Traditional RACI matrices weren't built for a world where AI agents perform tasks alongside humans. GRACI™ extends the proven RACI framework with AI-specific governance dimensions.
In the Intelligence Resources™ era, clarity of accountability is non-negotiable. As AI systems move from "tools we use" to "agents that act," organizations need a matrix that captures not just who does what, but who governs the AI and who verifies its output.
The Evolution from RACI to GRACI™
RACI (Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, Informed) has been the gold standard for defining roles and responsibilities for decades. But it was designed for a fully human workforce. When AI enters the workflow, three critical questions emerge:
- Who governs which AI tools can be used for this task?
- Who verifies AI-generated output before it's treated as final?
- How do we differentiate between AI-assisted and AI-only work?
GRACI™ answers these questions by layering AI governance dimensions onto the traditional RACI structure, creating a unified framework that works for hybrid human-AI teams.
The GRACI™ Notation System
GRACI™ also captures workforce access levels to ensure compliance and security:
- (E) Employee — Full-time employee with unrestricted access
- (C) Contractor — Limited-term contractor with role-based access
- (V) Vendor — External vendor with restricted access
- (I) Intern — Intern with supervised access
GRACI™ in Action: Sample Matrix
Here's how GRACI™ clarifies accountability across a typical business workflow involving both human roles and AI tools:
| Task | Project Manager E |
Business Analyst C |
Department Lead E |
AI Tool | Governance | Verification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Data Analysis Report | A | R | C | A2 (Tableau AI) | G (Dept Lead) | V (Project Mgr) |
| Budget Approval | R | C | A | — | — | — |
| Customer Email Response | I | A | C | A2 (Zendesk AI) | G (Ops Manager) | V (Bus Analyst) |
| Meeting Transcription | I | I | A | A0 (Otter.ai) | G (IT Security) | — |
| Quarterly Forecast Model | A | R | C | A2 (Excel AI) | G (Finance Lead) | V (Dept Lead) |
Why GRACI™ Matters for Your Organization
- AI tools proliferate without clear ownership of governance decisions
- No formal verification step for AI-generated outputs creates compliance risk
- Confusion about when human oversight is required vs. optional
- Access control gaps as contractors and vendors use employee-level tools
- Accountability dissolves when things go wrong with AI-assisted work
- Clear governance ownership for every AI tool in use
- Explicit verification requirements prevent unreviewed AI outputs from becoming decisions
- Differentiated accountability for AI-assisted vs. AI-only tasks
- Access control transparency built into the matrix
- Audit trail clarity when investigating incidents or compliance questions
Integration with Intelligence Resources™
GRACI™ is a core operational tool within the Intelligence Resources™ framework. Just as HR uses org charts to clarify reporting structures and IT uses system architecture diagrams to map dependencies, IR uses GRACI™ matrices to operationalize AI governance.
When your organization implements Intelligence Resources™ as a standalone department, GRACI™ becomes the standard format for documenting AI accountability across every function—from Finance to Marketing to Operations.
Start by creating GRACI™ matrices for your highest-risk processes first—those involving customer data, financial decisions, or regulatory compliance. Once teams see the clarity GRACI™ provides, adoption across other workflows will accelerate naturally.
GRACI™ doesn't slow down innovation—it provides the clarity that allows AI adoption to scale safely.