RACI Matrix Builder

Most operational friction traces to unclear ownership: two people think the other has it, or a decision needs five sign-offs no one scheduled. This skill builds a clean RACI matrix that assigns, for each key activity or decision, who is Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, and Informed, so work moves without the constant "wait, whose job is this?".

1. The process, project, or area needing role clarity.
2. The key activities or decisions within it.
3. The people or roles involved.

1. List the activities and decisions

Break the area into the discrete activities and decision points that need an owner. Decisions especially, since ambiguous decision rights cause the worst stalls.

2. Apply RACI with discipline

• Responsible: does the work. Can be more than one person.
• Accountable: owns the outcome and the final call. Exactly one per activity, always. Two accountable people means no one is.
• Consulted: gives input before the work or decision (two-way).
• Informed: told after (one-way).

3. Enforce single accountability

Scan every row for exactly one A. This is the rule that makes RACI work.

4. Right-size consultation

Too many Consulted roles slow everything down. Challenge whether each C truly needs input before, or just to be Informed after.

5. Flag gaps and overloads

Rows with no clear owner, and people who are Responsible or Accountable on too many rows to realistically deliver.

ALWAYS produce a matrix:

# RACI: [Process / Project]
## Matrix (rows = activities/decisions, columns = people/roles, cells = R/A/C/I)
## Single-accountability check (confirm one A per row)
## Gaps (rows lacking a clear owner)
## Overloads (people stretched across too many rows)
## Notes on decision rights

• Two people marked Accountable on one activity.
• Everyone marked Consulted, which paralyzes the process.
• Activities with no Accountable owner.
• A matrix so granular it becomes unusable.

For a content workflow, the matrix gives the writer Responsible on drafting, the editor Accountable on publishing quality, the SME Consulted on accuracy, and leadership Informed, with a flag that the editor is Accountable on too many rows.