DACI Framework
A streamlined decision framework that designates a Driver, Approver, Contributors, and Informed parties.
When to Use
Use DACI when you need a single person driving the decision forward and a single approver with final authority. It is lighter than RACI and works especially well for product decisions, strategic choices, and any situation where you want speed without sacrificing structure. Popular at Atlassian and Intuit.
Steps
- 1
Appoint the Driver
Choose one person who owns the decision process. They gather input, schedule meetings, and push toward resolution.
- 2
Designate the Approver
Identify exactly one person with final authority. They can override the group if consensus isn't reached.
- 3
List Contributors
Identify the people whose expertise or input is needed. They provide knowledge but don't have veto power.
- 4
Note the Informed
List people who need to know the outcome but don't participate in the decision process.
- 5
Drive to resolution
The Driver collects inputs, synthesizes perspectives, presents a recommendation, and the Approver makes the final call.
Real-World Example
A SaaS company deciding whether to build native mobile apps used DACI. The Head of Product drove the process, the CEO was the Approver, Engineering leads and a UX researcher were Contributors, and the marketing and sales teams were Informed. The decision was made in one week instead of the usual month-long committee process.
Pros
- Clear single owner (Driver) ensures momentum
- Single Approver prevents decision paralysis
- Lighter than RACI and better for fast-paced teams
- Explicitly separates input from authority
Cons
- Approver role can become a bottleneck
- Contributors may feel their input is ignored
- Less granular than RACI for complex multi-step processes
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