Which of the following is most commonly used to communicate stakeholder responsibilities in a mapped business process?

• A. Process maps
• B. Flowcharts
• C. Swimlane diagrams
• D. RACI matrix

Answer: (D)

Communicating who does what at each step of a mapped process is best achieved with a responsibility assignment tool, and the RACI matrix is the standard choice. It specifically for each activity labels who is Responsible (the person or team executing the work), who is Accountable (the one owning the outcome), who should be Consulted (those whose input is needed), and who should be Informed (kept up to date). This explicit mapping eliminates ambiguity about ownership and decision rights, which is crucial for governance, handoffs, and accountability across cross-functional processes.

Process maps show the sequence of steps and inputs/outputs, but they don’t systematically assign roles. Flowcharts focus on the flow of activities, not who is responsible for them. Swimlane diagrams do reveal ownership by grouping steps into lanes, but they don’t standardize the accountability and communication for each task the way a RACI matrix does. So, when the goal is clear, formal communication of stakeholder responsibilities, the RACI matrix is the most effective choice.