Editing Responsibility assignment matrix (section)

=== Role distinction ===
There is a distinction between a role and individually identified people: a ''role'' is a descriptor of an associated set of tasks; may be performed by many people; and one person can perform many roles. For example, an organization may have ten people who can perform the role of ''project manager'', although traditionally each project only has one project manager at any one time; and a person who is able to perform the role of ''project manager'' may also be able to perform the role of ''business analyst'' and ''tester''.

;''R = Responsible'' (also ''recommender'')
: Those who complete the task.<ref name="pmicie">{{cite web |url=https://pmicie.org/files/22/PM-Toolkit/85/racirweb31.pdf |title=Role & Responsibility Charting (RACI) |last1=Smith |first1=Michael L. |last2=Erwin |first2=James |website=Project Management Institute California Inland Empire Chapter |page=5 |access-date=18 May 2023 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220916080044/https://pmicie.org/index.php?option=com_dropfiles&format=&task=frontfile.download&catid=22&id=85&Itemid=1000000000000 |archive-date=16 September 2022}}</ref> There is at least one role with a participation type of ''responsible'', although others can be delegated to assist in the work required. (See also ''RASCI'' below for separately identifying those who participate in a supporting role.)

;''A = Accountable'' (also ''approver'' or ''final approving authority'')
: The one ultimately answerable for the correct and thorough completion of the deliverable or task, the one who ensures the prerequisites of the task are met and who delegates the work to those ''responsible''.<ref name="pmicie" /> In other words, an ''accountable'' must sign off (approve) work that ''responsible'' provides. There '''must''' be only one ''accountable'' specified for each task or deliverable.<ref name="formal">[[Tiziana Margaria]]: ''Leveraging Applications of Formal Methods, Verification, and Validation: 4th International Symposium on Leveraging Applications Proceedings'', Part 1, Springer, 2010, p. 492</ref>

;''C = Consulted'' (sometimes ''consultant'' or ''counsel'')
: Those whose opinions are sought, typically [[subject-matter expert]]s, and with whom there is two-way communication.<ref name="pmicie" />

;''I = Informed'' (also ''informee'')
: Those who are kept up-to-date on progress, often only on completion of the task or deliverable, and with whom there is just one-way communication.<ref name="pmicie" />

Very often the role that is ''accountable'' for a task or deliverable may also be ''responsible'' for completing it (indicated on the matrix by the task or deliverable having a role ''accountable'' for it, but no role ''responsible'' for its completion, i.e. it is implied). Outside of this exception, it is generally recommended that each role in the project or process for each task receive, at most, just one of the participation types. Where more than one participation type is shown, this generally implies that participation has not yet been fully resolved, which can impede the value of this technique in clarifying the participation of each role on each task.