Brief on RACI Concept

What is RACI
Responsible
ThisPosition/PersonwhoholdstheRistheonewhowill
makesurethattheworkgetsdone.
Ifnothinghappens,heisaccountableforFAILUREOF
ACTION.
IfyouhaveanRforapieceofwork,youshouldaskyourself
questionslike,
WhenwillIhavetimetodothiswork?
Whatkindsofresourceswillittake?
Whenisitdue?
Whatistheimplicationonproject,timescheduleandcost?

What is RACI
Accountable
This position/person is ultimately responsible for ensuring completion of a
function, activity or decision, but may delegate responsibility to another
person(Maybefromotherdepartmentalso,withtheirconsent).
Onlyonepositionshouldbeaccountableforeveryactionordecision
The A role holds the AUTHORITY in the system, and must approve a
decisionordetermineifaparticulartaskhasbeendonewell.
They are accountable for the quality of the work or the quality of the
decisions that are taken. However, best practices adopted in the similar
industries(bestacrossglobe)tobereviewedbeforetakingfinaldecision.
Ifnothinghappens,heisaccountable for FAILURES OF JUDGMENT.
He shall be worrying about whether or not he made the right choice,
hired the right person, delegated a task to the right resource etc. Can
any alternate be planned to reduce cost and time (where ever possible)?

What is RACI

Consulted

Thisposition/personisinvolvedpriortoadecisionoraction

takingplace.(shouldbeaintegralparttillfinaldecisionismade)
ApersonisgivenaCroleiftheyhaveaparticularknowledge
orexpertisetoCONTRIBUTEtothedecisionorthetask
HemustbeincludedBEFOREthedecisionismade.
GivingaCCine-mailmaymeanheisconsultedforopinion.
Heisaccountableforthequalityoftheadvicehegives.
Ifnothinghappens,heisaccountable for FAILURES OF
EXPERTISE.
Heshallbeworryingifhegavesomeonetherightcounsel.

What is RACI

Informed

Thisposition/personistoldofanoutcomeofanactivityordecision
afterwards
Thisroleistheleastparticipative,becauseIs getinformedafterthefact.
ButevenIsareaccountablebecausetheyneedtoactivelyabsorbthe
informationthatscomingatthem.
Ifanemailblastgoesoutorsomethingiscommunicatedatastaffmeeting,
itsnotappropriateforanItosayNobodytoldmeaboutthat.
Thinkingcarefullyaboutwhoneedstoknowaboutactionsanddecisionsis
veryimportantbeforeinforminganyone.
SometimesInformedpersonsactuallyneedtoexecuteandperform
Theysharesomeaccountability for FAILURES OF COMMUNICATION.
MarkingCCinmailmaymeanConsultedorCommunicatedorboth?

RACI Guidelines
Points to be considered before making RACI Matrix:
ForLongterm/regularactivitiesFocusontheposition,notonthe
individualcurrentlyoccupyingthepositionandputthedesignation/position
intheRACIMatrix
ForShortterm/specialtasksfocusonthepersonandputnameofthe
personintheRACIMatrix.
Ensure the level of detail is appropriate to the positions on the RACI.
WeshouldhavecascadingRACIsfromtheseniorteamdowntothe
individualcontributorlevel
TheRACIshouldberevisitedandtestedregularlyasbusinessconditions
change
ThefirstRACIwillbeaniterativeprocess,andmaynot100%accurateat
first.Furtherrefinementisencouraged

RACI Guidelines
Points to be considered before making RACI Matrix:
Place accountability (A) and responsibility (R) at the lowest feasible
level
There can be only one accountability (A) per activity
For Every Activity there shall be one R & A. There may not be C&I
MinimizethenumberofConsults(C)andInforms(I)
Avoidlistingmundaneactivitieslike'attendmeetings

Precautions to be taken when RACI is made involving Cross

Functional Team and Top Management:
1.Take consent of the other departmental head/Person whom R or
A is assigned,beforeputtingthenamesofthepersonsfromtheir
departmentorgettheRACIMatrixvetted/agreedbytheother
departmentalheads.
2.Incaseofdisputethemattertobereferredtothehigherauthority,
whomboththedepartmentsarereporting.
3.In some cases the R & A can be with same persons. Fewtypical
examplesareasbelow:
ProfitabilityofaBusinessUnitBUHead/CEO
CostofProcurementHeadofProcurement
SellingPriceperunitofproductsoldHeadofMarketing
RecruitmentCostHeadofHR

Precautions to be taken when RACI is made involving Cross

Functional Team and Top Management:
In some cases the R can be with 2 or 3 persons,butyoucantrytoget
ittooneRbybreakingtheactivitytosub-activities.Fewtypicalexamples
aregivenbelow:
SafetywillberesponsibilityofSafetyOfficerandConcernedHOD,.To
bringclarityyoucanbreakto2sub-activitieslike
DevelopingSafetyrelatedSOPsRiswithSafetyOfficer,Cmay
bewithHOD
ImplementingSafetySOPRiswithHOD
MonitoringSafetyPracticesRiswithSafetyOfficer.

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