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Program Management - Responsibility Assignment Matrix

A Responsibility Assignment Matrix (RAM) describes the roles and responsibilities of team members in completing project tasks. It clarifies who is responsible, accountable, consulted, and informed for each task. The RAM ensures there is no confusion about who is responsible for each activity. It lists project tasks and team members to define responsibilities within the work breakdown structure. Developing a RAM involves listing tasks and stakeholders, determining responsibility levels, assigning stakeholders to tasks, and ensuring stakeholders understand their roles.

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89 views3 pages

Program Management - Responsibility Assignment Matrix

A Responsibility Assignment Matrix (RAM) describes the roles and responsibilities of team members in completing project tasks. It clarifies who is responsible, accountable, consulted, and informed for each task. The RAM ensures there is no confusion about who is responsible for each activity. It lists project tasks and team members to define responsibilities within the work breakdown structure. Developing a RAM involves listing tasks and stakeholders, determining responsibility levels, assigning stakeholders to tasks, and ensuring stakeholders understand their roles.

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iSGSTech Software Labs
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Program Management

acqnotes.com/acqnote/careerfields/responsibility-assignment-matrix

A Responsibility Assignment Matrix (RAM) describes the participation of various


organizations, people, and their roles in completing tasks or deliverables for a project. It’s
used by the Program Manager (PM) in clarifying roles and responsibilities in a cross-
functional team, projects, and processes. A Request for Proposal (RFP) might request a
RAM from a contractor.

Template: Responsibility Assignment Matrix (RAM) Template (Excel)

A RAM is also called a Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, and Informed (RACI) matrix.
The PMBOK Guide 4th Edition defines RACI as a RAM that is used to illustrate the
connections between work packages or activities and project team members. On larger
projects, RAMs can be developed at various levels.

Responsible (R): Those who do the work to achieve the task. There is typically one
role with a participation type of Responsible, although others can be delegated to assist
in the work required.
Accountable (A): The one ultimately accountable for the correct and thorough
completion of the deliverable or task, and the one to whom Responsible is accountable.
In other words, an Accountable must sign off (Approve) on work that Responsible
provides. There must be only one Accountable specified for each task or deliverable.
Consulted (C): Those whose opinions are sought; and with whom there is two-way
communication.
Informed (I): 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.

Responsibility Assignment Matrix (RAM) Goal in Project Management


A RAM is used in project management as a communication tool to ensure that work tasks
are designated a responsible agent. A RAM can define what a project team is responsible for
within each component of the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS). It could also be used within
a working group to designate roles, responsibilities, and levels of authority for specific
activities. The matrix format shows all activities associated with one person and all people
associated with one activity. This ensures that there is only one person accountable for any
one task to avoid confusion.

Responsibility Assignment Matrix (RAM) Standard Format


A RAM is displayed as a chart that illustrates the interaction between work packages that
need to be done and project team members. Typically, the list of objectives is on the left-
hand column with the project team member names across the top. Each work package will

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be assigned to the appropriate project team member. The chart aids in communication
amongst the project team members.

6 Steps to Developing a Responsibility Assignment Matrix (RAM) Matrix


Below is a list of the 6 (six) most common steps in developing a Responsibility Assignment
Matrix (RAM).

Step 1: List all project tasks and deliverables


Step 2: Identify all project stakeholders
Step 3: Determine responsibility and accountability level for each task and deliverable
Step 4: Assign stakeholder to each task
Step 5: Assign overall stakeholder
Step 6: Ensure all stakeholder know their responsibility

Developing an Effective Responsibility Assignment Matrix (RAM) Matrix


Below is a list of topics that can help Program Managers effectively use a Responsibility
Assignment Matrix.

One stakeholder in charge per task.


The least amount of people accountable, the better.
Be Efficient with Meetings.
Constant Communication.

Difference Between a Responsibility Assignment Matrix and Responsible,


Accountable, Consulted, and Informed (RACI) matrix.
The PMBOK Guide 4th Edition defines RACI as a RAM that is used to illustrate the
connections between work packages in a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) and project
team members. The difference between a RAM matrix and RACI matrix is:

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A Responsibility Assignment Matrix (RAM) describes the participation of various
organizations, people, and their roles in completing tasks or deliverables in a Work
Break Down Structure (WBS) for a project.
A Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, and Informed (RACI) matrix is used on
projects where multiple groups of people as assigned a task. It helps on larger projects
with a lot of people and organizations. It also helps with outside stakeholders and their
responsibilities on a project.
A RACI can have multiple RAM within it.

AcqLinks and References:

Template: Responsibility Assignment Matrix (RAM) Template (Word)


Template: Responsibility Assignment Matrix (RAM) Template (Excel)

Updated: 5/28/2021

Rank: G1

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