Tool 166: Responsibility Matrix

AKA

Accountability Grid

Classification

Changing/Implementing (CI)

Tool description

A responsibility matrix is used to identify decisions to be made, major activities to be completed, and persons or groups involved in a change project. Project management requires constant tracking of activities and schedule; a responsibility matrix provides the assignments and understanding of employees' roles and resources required to complete a project.

Typical application

• To display decision requirements, activities to be completed, and key personnel involved in a project management setting.

• To provide a common understanding of a project's people and resource requirements and allocation.

Problem-solving phase

	Select and define problem or opportunity
	Identify and analyze causes or potential change
→	Develop and plan possible solutions or change
→	Implement and evaluate solution or change
	Measure and report solution or change results
	Recognize and reward team efforts

Typically used by

	Research/statistics
	Creativity/innovation
	Engineering
1	Project management
	Manufacturing
	Marketing/sales
3	Administration/documentation
	Servicing/support
	Customer/quality metrics
2	Change management

links to other tools

before

• Problem Analysis

• Checklist

• Demographic Analysis

• Circle response

• Consensus Decision Making

after

• Resource Histogram

• Action Plan

• Basili Data Collection Method

• Project Planning Log

• Milestones Chart

Notes and key points

• No cell may contain more than one role.

• Avoid splitting primary responsibility (R) for action.

• Avoid assigning too many approvals (A) to any one item.

• Coding: Typical codes have been assigned in this example. Additional designations may be needed.

Step-by-step procedure

• STEP 1 A facilitated planning team or committee identifies major project activities and responsibilities.

• STEP 2 The facilitator creates a responsibility matrix on a whiteboard and requests participants' assistance in completing the matrix. Activities and actors are listed. See example Establishment of Continuous Improvement Teams.

• STEP 3 Next, participants determine personnel assignments and respective roles in the completion of project activities. A coding scheme is used as shown in this example.

• STEP 4 Finally, the completed responsibility matrix is checked, revised, and dated.

Example of tool application