Who Does What? The Simple RACI Guide That'll Save Your Tech Project

Building your first tech product can feel like herding cats. Everyone's talking, but nobody knows who's actually supposed to do what. Sound familiar?

That's where RACI comes in – and no, it's not a type of pasta. It's a simple tool that'll save your sanity and your project.

What the Heck is RACI?

RACI stands for:

• Responsible (who does the work)
• Accountable (who owns the outcome)
• Consulted (who gives input)
• Informed (who needs updates)

Think of it like assigning roles for a group project, but way more organized.

Why Your Tech Project Needs This

Without clear roles, you get:

• Engineers waiting for decisions while burning through your budget
• Features built that nobody asked for
• Finger-pointing when things go wrong
• Meetings where nothing gets decided

RACI fixes all of this by making it crystal clear who's on the hook for what.

How to Build Your RACI Chart

Step 1: List All Your Tasks

Write down everything that needs to happen in your project. For a basic MVP, this might include:

• Writing user stories
• Creating wireframes
• Setting up the database
• Writing code
• Testing features
• Deploying the app

Step 2: Identify Your Players

Who's on your team? Common roles include:

• You (the founder)
• Product Owner
• Project Manager
• Developers
• QA tester
• Designer

Step 3: Assign the Letters

For each task, give everyone exactly one letter. Here's an example:

Task: Write User Stories

• Product Owner: R (does the actual writing)
• You: A (makes sure they're good)
• Developer: C (gives technical input)
• Designer: C (adds design perspective)
• QA: I (needs to know what to test)

Real-World Example: Building a Login Feature

Let's say you're adding a login feature to your app:

Define Login Requirements:

• Product Owner: R
• You: A
• Developer: C
• Designer: I

Create Login Design:

• Designer: R
• Product Owner: A
• You: C
• Developer: C

Code the Login:

• Developer: R
• Product Owner: A
• You: I
• Designer: I

Test Login Feature:

• QA: R
• Product Owner: A
• Developer: C
• You: I

The Golden Rules

1. Every task needs exactly one A – Too many cooks spoil the broth
2. You can have multiple Rs – Sometimes teamwork makes the dream work
3. Keep Cs to a minimum – Too many opinions slow things down
4. Is are just FYI – They don't need to do anything, just stay in the loop

Common Mistakes to Avoid

The "Everyone's Accountable" TrapWhen everyone's accountable, nobody is. Pick one person to own each outcome.

Forgetting the FounderYou might not code, but you're probably accountable for big decisions. Don't leave yourself off the chart.

Too Many Consulted PeopleIf half your team needs to weigh in on every decision, you'll never ship anything.

Making It Stick

1. Share the chart with everyone – Post it where the whole team can see it
2. Update it as you go – Projects change, and so should your RACI
3. Use it in meetings – When someone asks "who's handling this?" you'll have an answer

The Bottom Line

RACI isn't magic, but it's close. It turns chaos into clarity and confusion into confidence. Your future self (and your team) will thank you.

Ready to get your tech project organized and moving in the right direction? We help founders like you build amazing products without the headaches. Get in touch with us for all your software development and fractional CTO needs!