# RACI: definition, example and 9 best practices.

A RACI says who does what. Here is its definition (R/A/C/I), a concrete example, the 9 best practices of a clear RACI — and how Maestro generates it from your procedures.

## What is a RACI?

For each activity, a RACI describes **who does what** across four roles: **R**esponsible (does the work), **A**ccountable (answers for the result), **C**onsulted (is consulted), **I**nformed (is kept informed). It is the simplest tool for clearing up the "I thought that was your job".

| Activity | R | A | C | I |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Write the procedure | Subject-matter expert | Quality lead | Ops | Management |
| Approve | Quality lead | Management | — | Team |
| Train on the job | Manager | HR / L&D | Expert | Quality |

## The 9 best practices of a clear RACI

The rules Maestro applies — and checks automatically — every time it generates a RACI.

### One activity = one action verb

Each row starts with a verb + a business object ("Set the parameters"), never a noun label ("The parameters"). Aim for 1 to 5 activities per phase.

### Separate activities from business rules

An obligation, a prohibition, a condition, a frequency or a parameter is not an activity: isolate it as a business rule, linked to the activity concerned.

### A single R per activity

One and only one Responsible carries out the activity. Need two? Create a dedicated role.

### A single A per activity

A single Accountable answers for the result — ideally the same one across a whole phase. Several As: to be settled.

### The I informs the next R

The Informed alerts the Responsible for the downstream activity. It is not permanent oversight of the whole column.

### The C is occasional

The Consulted contributes at a given moment, not through continuous follow-up: a C present on too many activities is suspicious.

### A role, not a group

A RACI role designates an identified person — not a team, a committee, a service or a department.

### A reachable role

The label specifies a contact scope (team, site, line, on-call rota, directory): you must be able to reach the person, literally.

### When in doubt, the R closest to the shop floor

If two roles compete for the R, it goes to the more junior one — the one who executes. For two genuine responsibilities, create two roles.

## Why a RACI, and not a BPM chart?

A RACI is understood by everyone, in two minutes. Above all, it is **the backbone that links** documentation, responsibilities and training: one activity points to its procedure and to the learning path of the role concerned. Where BPM produces expert modelling, a RACI produces execution.

## Generate a RACI from your documents

Maestro reads your procedures, identifies the activities and proposes an R/A/C/I role assignment per activity. You validate or adjust; the RACI stays **linked to the documentation and to the training**, and can align a local site with corporate rules. No over-engineering: a clear, actionable RACI, kept up to date.

## Explore Maestro

[Pillar page: simplify your procedures](https://maestro.sinfony.ai/en/simplify-procedures/)[BPM alternative](https://maestro.sinfony.ai/en/bpm-alternative/)[How to simplify your procedures](https://maestro.sinfony.ai/en/how-to-simplify-procedures/)[Pricing](https://maestro.sinfony.ai/en/#offres)

## Your questions

### What do R, A, C, I stand for?

Responsible (carries out the task), Accountable (answers for it, a single person), Consulted (gives input), Informed (is kept in the loop).

### What are the best practices for a good RACI?

Nine principles: activities as action verbs; separate activities from business rules; a single R; a single A; the I informs the next R; the C stays occasional; a role (not a group); a reachable role; and, when in doubt, the R closest to the shop floor.

### Do you need a BPM tool to build a RACI?

No. A RACI stands on its own and stays readable by everyone. Maestro generates it from your procedures, with no BPMN modelling.

### What does Maestro generate the RACI from?

From your existing procedures — or, where there are none, from your experts' knowledge captured in interviews.

### Can several sites be aligned?

Yes: the RACI links corporate rules to their local roll-out, site by site.

## Test Maestro on your own documents

A fixed-scope Flash Audit: you walk away with concrete simplification leads, produced by Maestro.