Comparison · C84
Compare RACI, DACI and RAPID
Which role model suits recurring execution, a one-off decision or a cross-functional trade-off?
Direct answer
RACI clarifies execution, DACI accelerates a named decision and RAPID separates roles when recommendation, agreement and decision are distributed.
01Choose one primary model for each decision type and avoid overlapping them.
02The rule, the evidence and the next review date stay visible.
How to use this
Move from the question to the deliverable.
Which role model suits recurring execution, a one-off decision or a cross-functional trade-off?
Choose one primary model for each decision type and avoid overlapping them.
Critical role-model comparison
Critical comparison · SQ-84
Compare RACI, DACI and RAPID without stacking them
RACI organises execution, DACI structures a named decision and RAPID distributes the roles in a cross-functional trade-off. The comparison selects one primary convention depending on the problem to be solved.
E0 editorial comparison applied to three governance situations in a quarterly plan.
- 01Classify
Separate recurring production, one-off decisions and cross-functional trade-offs.
- 02Choose
Adopt one primary convention for the actual situation.
- 03Assign
Name the person responsible for preparation and the single decision maker.
- 04Test
Simulate a disagreement and check the deadline, the evidence and the escalation.
Three conventions for three distinct problems
The table compares the use, the output and the dominant risk without giving the methods a universal score.
| Situation | Convention | Central question | Output | Main risk | Acceptance test |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Produce a recurring deliverable | RACI | Who executes and approves? | Matrix per deliverable | Too many consulted | Exactly one A and at least one R |
| Make a one-off decision | DACI | Who drives and approves? | Prepared decision | Implicit approver | One named approver and a deadline |
| Trade off across functions | RAPID | Who recommends, agrees and decides? | Cross-functional trade-off | Coordination overhead | One decision maker and an escalation path |
| Stack all three | None | Who settles a conflict? | Conflicting roles | Ambiguity | Fail if no priority rule |
01RACI remains focused on deliverables; building it in detail is covered on the canonical RACI page.
02DACI and RAPID do not replace actual delegated authority or a decision deadline.
03Stacking the conventions without a priority rule multiplies the roles without clarifying the decision.
E0 comparison. The conventions must remain compatible with the organisation’s actual delegations of authority and governance bodies.
Coherence controls
Minimum conditions before validation.
The status, the evidence and the owner must be available for review.
The status, the evidence and the owner must be available for review.
The status, the evidence and the owner must be available for review.
The status, the evidence and the owner must be available for review.
Usable deliverable
Critical role-model comparison
Explore the decision further with an interactive control, or start from a structured template to produce your deliverable.