RACI is a simple way to clarify who does what in a project or business process.
It stands for:
- R — Responsible: Does the work.
- A — Accountable: Owns the outcome and makes the final decision. Ideally, there is one A for each task.
- C — Consulted: Gives input before a decision or action.
- I — Informed: Kept updated but doesn’t need to approve or contribute.
Example: SAP demand implementation
| Activity | Business requester | Business process owner | SAP/IT team | Approver |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Describe the need | R | A | C | I |
| Assess the business impact | C | A/R | C | I |
| Estimate the SAP solution | I | C | A/R | I |
| Approve the demand | I | C | C | A |
| Implement and test | C | A | R | I |
For example, if a team requests a new SAP report, the requester explains the need, the process owner confirms it is useful, the SAP team estimates and implements it, and the designated approver authorizes the work.
The exact roles vary by company, but a RACI helps prevent confusion, duplicated work, or decisions with no clear owner.