What's a DARCI matrix? And how does it relate to our HubSpot Project?

The DARCI framework (Decision Maker(s), Accountable, Responsible, Consulted, Informed) is a tool for establishing accountability & gives us a shared language: it shows us who and how we should work with different team members. Correctly setting up the DARCI framework for our project will mean we can move faster, and more efficiently.

Getting Started

Meet with your team to think through where each individual or team in the business should be placed in each of the below columns.

DECISION MAKER(S)	ACCOUNTABLE (1 ONLY)	RESPONSIBLE	CONSULTED	INFORMED
THIS SHOULD BE A VERY SHORT LIST. THESE INDIVIDUALS HAVE THE ULTIMATE AND FINAL APPROVAL OR VETO FOR DECISIONS RELATED TO THE PROJECT.	THE SINGLE PERSON FULLY ACCOUNTABLE FOR MAKING THE PROJECT HAPPEN. THE A MUST ALSO BE GIVEN SUFFICIENT DECISION-MAKING POWER. DO NOT START A PROJECT IF THE A ISN'T ALSO PRESENT IN THE D COLUMN! THERE SHOULD NEVER BE MORE THAN ONE A. THIS IS AN INVITATION TO LACK OF CLEAR ACCOUNTABILITY. THIS IS OFTEN WHAT WE MEAN AT HUBSPOT WHEN WE SAY SOMEONE IS A "DRI".	THE WORKING TEAM, OR THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR DOING THE WORK ON THE PROJECT. THERE MAY BE A NUMBER OF R’S ON A PROJECT. R’S ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR DEALING WITH ROADBLOCKS, RAISING QUESTIONS, ETC. – NOT JUST BEING “GOOD SOLDIERS.”	THOSE FROM WHOM INPUT WILL BE SOLICITED. NOTE THIS DOESN'T MEAN 100S OF PEOPLE IN EVERY MEETING. RATHER, THE DECISION MAKERS SHOULD MAKE SURE THEY'VE CONSULTED WITH PEOPLE IN THEIR AREA OF THE BUSINESS AND CAN SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THIS GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS.	THOSE TO BE KEPT APPRISED OF RELEVANT DEVELOPMENTS. THIS IS AN FYI-ONLY ROLE. NOTE: I’S MAY NOT USE THE INFORMATION TO UNDERMINE THE PROCESS. UNLESS SOMEONE IS OFFICIALLY AN I, CONSIDER NOT CC’ING THEM ON EMAILS. THIS IS A GOOD WAY TO CUT DOWN ON UNNECESSARY EMAILS.

DECISION MAKER(S)

ACCOUNTABLE (1 ONLY)

RESPONSIBLE

CONSULTED

INFORMED

THIS SHOULD BE A VERY SHORT LIST. THESE INDIVIDUALS HAVE THE ULTIMATE AND FINAL APPROVAL OR VETO FOR DECISIONS RELATED TO THE PROJECT.

THE SINGLE PERSON FULLY ACCOUNTABLE FOR MAKING THE PROJECT HAPPEN. THE A MUST ALSO BE GIVEN SUFFICIENT DECISION-MAKING POWER. DO NOT START A PROJECT IF THE A ISN'T ALSO PRESENT IN THE D COLUMN! THERE SHOULD NEVER BE MORE THAN ONE A. THIS IS AN INVITATION TO LACK OF CLEAR ACCOUNTABILITY.

THIS IS OFTEN WHAT WE MEAN AT HUBSPOT WHEN WE SAY SOMEONE IS A "DRI".

THE WORKING TEAM, OR THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR DOING THE WORK ON THE PROJECT. THERE MAY BE A NUMBER OF R’S ON A PROJECT. R’S ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR DEALING WITH ROADBLOCKS, RAISING QUESTIONS, ETC. – NOT JUST BEING “GOOD SOLDIERS.”

THOSE FROM WHOM INPUT WILL BE SOLICITED. NOTE THIS DOESN'T MEAN 100S OF PEOPLE IN EVERY MEETING. RATHER, THE DECISION MAKERS SHOULD MAKE SURE THEY'VE CONSULTED WITH PEOPLE IN THEIR AREA OF THE BUSINESS AND CAN SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THIS GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS.

THOSE TO BE KEPT APPRISED OF RELEVANT DEVELOPMENTS. THIS IS AN FYI-ONLY ROLE.

NOTE: I’S MAY NOT USE THE INFORMATION TO UNDERMINE THE PROCESS.

UNLESS SOMEONE IS OFFICIALLY AN I, CONSIDER NOT CC’ING THEM ON EMAILS. THIS IS A GOOD WAY TO CUT DOWN ON UNNECESSARY EMAILS.

2. Document each person/team in the deck supplied by RECIPE marketing. Ensure you outline each person’s responsibility, for example,

- "Julien Clement: Responsible for supplying all content, brochures, guides and sales explainers"

3. This step is key. Send this table to everyone you've identified and ask them: "Here's how I think the roles and responsibilities should work for this project. Are you in the right place? Am I missing anyone? Please let me know by (date)." Make sure everyone understands how they're needed and when.

4. As you go through the project and you hit key milestones, be sure to actually inform the list of people in the inform column, along with the other stakeholders you've identified, of your progress.