DACI: A Decision Making Framework for Better Group Decisions

Making decisions at work is never easy. Making decisions for really important projects is even harder. That’s why frameworks like DACI were developed. Learn what the acronym DACI stands for and how to use the DACI framework for better decision-making when managing projects.

What Is DACI?

DACI is a project management framework used to clearly define the roles of the various stakeholders on a project. DACI can bring clarification and unity to a team, enabling easy communication and a collaborative culture that works towards a common goal. So, if you’re struggling with getting decisions made in a project management environment, DACI can be right for you.

What Does DACI Stand For?

DACI stands for Driver, Approver, Contributor and Informed. These roles, defined by DACI, make it clear who has authority in certain areas and situations. This allows a project to progress smoothly whenever group decisions have to be made.

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What Are the Roles of the DACI Decision-Making Framework?

Let’s take a closer look at the four parts of this decision-making framework.

Driver

The driver is the leader of the project. This is the project manager, and they manage the project from its inception to its completion. They are not always doing everything, but their hands are in all aspects of the project.

They also will gather ideas from project members and hear feedback from them about the progress of the project and how to deal with issues that come up over the life cycle of the project. They are also a soundboard for concerns expressed by those outside the organization.

The driver will create the plan, which is a detailed step-by-step task list for the project. This is usually done with a project management platform of their choice. Everything that must be completed in the project will be outlined here, including adding deadlines and noting how the progress will be measured.

Communications, naturally, are also under the care of the driver, who must provide updates to stakeholders and teams on a regular basis. This is the vehicle to distribute information about the project’s progress and will address any issues that might arise.

Approver

There’s going to have to be a person who pulls the trigger, so to speak. This stakeholder is understandably called the approver. That’s because they’re either the person or the group of people who have the authority to approve and veto a project.

The approver is obviously in authority already. They tend to be either a manager, a founder of an organization or some group in an executive position. The size and structure of the company will determine who the approver is, as a smaller business is not going to have the staff and organizational structure to support a dedicated approver.

Contributor

A driver doesn’t work in a vacuum. Any smart decision is fed by many streams, including experience, one’s gut and expert consultation. That’s where the contributor comes in.

A contributor is an expert in the field, one who will be consulted by the driver to offer their unique view on the problem and provide help with making the proper decision. This can be one person, but is usually a group of people, considering that problems range in type.

The driver is the one who assembles this group of expert consultants based on what’s necessary regarding experience and skill sets in the project. This might be one of the driver’s most important responsibilities, as the contributor adds the needed ballast to the project to keep it afloat.

Informed

Just as the name implies, the informed are those in the project who need to be informed. They’re usually the ones who just need to know about the progress of the project. While in some cases this group might have authority over the project, they’re not involved in the planning or execution, they just play the role of stakeholders.

How to Use the DACI Decision-Making Framework

Now that roles are defined, it’s easier to see how this framework will assist in making the right decision the right way. It’ll also create efficiencies to help move the project forward swiftly.

1. Select a Driver

The driver is the project leader who will implement the DACI framework, guide the efforts of approvers and contributors and decide who should be informed when decisions are made. Depending on the project, there might be several individuals sharing this responsibility.

2. Assemble a Team of Contributors

The contributors are the team members who will offer their expertise, skills and knowledge to help the team make decisions. Contributors are individuals who specialize in a certain area of a business or organization.

3. Determine Who Will Approve Decisions Made by Contributors

Once you have a team of contributors, the next step is to select approvers, who will work closely with the driver to keep projects moving forward. Project decisions might involve different departments, so there might be multiple approvers.

4. Identify Project Decisions that Require the Use of the DACI Framework

Once you’ve assembled a team, you’ll be able to use the DACI decision-making framework when needed in your project. To know when decisions need to be made, it’s important to break down your project into individual tasks by using a work breakdown structure. Once you do so, you’ll know if there are any decisions that might need to be made as a team.

5. Estimate the Impact of a Decision and Determine Who Should be Informed

Once you identify a decision that requires the involvement of contributors, approvers and the driver, everybody must work together to agree on a decision that benefits the organization. Once a decision is made, then it’s time to assess its impact and determine who will be affected by it.

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DACI Model Example

To better understand how to apply the DACI framework in project management, let’s go over a project decision that requires the involvement of contributors, approvers and drivers.

Imagine an organization is about to launch a website, a project that involves many decisions.

Driver: In this case, the driver is the digital marketing director, appointed by the company executives. As stated above, the driver will direct the effort of all those involved in the development of the site.

Approvers: While this is a digital marketing project, it must be reviewed by other areas of the company, such as a representative from the product development team who will make sure the content of the website describes the product accurately, a representative from the financial department who will make sure the project cost is acceptable for the organization and a website development expert who will advocate for the functionality of the website.

Contributors: In this example, there are many contributors such as web developers, graphic designers, copywriters, SEO specialists, content marketing experts and any other professionals who are involved in the website development process. Their input is important for the effectiveness of the site, but it must also adhere to the requirements of approvers.

Informed: Project executives, the board of directors and other stakeholders should be informed as the project progresses.

Benefits of Using the DACI Framework In Project Management

As long as you have a team, you can use the DACI model to streamline your team’s decision-making. Here are some of the main benefits of implementing the DACI framework for managing projects.

Promotes Team Collaboration

DACI helps teams collaborate as it requires the input of various team members even if they don’t usually work together. This will help your organization become more cohesive and efficient.

Avoid Misunderstandings Among Team Members

In any project, there are different types of teams collaborating to reach a common goal. However, some differences might end up causing conflict among some of your team members, as they might have slightly different priorities. DACI establishes a clear chain of command which helps leaders resolve any disagreements by finding the solution that’s best for the project.

Helps Teams Meet Project Requirements

By incorporating the ideas of diverse collaborators and creating a framework that facilitates decision tracking, DACI helps deliver successful projects.