A RACI matrix example shows who is responsible, accountable, consulted and informed for each task in a project. The grid lists tasks down the side and people across the top. Each cell holds one letter. The core rule: every task gets exactly one accountable person.
| Letter | Role | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| R | Responsible | Does the work |
| A | Accountable | Owns the result and signs off |
| C | Consulted | Gives input before the work is done |
| I | Informed | Gets an update after decisions or delivery |
Need someone to build and run your RACI matrix? A remote project coordinator from Exec Assistants sets up your RACI, tracks owners and keeps every stakeholder updated.
What Is a RACI Matrix?
A RACI matrix is a type of responsibility assignment matrix (RAM). It maps project tasks to the people involved and gives each person a clear role. PMI’s PMBOK Guide lists the RACI chart as a standard tool for planning resources and roles.
The matrix answers four questions for every task. Who does it? Who owns it? Who needs a say? Who needs to know?
The Four RACI Roles Explained
- Responsible: The person who completes the task. A task can have more than one responsible person.
- Accountable: The single person who owns the outcome and approves the work. Each task has exactly one.
- Consulted: Subject experts who give input before or during the work. Communication runs both ways.
- Informed: People who receive updates. Communication runs one way.
Responsible vs Accountable
The responsible person does the work. The accountable person answers for it. On small tasks, one person can hold both roles. The matrix then shows “A/R” in a single cell.
Why Role Clarity Matters
Unclear roles slow projects and drain teams. Research on group behavior explains why.
The Ringelmann Effect and Social Loafing
French engineer Maximilien Ringelmann found in 1913 that people pulled a rope with less effort per person as the group grew, a pattern now called the Ringelmann effect. Psychologist Bibb Latané and colleagues later named this pattern social loafing (1979). When effort feels shared, each person gives less.
Diffusion of Responsibility
John Darley and Bibb Latané showed in 1968 that people act more slowly when others are present, because each assumes someone else will step in. Psychologists call this diffusion of responsibility. Projects suffer the same effect. A task “owned by the team” often belongs to nobody.
A RACI matrix counters both effects. It puts one name on every outcome.
Engagement and Clear Expectations
Gallup reported in April 2026 that global employee engagement fell to 20% in 2025, down from a peak of 23% in 2022. Gallup has long listed “I know what is expected of me at work” as the first element of engagement. A RACI matrix writes those expectations down.
RACI Matrix Example: Website Redesign Project
Here is a full RACI matrix example for a small-business website redesign. The team includes a founder, a marketing lead, a designer, a developer and a project coordinator.
| Task | Founder | Marketing lead | Designer | Developer | Project coordinator |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Set goals and budget | A/R | C | I | I | I |
| Build project plan and timeline | A | C | C | C | R |
| Write site content | I | A/R | C | I | I |
| Design page layouts | C | A | R | C | I |
| Build and test pages | I | C | C | A/R | I |
| Track tasks and deadlines | I | I | I | I | A/R |
| Run weekly status meeting | I | C | C | C | A/R |
| Approve launch | A | C | C | R | I |
| Send launch announcement | I | A/R | I | I | C |
How to Read This Example
Read across a row to see who does what for one task. Read down a column to see one person’s full workload. The founder holds the “A” on goals, the plan and launch approval. The project coordinator holds the “R” on planning, tracking and meetings.
What This Example Gets Right
- One A per row: Every task has a single owner.
- At least one R per row: Every task has someone doing the work.
- Limited C’s: Only people with real input get consulted, which keeps decisions fast.
- A clear coordinator role: Tracking and meetings sit with one person, so follow-up happens.
More RACI Matrix Examples
RACI Matrix Example: Marketing Campaign
| Task | CMO | Campaign manager | Copywriter | Designer | Sales lead |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Approve campaign brief | A | R | C | C | C |
| Write ad copy | I | A | R | C | I |
| Create visuals | I | A | C | R | I |
| Launch ads | I | A/R | I | I | I |
| Report results | I | A/R | I | I | I |
RACI Matrix Example: Product Launch
| Task | CEO | Product lead | Engineering lead | Marketing lead | Project coordinator |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Set launch date | A | R | C | C | I |
| Finish features | I | A | R | I | I |
| Write release notes | I | A | C | R | I |
| Track launch checklist | I | A | I | I | R |
| Announce launch | C | C | I | A/R | I |
RACI Matrix Example: Hiring a New Team Member
| Task | Founder | Hiring manager | Recruiter | Team member | Project coordinator |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Approve the role and budget | A/R | C | I | I | I |
| Write the job description | I | A | R | C | I |
| Screen candidates | I | A | R | I | I |
| Schedule interviews | I | A | C | I | R |
| Make the offer | A | R | C | I | I |
Our project coordinator job description and interview questions help with the “write” and “screen” rows.
RACI Matrix Template
Copy this blank template into a spreadsheet or your project management tool.
| Task or deliverable | Person 1 | Person 2 | Person 3 | Person 4 | Person 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Task 1 | |||||
| Task 2 | |||||
| Task 3 | |||||
| Task 4 | |||||
| Task 5 |
Add a column for roles if names change often. Use role titles such as “Designer” in the header and keep a separate list of who fills each role.
When to Use a RACI Matrix
A RACI matrix earns its place on some projects more than others. Use one when:
- Several teams share the work: Handoffs between marketing, sales and engineering need clear owners.
- Outside parties are involved: Vendors, clients and advisors need to know their role.
- Approvals slow you down: A clear A on each decision speeds sign-off.
- The team is new or remote: People who work across time zones need written expectations. Our guide to managing a remote assistant covers the basics.
For a two-person task inside one team, a simple task board with an owner field is enough.
