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the project. A RACI is usually depicted as a chart with resource names (or the
individual names of team members) listed in each row and work elements such as
milestones or work packages listed as the columns. Indicators in the intersections show
where the resources are needed.
Table 6.2 shows a RACI chart for a conference event project team. In this example, the
RACI chart shows the level of accountability each of the participants has on the project.
The letters in the acronym RACI are the designations shown in the chart.
TABLE 6.2 Sample RACI chart
Olga Rae Charlie Lolita
Hotel conference rooms R A C C/I
Food and snack service C/I C I A/R
Speaker contracts C I R A
*R = Responsible, A = Accountable, C = Consult, I = Inform
R = Responsible for performing the work
A = Accountable, the one who is responsible for producing the deliverable or work
package and approves or signs off on the work
C = Consulted, someone who has input to the work or decisions
I = Informed, someone who must be informed of the decisions or results
In this example, Olga is responsible for booking and assigning the hotel conference
rooms, but Rae is accountable and is the one who must make sure this task is
completed and approved. Charlie is responsible for securing speakers, but Lolita is
accountable for making sure this task is completed. Charlie also needs to be consulted
regarding hotel conference rooms so that speakers are assigned to a room large enough
to hold the projected number of attendees. Lolita is responsible and accountable for
the food and snack service and needs to be consulted and informed about the hotel
conference room task.
This is a great tool because it shows at a glance not only where a resource is working
but what the resource’s responsibility level is on the project.
Roles and Responsibilities
A roles and responsibilities document lists each group or individual team member on
the project and their responsibilities. But roles and responsibilities of project team
members are more than just the assigned tasks. There are standards and
methodologies to be adhered to, documentation to be completed, and time-reporting
responsibilities, to name a few. So in addition to assigning people to tasks, it is a good
idea to develop a template to document roles and responsibilities beyond just the task
assignment. The more clarity around who is responsible for what, the better. We
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