Streamline Your Website Build with a RACI Matrix: Clear Responsibilities and Smooth Project Delivery

Published on 05 January 2023

Photo by Matteo Vistocco

How do you manage who is responsible for what with your projects? You’ve probably got a Slack channel or email chain with everyone involved, but there can often be “too many cooks in the kitchen” when ideating over a feature or design, and then no-one wanting to commit to a decision (at risk of it becoming their responsibility). Early on you should formalise who is responsible, accountable, consulted and informed about each aspect of the work you are undertaking - a RACI matrix is a great tool for this, and often under-rated.

What is a RACI?

A RACI (Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, Informed) matrix is a useful tool for defining roles and responsibilities in a project. It helps ensure that all team members understand their roles and responsibilities, and that there is clear accountability for each task. No alt text provided for this image

Basic example of a RACI matrix

Here’s how to implement a RACI in a website build project

  1. Define the tasks and activities: The first step in implementing a RACI matrix is to define the tasks and activities that need to be completed in your project. This could include tasks such as designing the website, developing the content, and testing the functionality.
  2. Identify the team members: Next, identify the team members who will be responsible for completing each task. These team members will be the “Responsible” parties in the RACI matrix.
  3. Determine who is accountable: For each task, determine who is ultimately accountable for its completion. This person will be the “Accountable” party in the RACI matrix.
  4. Identify who should be consulted: There may be certain team members or stakeholders who should be consulted during the course of the project. These individuals will be the “Consulted” parties in the RACI matrix.
  5. Determine who needs to be informed: Finally, identify any team members or stakeholders who need to be kept informed about the progress of the project. These individuals will be the “Informed” parties in the RACI matrix.

My top tips:

  • Only allow 1 person to be Responsible or Accountable for each task. If you put 2, they will both assume the other one is doing the task!
  • Be specific about who is doing each role. If you just put ‘client’ should be responsible for sign-off, which person client-side? What if one of them is on holiday? Name specific individuals as Responsible (e.g. Client project owner) and Accountable (e.g Client project sponsor) for sign-off.

“Only allow 1 person to be Responsible or Accountable for each task. If you put 2, they will both assume the other one is doing the task!”

When should you implement the RACI matrix

The earlier the better! Think of it like packing for a holiday - if you wait until the last minute, you might forget something important. But if you take the time to plan ahead and get everything in order, your journey will be a whole lot smoother. With that in mind, I’d say it’s most effective when implemented at the start of a project, as it helps to establish clear lines of communication and accountability from the start. This can help to prevent misunderstandings and conflicts later on in the project. Additionally, it helps to ensure that all necessary people are involved in the project from the beginning, which improves the chances of its success. 👌 I’d also recommend checking that the people/tasks and their allocations are still correct during each sprint. Things can change, and I personally take a quick look through the RACI before each sprint planning session to ensure the team and tasks we’ve documented are still relevant.

“Take a quick look through the RACI before each sprint planning session to ensure the team and tasks we’ve documented are still relevant.”

In conclusion

By implementing a RACI matrix in your website build project, you can clearly define roles and responsibilities and ensure that there is clear accountability for each task. This helps your project run smoothly and successfully, as you know who is doing what. 😀

How do you use a RACI matrix to manage stakeholders on your projects? Do you have any useful tips or tricks you use?

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Further reading:

About the author: Jon Munson

As a Digital Delivery and Operations Consultant, I have honed my skills while working with some of the most dynamic and innovative digital agencies in the industry. I've had the opportunity to work with teams that are punching well above their weight, and I understand the unique challenges they need to overcome.

I’ve worked as a developer, project manager, producer, head of operations and delivery lead. Now it’s time for me to help teams like yours grow and win!



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