---
name: raci-matrix-builder
description: Build a RACI responsibility matrix so everyone knows who is Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, and Informed. Use this skill whenever a user needs to clarify roles and responsibilities, build a RACI or responsibility matrix, resolve who-owns-what confusion, or says 'who is responsible for what', 'build a RACI', or 'nobody knows who owns this'. Trigger whenever unclear ownership across people or teams is causing friction.
---

# RACI Matrix Builder

## What this does and why it matters
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?".

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

## Method

### 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.

## Output format
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

## Anti-patterns to avoid
- 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.

## Example
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.