RACI Matrix (Excel)
A RACI matrix answers "who does what" before it becomes an argument. List the project's deliverables and decisions down the side and the people or roles across the top, then mark each cell R, A, C or I. The workbook colours the letters, checks every row has exactly one Accountable person and at least one Responsible, and counts each person's load so you can see who is overloaded and who is only being told.
Free · no sign-up · opens in Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, LibreOffice and WPS Office. Files contain no macros.
Preview
Real view of the file with its sample data (yellow cells are where you type).
| Phase | Activity, deliverable or decision | Sponsor | Project manager | Product owner | Designer | Developer | Content writer | QA tester | Marketing | IT support | Finance |
| Start | Project charter approved | A | R | C | I | C | |||||
| Start | Budget approved | A | R | C | |||||||
| Start | Requirements and sitemap | I | A | R | C | C | C | C | |||
| Design | Page mockups | I | C | A | R | C | C | C | |||
| Design | Design sign-off | A | R | C | C | I | I | ||||
| Build | Hosting and domain set-up | C | R | A | I | ||||||
| Build | Page templates | C | A | C | R | I | |||||
| Build | Page content | C | A | R | C | ||||||
| Build | Choose hosting provider | A | A | R | C | C |
What's inside
- RACI sheet with up to 80 activities in phases and 12 roles or people across the top
- Drop-down in every cell: R, A, C, I, or A/R when the same person does the work and owns it
- Check column for each row: "OK", "No A", "More than one A" or "No R"
- Load table per role: how many R, A, C and I each has, with a warning when someone is accountable for a large share
- Colours: R blue, A purple, C amber, I grey, so the pattern is visible at a glance
- Guide sheet that explains the four letters and the rules in plain words, ready to share with the team
How to use it
- Type the roles or people across row 5 (for example Sponsor, Project manager, Designer, Developer, Finance, Client).
- List the activities, deliverables and decisions down column B, grouped by phase in column A.
- For each row pick a letter under each role who is involved. Leave the cell empty for people who are not.
- Fix every row whose Check column is not "OK": give it exactly one A and at least one R.
- Look at the load table under the matrix. Spread the work if one person has most of the Rs or As.
- Share the sheet at the kick-off meeting and ask everyone to confirm their letters.
Tips
- Only one person can be Accountable for a row. If two people "own" it, it is really two rows or one of them is Consulted.
- Keep Consulted short: each C is a person whose opinion you must wait for.
- Use roles rather than names when people may change during the project, and keep a names list in the charter.
- Revisit the matrix when someone joins or leaves the team.
Questions and answers
What do R, A, C and I mean?
Responsible: does the work. Accountable: owns the result and signs it off (one person per row). Consulted: gives input before the work is done (two-way). Informed: is told about progress or the decision (one-way).
Can one person be both Responsible and Accountable?
Yes. Pick "A/R" from the list. It counts as both an A and an R in the checks.
What is the difference between RACI and RASCI?
RASCI adds S for Support: people who help the Responsible person. If you need it, use C for those people and note "support" in the activity name, or ask for a RASCI version through the contact page.