RACI

A RACI chart is a responsibility assignment matrix that records, for each task or decision, who is responsible, who is accountable, who is consulted, and who is informed.

How it's used in a university-industry collaboration

A kickoff RACI for a sponsored project has one row per decision class rather than per task, because decisions cross boundaries between organizations. The columns are the people involved: principal investigator, co-investigators, the sponsor's R&D lead, the sponsored programs contracting officer, the technology transfer licensing officer, and counsel.

One rule keeps the chart usable: exactly one accountable name in every row. Two accountable names for a publication submission means the sponsor's review clock and a student's thesis deadline collide with nobody holding the call. Walk it through at the first all-hands, capture sign-off, and revisit it when anyone in a column changes.

Where this comes from

The definition follows the PMBOK Guide's description of a RACI chart as a common responsibility assignment matrix (Project Management Institute, https://www.pmi.org/pmbok-guide-standards).

What Helikon does with it

Our Stewarding the Partnership workshop builds the kickoff RACI with your team.