Most RACI matrices are built once, admired briefly, and never consulted again. The reason is usually visible in the matrix itself: rows with two As, rows with none, and a Consulted column that was filled in to be polite.
This template enforces the discipline that makes a RACI worth keeping: one Accountable per row. If a row has two As, the row is lying, and the lie surfaces in month three as a decision nobody made.
What's inside
Dropdowns, not free text
R, A, C, or I from a dropdown. Color coded so the A column pattern is visible at arm's length.
One A per row, enforced by eyeball
The rule sits at the top of the sheet. Two example rows show a correct allocation.
Decisions and deliverables, not tasks
The rows are the things people fight about later. A RACI of 40 tasks is a work plan wearing a costume.
How to use it
- List the 8 to 12 decisions and deliverables people will actually contest.
- Rename the role columns to real names. 'Engineering leadership' is not a name.
- Fill the matrix in the room, together. The argument during the meeting is the deliverable.
- Recheck it when anyone senior joins or leaves. A stale RACI is worse than none.
When you outgrow the free version
The full RACI Matrix Tool ($19) adds the cheat sheet and the ownership-conversation script. Pair it with the Stakeholder Communication Plan ($19), or read why the two are different jobs. Or take all 17 tools for $99.
Questions PMs ask
Is this really free?
Yes. Email in, file out, unsubscribe anytime.
What does the $19 RACI Matrix Tool add?
The PDF cheat sheet and the ownership-conversation script: how to run the meeting where the matrix gets filled in, including what to do when two people both claim the A, and when nobody wants it.
RACI vs a communication plan?
The RACI allocates authority: who decides, who is consulted, who is informed. The communication plan allocates information flow: what the Informed people actually receive, and when. You need both; they answer different questions.