One of the most common mistakes when it comes to strategy implementation is that responsibilities are not clearly defined. Employees are not sure what is expected of them or simply assume that someone else will do the job. Often with the result that goals are not achieved fully, not at all, or not within the desired time frame. Trouble and frustration are inevitable. Yet, this mistake can easily be avoided. Responsibility matrices, such as the RACI Matrix, help organizations to clearly define, communicate, and document roles and responsibilities.
The RACI Matrix distinguishes between four types of responsibilities:
The RACI Matrix typically lists the tasks as row headers in the left hand column and the roles as column headers. In the cells, responsibilities are indicated with the corresponding letter. This way, responsibilities can be assigned and visualized very accurately.
Variants of the RACI Matrix include RASCI (S = supportive), RACI-VS or VARISC (V = verify/person who checks whether agreed standards have been met), and CAIRO or RACIO (O = omitted/person who is specifically not part of the task). However, the RACI Matrix is most commonly used. In our strategic intelligence software, all kinds of responsibility matrixes can be visualized.
The RACI Matrix is a simple, yet effective tool to define the roles and responsibilities of a team of people responsible for implementing a project or process. It improves team communication and coordination leading to increased efficiency and effectiveness.
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