RACI Matrix

Plan

Make it clear who does what.

A pharmaceutical company’s internal comms team planned to launch a health literacy campaign for employees. To avoid overlap and confusion, they built a RACI matrix. For each task—like writing content, designing visuals, and sending email blasts—they assigned roles. Sharing the matrix early helped clear up assumptions—no one waited for approvals that weren’t theirs, and nothing slipped through.

Steps

1. Identify everyone participating in the project—those doing the work, approving it, giving input, or needing updates.

2. Write down the main tasks and milestones. Keep it simple—clarity is better than an overly detailed list.

3. Assign the RACI roles to each task:

   • Responsible: The person who actually does the work. Only one per task.

   • Accountable: The person who approves the final result. Also only one.

   • Consulted: People who need to give input before the work is done. Can be several.

   • Informed: People who need updates on progress, but don’t directly contribute.

4. Go over the matrix with everyone involved to make sure roles are clear and agreed upon before work begins.

Based on the ideas of Edmond F. Sheehan (1950s).

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