{"id":320,"date":"2017-02-10T04:11:57","date_gmt":"2017-02-10T04:11:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/modusoperandi.debroucker.com\/?p=320"},"modified":"2017-02-10T04:11:57","modified_gmt":"2017-02-10T04:11:57","slug":"rasci-matrix","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/nonsolumdata.com\/modusoperandi\/2017\/02\/rasci-matrix\/","title":{"rendered":"An Academic’s Guide to Defining Roles with RASCI"},"content":{"rendered":"

In project management, it’s key that every team member working on the project has clearly defined roles. RASCI (or RACI) is a responsibility assignment matrix, i.e.<\/em> a table that combines the roles for a task and the people involved in the project.<\/p>\n

RASCI defines who does what, when, where and with whom<\/em>.<\/a><\/p>\n

Beyond keeping people accountable, RASCI\u00a0\/ RACI also puts the project in perspective and allows team members to engage and consult the right people at the right time.<\/p>\n

It helps everyone<\/strong> be a master of their time and feel in control of their share of the project.<\/p>\n

Together, let’s see the different RASCI roles and how they apply in academia.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Definition of the roles in a RASCI<\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

In brief,<\/p>\n

R<\/span>esponsible<\/strong>: executes the task | \uf005<\/span>\u00a0 Person leading the task<\/strong><\/span>
\nA<\/span>ccountable<\/strong>: do the final sign-off | \uf005<\/span>\u00a0 Person\/people highly engaged in the task<\/strong><\/span>
\nS<\/span>upportive<\/strong>: do the final sign-off | \uf005<\/span> Person\/people engaged in the task<\/strong><\/span>
\nC<\/span>onsulted<\/strong>: do the final sign-off | \uf123<\/span>\u00a0 Person\/people with limited engagement in the task<\/strong><\/span>
\nI<\/span>nformed<\/strong>: do the final sign-off | \uf006<\/span>\u00a0 Person\/people with no engagement in the task<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

R<\/span>esponsible and A<\/span>ccountable<\/h3>\n

\uf140<\/span>\u00a0 Who is responsible to execute the task?\u00a0 Who gets the final sign-off?
\n<\/em><\/big><\/p>\n

\uf005<\/span>\u00a0 Person\/people most engaged in the task<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Each task should have someone in charge<\/strong> to move a task along, even if it involves the work of several people. This person will execute the task and be considered responsible<\/em> for it.<\/p>\n

Now, the person who executes the task may not be the one who does the “final sign-off”<\/strong>, i.e.<\/em> who determines whether the deliverable is acceptable (or needs more work) and the task is completed. The person or the people who do the final sign-off are considered accountable<\/em> for the task and they decide whether the team can proceed to the next task.<\/p>\n

One person can be both responsible and accountable for one task, but this distinction in roles can prove useful to respect the hierarchy in organizations.<\/p>\n

The best example<\/strong> to illustrate this difference: when a researcher asks a research assistant to find key articles on a particular topic. The student is responsible<\/strong><\/em> for the task and will perform the article search and prepare a report on it, while the researcher is accountable<\/em> <\/strong>and will review the articles found and provide feedback.<\/p>\n

\uf0eb<\/span>\u00a0 I recommend limiting the role of responsible<\/em> to one person to avoid any confusion on who leads the task. Use the supportive<\/em> role to highlight anyone else who needs to be involved in this task.<\/p>\n

\uf0eb<\/span>\u00a0 It’s also a good idea to limit the number of people accountable<\/em> for a task to avoid conflicts in feedback and excessively long decision-making.<\/p>\n

\n

S<\/span>upportive<\/h3>\n

\uf140<\/span>\u00a0 Who is expected to provide support?
\n<\/em><\/big><\/p>\n

\uf005<\/span> Person\/people engaged in the task (engagement defined by person responsible<\/em>)
\n<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

A task may need the coordinated work of several people. The person who is responsible<\/em> will coordinate everyone’s effort and the people who are supportive<\/em> will need to be available and contribute to the task as requested.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0supportive<\/em><\/strong> role applies well in the following situations:<\/p>\n