A responsibility assignment matrix (RAM) in project management is a key document that distinguishes stakeholders’ roles and responsibilities. The RACI chart is the most popular example of a RAM that clarifies stakeholders’ roles and defines their involvement.

RACI stands for Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, and Informed. Each team member in the RACI chart has at least one role.

All stakeholders refer to RAM in case of conflict regarding the roles and responsibilities in assignments or duties. RAM helps reduce conflict in projects to a great extent. Using this document, every team member will know their roles and the responsibilities of other team members.

The roles in the RACI matrix are as follows:

  • Responsible: This stakeholder is responsible for completing the task.
  • Accountable: This stakeholder is accountable for the task. They will make decisions and delegate work to the stakeholders who are responsible for completing the task.
  • Consulted: These stakeholders will be consulted on any decisions made about the task.
  • Informed: These stakeholders only require an updated status report on the progress of the task.

Responsibility Assignment Matrix Example

As I said, the RACI chart is the most popular example of RAM.

The table below shows the RAM example using the RACI chart:

Example of Responsibility Assignment Matrix
Example of Responsibility Assignment Matrix

Some other less-popular responsibility assignment matrix examples are as follows:

  • RASCI Chart: This chart is also known as the “RASCI matrix,” as the letter S is added, which means “supportive.” 
  • DACI Chart: DACI stands for “Driver, Approver, Contributor, and Informed.” 
  • RAPID Chart: RAPID stands for “Recommend, Agree, Perform, Input, and Decide.” 
  • CARS: CARS stands for “Communicate, Approval, Responsible, and Support.” 
  • CLAM: CLAM stands for “Contribute, Lead, Approve, and Monitor.” 

Responsibility Assignment Matrix Template

The table below shows the basic template for the responsibility assignment matrix.

Responsibility Assignment Matrix Template
Responsibility Assignment Matrix Template

Summary

RAM is a key tool in project management. It helps the project manager assign roles and responsibilities. Additionally, it ensures that the team stays on its path and that no one interferes with each other’s roles. Finally, RAM ensures that every task has responsible and accountable stakeholders assigned to it.

This topic is important from a PMP exam point of view.

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Fahad Usmani, PMP

I am Mohammad Fahad Usmani, B.E. PMP, PMI-RMP. I have been blogging on project management topics since 2011. To date, thousands of professionals have passed the PMP exam using my resources.