The ACRI model clarifies decision-making roles and responsibilities by defining who is Accountable, Consulted, Responsible, and Informed, thereby improving efficiency and communication within a team.
Primary Implication
Effective decision-making that produces desired results begins with clear accountability. Both are crucial for maximizing profits and preventing losses in business. When roles and responsibilities are poorly defined, it leads to inaction, delays, and, ultimately, financial losses.
By using the ACRI model, businesses can ensure that:
- Decisions are made promptly and decisively.
- Actions are executed efficiently.
- Everyone understands their role in achieving desired outcomes.
This clarity and structure foster a more productive and profitable work environment.
Overview
Most profit losses in a business occur because the people working together fail to convert the ideas needing action into immediate action because the decision-maker does a poor job of following through on the actions triggered by the decisions that are made.
The ACRI model helps make it clear who is accountable with the authority for a decision to be made, who will be involved, and why. Where groups get frustrated with each other is when the person with the “A” is not clear on how they will be making decisions that impact those with the “R,” “C,” and “I.” Click here to read “How to select the best decision-making approach when a new action is needed.”
Use ACRI to improve decision-making effectiveness across a business
A clear definition of who is accountable for what enhances the effectiveness and efficiency of a team by making explicit where accountability, decision-making, activity completion, and communication reside in a role, a job, and a project. The following is a shortcut to confirming the key considerations that should be made when making and acting on a decision.
A accountable for the final result
C consulted about the decision; maybe a subject matter expert
R responsible for executing the decided-on action
I informed about the decision to help them buy in to what is being done
When you have a person with a clear “A” for a result, who is aware of who needs to be consulted and informed, they and the people responsible for producing the result can improve decision-making speed, reduce rework, and improve information flow to those who will be impacted the result.
Use ACRI to understand how the accountable person for the result engages those responsible for the work and who they think should be consulted with and informed. Remember, the fewer people they involve, the more personal accountability for the result they are taking on.