What is a RACI Matrix?

Definitie

A RACI matrix is a responsibility assignment matrix that shows for each task or process step who is Responsible (executes), Accountable (owns the outcome), Consulted (provides input) and Informed (kept up to date).

In het kort

A RACI matrix is the simplest way to prevent role confusion in processes: per step it defines who executes (R), who owns the outcome (A), who is consulted (C) and who is informed (I). Every step must have exactly one A and at least one R. Use it whenever more than two roles are involved in a process step.

Example RACI matrix showing Responsible, Accountable, Consulted and Informed roles per process step — Example RACI matrix — four roles per process step, automatically generated by Business Design Studio

What does RACI stand for?

RACI is an acronym for four roles present in every process. The matrix makes it immediately clear who has which role at each process step — preventing confusion, duplication of effort and missed responsibilities.

Letter	Role	Meaning
R	Responsible	Carries out the task
A	Accountable	Owns the outcome; approves the result
C	Consulted	Provides expert input or advice
I	Informed	Receives updates on progress and outcomes

When should you use a RACI matrix?

A RACI matrix is most valuable when processes involve multiple teams or roles. Typical use cases include project management, process redesign, ERP implementations and compliance programmes.

RACI in Business Design Studio

Business Design Studio automatically generates a RACI matrix for each process step during the AI workshop. You do not need to fill in roles manually — the AI derives responsibilities from your organisation description and the process steps you build.

How to create a RACI matrix?

1
Inventory all process stepsList all process steps or tasks you want to document. Use the Process Step Builder as a starting point for a complete overview.
2
Identify all involved rolesDetermine all roles involved in the process. Use roles, not names or job titles — one person can hold multiple roles.
3
Assign RACI lettersAssign one or more RACI letters (R, A, C or I) to each process step-role combination. Every step must have exactly one A (Accountable) and at least one R (Responsible).
4
Validate for completeness and logicCheck that every step has an A, that R and A are not always the same person, and that C and I roles are not defined too broadly.

RACI, DACI and RASCI — what are the differences?

Method	Roles	Best for
RACI	Responsible · Accountable · Consulted · Informed	Operational business processes — the standard
DACI	Driver · Approver · Contributor · Informed	Decision-making and projects; Driver combines R+A
RASCI	Responsible · Accountable · Supportive · Consulted · Informed	Large project teams where support is a separate role

For most business processes, RACI is the best choice. DACI suits one-off decisions better.

Frequently asked questions

What does RACI stand for?

RACI stands for Responsible, Accountable, Consulted and Informed. Each letter represents a role someone holds for a given task or process step.

How do you create a RACI matrix?

List all process steps as rows and all involved roles as columns. Assign one or more RACI letters to each combination. Every step must have exactly one A (Accountable) and at least one R (Responsible).

What is the difference between RACI and RASCI?

RASCI adds an 'S' (Supportive) for roles that assist without being accountable. RACI is the most widely used variant for business process documentation.

What is the difference between RACI and DACI?

DACI uses Driver, Approver, Contributor and Informed. The Driver combines R and A from RACI; the Approver is the sole decision-maker. DACI suits decision-making and projects; RACI is the standard for operational business processes.

Can a process step have multiple Accountable persons?

No. RACI requires exactly one A per step. If two people share accountability, in practice nobody is accountable. Assign one A and make the other C or I.

How often should you update a RACI matrix?

With every change to the process or organisational structure. Review it at least annually and after reorganisations, mergers or introduction of new roles.

See this concept in action

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📚External reference: Wikipedia: Responsibility Assignment Matrix ↗