In almost every situation under the sun, having clearly defined and delineated roles allows people to thrive. In the same way that private property allowed people the ability to focus on their tiny slice of the world and build unparalleled riches, having clearly defined responsibilities and obligations make clear what the keys to success are, and how people can meet them.
The RACI matrix in essence is a tool to do just that. You start by compiling a list of the different responsibilities/requirements of the project, and the applicable parties. From there, you matrix these two lists, and label each of the columns with the appropriate letter, Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, Informed.
Each letter represents a different type of role. Those who are responsible are those who ultimately complete the role. These people are overseen by those accountable for the results. Typically, the one’s accountable for completing the task must consult with stakeholders, and verify that what they’re doing meets the goals that the stakeholders want out of the given project. Finally, those who are informed are ancillary people who may need to understand the dependencies, but may have no specific obligations.
Having a document that outlines who’s responsible for what, and to what extent allows people to understand their roles in service of a broader system. This can prevent fights about who is responsible later so that it’s clear who determines success criteria early on, rather than ad-hoc when problems arise. It’s hard to point fingers when they’re attached to clear information.
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