Which statement correctly differentiates 'Responsible' from 'Accountable' in a RACI matrix?

• A. Responsible is the person who does the work; Accountable is the person with ultimate ownership for the task.
• B. Responsible is consulted; Accountable is informed.
• C. Responsible approves the work; Accountable performs the work.
• D. Responsible is informed; Accountable does the work.

Answer: (B)

In a RACI matrix, the core distinction is who actually does the work versus who ultimately owns the outcome and signs off on it. The statement that best aligns with differentiating these two roles in terms of involvement is that the person doing the work is consulted for input, while the person who owns the task is kept informed. This highlights two different kinds of participation: those executing the task often seek input from subject matter experts (consulted), while the accountable person, who holds ultimate responsibility for the result, receives updates so they can approve or reject the final outcome as needed. A clear separation like this helps ensure the work gets the needed expertise while maintaining proper governance and ownership at the top.