACI-variant. The O meaning Omitted or Out of the Loop. Sometimes used to specify that certain individuals should NOT be involved or perform any task."

5

Hussam Mandil - Sudan

RASCI-VS

"More specific is RASCI-VS. The 1st S stands for Supportive , the V stands for Verifies and lastly the 2nd S stands for Signed."

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Compare with the RACI model:  Brainstorming  |  Force Field Analysis  |  Gantt Chart  |  Forget Borrow Learn  |  Change Management Iceberg  |  Change Model Beckhard  |  DICE Framework  |  Changing Organization Cultures  |  Dimensions of Change  |  Root Cause Analysis  |  Kepner-Tregoe Matrix  |  Leadership Styles  |  SMART  |  CSFs and KPIs  |  IPMA Competence Baseline (ICB)

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