I didn't realize how important one of the trainings I had attended in Juniper some years ago, would and could actually help me not only in my work but its applicability to many other situations outside of work.
If practiced correctly, it can really help people in getting clarity on what they need to do and become a lot more effective in their various roles.
R = Responsible - owns the problem / project
Responsible - these people are the “doers” of the work. They must complete the task or objective or make the decision. Several people can be jointly responsible.
This is the person, or group, who is responsible for performing a task. Bear in mind the old adage that when nobody is responsible for getting something done then nothing gets done. Also, a similar situation can occur when too many people are potentially responsible with little to no coordination and oversight to ensure that the task is completed. Another issue to consider is when a person has lots of “R’s”. Are they doing too much?
A = to whom "R" is Accountable - who must sign off (Approve) on work before it is effective
Accountable - this person is the “owner” of the work. He or she must sign off or approve when the task, objective or decision is complete. This person must make sure that responsibilities are assigned in the matrix for all related activities. There is only one person accountable, which means that “the buck stops there.”
This is the person who is held accountable for the task being complete. In some cases, risks can be managed by segregating the responsible and accountable roles. In general, one person should be accountable for a task being performed. At the same time, if a person is accountable for most of the steps in a procedure, one must consider if there is a segregation of duties issue wherein the person(s) control an excessive amount of the procedure.
( S = can be Supportive ) - can provide resources or can play a supporting role in implementation
Some groups add this in as a fifth responsibility. “S” identifies a person or group who provide resources for a task to be completed. When charts include this category, they are referred to as “RASCI charts” but otherwise are identical to RACI charts.
C = to be Consulted - has information and/or capability necessary to complete the work
Consulted - these are the people who need to give input before the work can be done and signed-off on. These people are “in the loop” and active participants.
These are the people communicated with prior to a task being performed. Essentially, their input is sought after and factored in prior to action taking place. As the number of parties consulted with increases, the speed with which action can be taken decreases. Conversely, too few and improper decisions may be made
I = to be Informed - must be notified of results, but need not be consulted
Informed - these people need to be kept “in the picture.” They need updates on progress or decision, but they do not need to be formally consulted, nor do they contribute directly to the task or decision.
These are the parties who are notified about a task after it has been performed. If the correct parties aren’t informed in some situations, then incidents can arise from groups wondering what changed. At the same time, if there are lots of people being informed, is it necessary?
