Product Manager’s RACI Template (Google Sheets)

Effective product management is all about clear communication and accountability. One tool that can help with this is a RACI template (aka a RACI matrix). This article will provide an overview of what a RACI matrix is, why it’s useful, and provide you with a handy template to get started. By the end, you’ll have a solid understanding of how to use this powerful tool to improve your product management skills.

If you’re a product manager, then chances are you’ve been asked to complete a RACI chart at some point in your career. But what is a RACI chart, and how can you use it to effectively manage your products?

RACI is an acronym derived from the four key responsibilities most typically used in project management: responsible, accountable, consulted and informed. It is typically used for clarifying and defining roles and responsibilities in cross-functional or departmental projects and processes.

I developed a RACI template to help ensure that everyone involved in the project understands who is doing what, who the key decision-makers are, and who needs to be involved along the way. I typically work in a very rapid, agile fashion, so when initiating a new project, I find that getting everyone quickly aligned about roles and responsibilities is one of the keys to a successful venture.

Like most of you, I am reluctant to reinvent the wheel, especially when it comes to creating new documents that are fairly standard, and so I went in search of a RACI template for Google Sheets.  I was surprised to come up empty-handed.  I found RACI templates available in Excel format, and various sites offered to make their template available if I provide them with my email address (no, thank you).

I created a template from scratch, which I’m making available to anyone who’d like to use it. Enjoy and pay it forward!

Remember, a RACI matrix is a valuable tool for product managers that can help you communicate clearly and hold team members accountable. By defining roles and responsibilities in an organized manner, you can ensure that everyone knows what they need to do and when they need to do it. By providing a RACI template for you to use, I hope to empower you to take control of your projects and make them successful. So go ahead and download the template now and start using it in your next project. You will see the difference it makes in terms of better project organization and team collaboration.