RACI Chart for BAs

RACI chart for BAs is a responsibility assignment matrix that outlines who is Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, and Informed for key tasks or deliverables in a project or process. Here’s a sample RACI chart for Business Analysts (BAs) involved in a typical systems development project:

📊 Sample RACI Chart – Business Analyst Role

RACI Definitions:

• R = Responsible: The person who does the work to complete the task.
• A = Accountable: The person who is ultimately answerable for the correct and thorough completion of the deliverable.
• C = Consulted: People whose opinions are sought, typically subject-matter experts.
• I = Informed: People who are kept up-to-date on progress, often only on completion.

🔁 RACI Variants (with Added Characters)

1. RACI (Traditional)

• R = Responsible 👷‍♂️
• A = Accountable 👨‍💼
• C = Consulted 💬
• I = Informed 📢

2. RASCI (adds Support)

• R = Responsible 👷‍♂️
• A = Accountable 👨‍💼
• S = Support 🤝 (helps R complete the task)
• C = Consulted 💬
• I = Informed 📢

3. RACI-VS (adds Verification & Sign-off)

• R = Responsible 👷‍♂️
• A = Accountable 👨‍💼
• C = Consulted 💬
• I = Informed 📢
• V = Verifies 🧐 (checks whether deliverables meet criteria)
• S = Signs Off ✍️ (gives formal approval)

4. DACI (Decision-Making Variant)

• D = Driver 🚗 (leads and drives work)
• A = Approver ✅ (makes final decision)
• C = Contributor 🧠 (provides input)
• I = Informed 📢

5. CAIRO (Adds Out of the Loop)

• C = Consulted 💬
• A = Accountable 👨‍💼
• I = Informed 📢
• R = Responsible 👷‍♂️
• O = Out of the Loop 🚫 (explicitly not involved)

🔶 Using Shapes to Represent RACI Roles (For diagrams or dashboards)

You can use shapes or emojis for visual clarity:

✅ Example: Expanded RACI Chart with Characters (RASCI)

✅ Key Rules for a RACI Chart

1. Only One “A” per Row (Ideally)

• ✅ Rule: Every task (row) should have exactly one Accountable (A) person.
• 🎯 Why: This ensures clear ownership. If more than one person is accountable, no one really is.
• ⚠️ Exception: Some organizations allow more than one A, but it’s discouraged unless there’s a shared decision-making model.

2. At Least One “R” per Task

• ✅ Rule: Every task should have at least one Responsible (R).
• 🚫 No R? That means no one is doing the work.

3. Keep “C” and “I” Meaningful

• ✅ Consulted (C): Limit to a few roles. These are active contributors, not just casual observers.
• ✅ Informed (I): Include only those who need to know. Too many I’s clutters communication.

4. Avoid Too Many R’s

• ✅ Best practice: Limit to 1–3 Responsible (R) per task to avoid confusion.
• Too many R’s = unclear task execution.

5. Every Role Should Appear at Least Once

• ✅ Every role/person should be engaged in the chart, otherwise consider whether they are truly needed on the project.

6. Use RACI to Clarify, Not Confuse

• Don’t overcomplicate. Keep the chart readable, logical, and agreed upon by the team.

🧮 Quick Summary Table of Rules

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