Stakeholder Analysis: Assigning RACI Responsibility

Stakeholder analysis is a required activity of any project engagement.

According to Wikipedia, stakeholder analysis is the process of identifying the individuals or groups that are likely to affect or be affected by a proposed action, and sorting them according to their impact on the action and the impact the action will have on them. A RACI categorization is often used for clarifying what stakeholder’s roles and responsibilities are in a context of a specific task or process.

RACI is an acronym that stands for Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, and Informed. The RACI categorization provides clarification of responsibilities that each party plays in relation with activities that are needed to be performed and decisions that have to be accomplished.

Responsible: Does the work to achieve the task

• Person who perform a task/activity; refer to the doer, responsible for action/implementation
• The degree of responsibility is defined by the Accountable person
• Responsibility can be shared and delegated

Accountable: Has authority to approve or disapprove the result

• Person who has ultimate accountability and authority
• Only one accountable “A” to each task/activity
• Accountability cannot be delegated

Consulted: Possesses needed input to the task

• Person to be consulted before a final decision or action is taken
• Refers to a two-way communication

Informed: Needs to be informed of the result

• Person that needs to be informed after a decision or action is taken
• Refer to a one way communication

RACI Matrix

Responsibility charting in a RACI matrix is straightforward:

1. Identify all of the activities involved and list them at the left hand side of the matrix
2. Identify all of the roles involved and list them along the top of the matrix
3. Complete the cells of the matrix: identify who has the R, A, C, I responsibility for each activities