Put it into practice
Pick one disputed decision inside a process.
Read the existing responsibility chart against that case.
Add the decision owner, consultation and limits where the chart is ambiguous.
A case to think through
A project manager may be accountable for delivery in a RACI while only the founder can approve any schedule change. The missing authority needs an explicit agreement.
This is a hypothetical operating example, not a client result.A boundary worth checking
Adding more letters to a chart does not fix a decision whose authority remains withheld.
Operating authority must sit within the permissions your business already holds. A worksheet or matrix cannot override company, contractual, financial, employment or specialist controls. Where a choice is formally reserved, show the decision route clearly so the manager can prepare and progress the surrounding work.
Your handover working notes
Use these prompts with the person taking ownership. Record the agreement within your existing permissions.
| Prompt | Notes from your case |
|---|---|
| Activity | |
| accountable role | |
| actual choice | |
| decision owner | |
| limit |
Should I replace our RACI?
Not necessarily. Keep useful responsibility mapping and add decision clarity where it is missing.
Give one decision a clear owner.
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