Pair the RACI with a decision log
Knowing who decides is only half the system — recording what was decided closes the accountability loop.
Key takeaways
- What it is: Knowing who decides is only half the system — recording what was decided closes the accountability loop.
- Why it works: RACI clarifies who has authority; a decision log records what that authority produced. Without a log, decisions made by the Accountable person can be revisited by other stakeholders who weren’t informed or who forgot. A shared, timestamped decision log makes decisions sticky — it’s hard to re-open a decision that is written down with its rationale and a named owner.
- Evidence: Plausible mechanism, limited direct outcome data.
- Avoid: Relying on meeting minutes to serve as a decision log — minutes capture discussion, not the final decision and its owner, so they’re insufficient for accountability purposes.
Why it works
RACI clarifies who has authority; a decision log records what that authority produced. Without a log, decisions made by the Accountable person can be revisited by other stakeholders who weren’t informed or who forgot. A shared, timestamped decision log makes decisions sticky — it’s hard to re-open a decision that is written down with its rationale and a named owner.
How to do it
- 1Create a simple shared document with columns: decision, date, Accountable person, options considered, rationale, and next review date if relevant.
- 2After each significant decision, have the A log it within 24 hours.
- 3Refer to the log explicitly in project updates: "as per the 5 June decision by [name], we are proceeding with..."
What the evidence says
MechanisticOrganizational memory research shows that undocumented decisions are frequently re-litigated, especially across personnel changes. A decision log provides the institutional memory that prevents recurring debates and accountability gaps.
Honest caveat: Decision-log effectiveness depends on discipline in maintaining it; a partially maintained log can be worse than none, implying the undocumented decisions were less important.
Common mistake
Relying on meeting minutes to serve as a decision log — minutes capture discussion, not the final decision and its owner, so they’re insufficient for accountability purposes.
IX Coach maintains a searchable decision log alongside your RACI so you can surface the rationale and owner for any decision without digging through meeting notes.
Practice this with IX Coach →