A free RACI chart template is a resource planning tool that helps teams clearly define and document the roles and responsibilities for every task in a project. Think of it as your project's responsibility map, showing at a glance who's doing the work, who's making decisions, who needs to provide input, and who just needs updates.

The template provides a consistent format for capturing these role assignments across different projects, making establishing accountability easier and ensuring nothing gets overlooked. While many project management tools get complicated, a RACI chart stays refreshingly simple: it's typically just a matrix with tasks down one side and team members across the top, with the appropriate RACI designation at each intersection.

What does RACI stand for?

The RACI acronym stands for the four core responsibility types that can be assigned to team members:

• R - Responsible: The person (or people) who does the work to complete the task. Every task needs at least one responsible person, but you can have more than one.

• A - Accountable: The person who owns the final result and has ultimate decision-making authority. Each task should have precisely one accountable person to maintain clear ownership.

• C - Consulted: People whose input, expertise, or opinions are sought before decisions or actions are taken. This is typically two-way communication.

• I - Informed: People who need to be kept informed about progress or decisions but don't need to provide input. This is one-way communication.

What is a RACI chart used for?

RACI charts are used in complex projects where multiple teams or departments must collaborate efficiently. They provide a simple visual reference that prevents confusion about who's doing what, eliminating the dreaded "I thought you were handling that" conversations.

Teams use RACI charts to streamline workflows by clearly identifying who needs to be involved at each project stage. This clarity improves project collaboration by setting expectations upfront about each person's level of involvement. Instead of endless email chains trying to figure out who's responsible for a deliverable, team members can consult the RACI chart and immediately know who to contact.

Types of RACI chart templates

While the standard RACI model works for most teams, you can adapt your template to fit different project needs:

• Basic RACI: The classic four-role model that works for most projects and teams.

• RASCI: Adds an "S" for Support — people who assist the responsible person but aren't primarily responsible themselves.

• RACI-VS: Adds "Verify" and "Sign-off" roles for regulated industries with strict approval requirements.

When creating your own RACI chart in Confluence, you can start with a basic template and customize it based on your team's needs.