How to Build a RACI Matrix in Different Tools
Excel and Google Sheets
Put tasks in rows and people in columns. Add a data validation dropdown with A, R, C, I and A/R. Use conditional formatting to color each letter, so overloaded columns stand out.
Smartsheet and Monday.com
Create a sheet or board with a column per person and a dropdown for the RACI letter. Link each task to the project timeline so owners see due dates.
Notion and Confluence
Build a simple table on the project page next to the plan and the RAID log. This keeps every project document in one place.
How to Build a RACI Matrix in 6 Steps
Step 1: List the Tasks
Start from your work breakdown structure (WBS). List deliverables and major tasks. Leave small actions on the task board. Most projects need 10 to 25 rows.
Step 2: List the People or Roles
Add every person or role that touches the project. Include outside parties such as vendors, clients or legal advisors.
Step 3: Assign the A First
Give each task one accountable owner. If two people both claim the A, escalate the choice to the project sponsor.
Step 4: Add the R, C and I
Add who does the work, who gives input and who needs updates. Keep the C list short.
Step 5: Check the Rules
Scan each row and column. Fix rows with no A, two A’s or no R. Fix columns where one person holds too many R’s.
Step 6: Share and Review
Share the matrix at kickoff and get agreement from every person on it. Review it at each phase gate or when the team changes. Our guide to meeting preparation shows how to run a clean kickoff.
RACI Matrix Rules
Rules for Each Row
- Exactly one A: Two owners create confusion and delay.
- At least one R: Someone must do the work.
- Few C’s: Each extra consultation adds delay.
Rules for Each Column
- Watch overload: A person with many R’s may be a bottleneck.
- Watch empty columns: A person with no letters can come off the project roster.
- Watch all I’s: If a person only receives updates, move them to a distribution list.
The Communication Load Behind the Rules
Fred Brooks showed in “The Mythical Man-Month” (1975) that a team of n people has n(n-1)/2 communication channels. A 10-person team has 45. Every C in a RACI matrix opens another two-way channel. Limiting C’s keeps the communication load under control.
RACI Variations
Several models build on RACI. Each fits a different team style.
RASCI
RASCI adds Supportive. Supportive people help the responsible person, often with resources or specialist skills.
RACI-VS
RACI-VS adds Verifier, who checks the work against standards, and Signatory, who formally approves it. This version suits regulated industries.
CAIRO
CAIRO adds Out of the loop. It names people who should stay out of the task, which reduces noise.
DACI
DACI stands for Driver, Approver, Contributors and Informed. Teams use it for decisions more than tasks. Atlassian promotes DACI in its public Team Playbook.
RAPID
RAPID stands for Recommend, Agree, Perform, Input and Decide. Paul Rogers and Marcia Blenko of Bain & Company introduced it in the Harvard Business Review in 2006. It focuses on who holds the final decision.
Different Views on RACI Matrices
Practitioners disagree on how useful RACI is.
The Structured View
Supporters say RACI prevents duplicate work, missed tasks and blame. It suits cross-functional projects, client work and any project with outside vendors.
The Agile View
Some Agile teams say RACI feels rigid. The Scrum Guide (2020) gives the Product Owner, Scrum Master and Developers fixed accountabilities, so those teams rarely need a separate matrix inside the sprint.
The Practical Middle View
Many teams use a light RACI for cross-team handoffs and approvals only. They skip it for routine work inside one team. Most Exec Assistants clients follow this approach.
Common RACI Matrix Mistakes
- Two A’s on one task: Shared ownership leads to finger-pointing.
- Too many C’s: Decisions stall while everyone weighs in.
- Tasks too small: A 200-row matrix is impossible to maintain.
- Built once, never updated: Teams change, so the matrix must change too.
- Kept private: Share the matrix at kickoff so every person sees their letters.
Who Maintains the RACI Matrix?
The project manager owns the RACI matrix and settles disputes over the A. The project coordinator usually builds the first draft, keeps it current and uses it to route updates. Our guide on project coordinator vs project manager explains this split.
A coordinator also links the RACI to other project tools. Risk owners in the RAID log should match the A’s in the RACI. Meeting invites and status reports should follow the C’s and I’s.
Hand off the RACI and the follow-up. Exec Assistants recruits vetted, full-time remote project coordinators from the Philippines and South Africa. Salaries start from $1,000 a month, plus a one-time $1,997 recruitment fee. See our remote project coordinator salary guide, see pricing or hire a project coordinator.
RACI for Executive Work
RACI works beyond projects. Executives use the same logic to decide which work to keep, delegate or drop. Our CEO delegation matrix applies one-owner thinking to a leader’s weekly workload.
Example: Founder and Executive Assistant RACI
| Task | Founder | Executive assistant |
|---|---|---|
| Set quarterly priorities | A/R | I |
| Manage calendar | A | R |
| Prepare meeting briefs | I | A/R |
| Approve expenses | A/R | C |
| Track project follow-ups | I | A/R |
This simple grid shows where a founder’s time goes and which tasks an executive assistant can own outright.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a RACI matrix in simple terms?
A RACI matrix is a grid that shows who does each task, who owns it, who gives input and who gets updates.
Can a task have two accountable people?
Each task needs exactly one accountable person. If two people share the A, split the task into two smaller tasks.
Can one person be both responsible and accountable?
Yes. On small tasks, one person often does the work and owns the result. Mark the cell “A/R.”
What is the difference between consulted and informed?
Consulted people give input before or during the work, so communication runs both ways. Informed people receive updates after decisions, so communication runs one way.
What tools can I use to build a RACI matrix?
Excel and Google Sheets work well. Teams also build RACI views in Smartsheet, Notion, Confluence and Monday.com. Our guide to project management tools compares the options.
Get a Project Coordinator in 7 to 10 Days
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