What is the DACI Decision-Making Framework?

What is the DACI Decision-Making Framework?

DACI elaborated as Driver, Approver, Contributor, and Informed. In project management, the DACI framework provides structural support by defining clear roles for the senior level. The approach is mainly utilized in fields like software development, product development or project management that need a versatile and efficient approach.

For an individual or group of people working in a DACI model, a clear expectation from each role is designated. Furthermore, communication and effective decision-making are streamlined based on the expected roles, which eliminates duplicated efforts. Incorporating the DACI decision-making framework leads to a quick, smooth and effective decision. 

Roles and Responsibilities in the DACI Decision Model

Before starting with the project, each member of the group is assigned a particular task to which they understand, agree and proceed. Understanding and agreeing on a task is a crucial step as it is majorly responsible for reducing the risk of friction during the task progression. Additionally, the outcome involves several steps, like interviewing, deep research, collection of resources, and so on, to bring out an effective result. 

Here are four forms of the DACI framework for effective project management.

Driver

The role is for the manager or project leaders. There can be more than one driver in a huge, complex project for different tasks, which can even complicate the process. Drivers are responsible for every task— managing the project from inception to its completion.  

Driver must direct the project’s directory and make sure that everyone involved in the group is reaching their success. Some of the key responsibilities of drivers are:

• Assigning tasks to each member of the group
• Establish and ensure the deliverables of the project
• Setting milestones and deadlines
• Making and setting goals within the deadlines
• Organize meetings to keep track of the progress and other concerns
• Maintaining the documentation of the entire project
• Assessing the productivity of the team members

Approver

The driver makes the decision, but the approver approves it. The DACI model involves an approver for unbiased decisions who has the final say on each detail of the project. Like drivers, approvers can also be more than one in a group, depending on the company/project’s size.  

However, it sometimes only makes the project complicated. Therefore, keeping a single approver throughout the project is recommended. Approver offers clarity in the confused and complex decision-making process. Some of the roles of the approver may include

• Authorized to approve the decision-making and documents
• Follows unbiased approach 
• Have the right to approve or reject the decision or activities
• They can hold or reassign the tasks based on the requirements
• Provide questions, comments and feedback on the request for approval

Contributor

Unlike drivers and approvers, contributors do not have the right to make any decisions. However, they are subject matter experts who inform the decision-making process. They contribute their prior experience, knowledge and skills. 

The project chooses the potential contributor for their project based on their expertise, fast-paced and unique perspectives. Best contributors may involve

• Industry experts
• Business owners
• Data analysts
• Business analysts
• Investors 

Informed

As the name implies, every information must be delivered to the person who needs to be informed. The informed person does not have a direct association, authority or involvement in the project. However, to maintain the final state of the result, day-to-day activities and responsibilities must be reported to evaluate the project's overall performance. Drivers provide updates on the project through mail or other official process to the informed.

How to Use the DACI Decision-Making Framework?

The DACI model functions as a unifying tool in team collaboration. It aids in appropriate decision-making and effective collaboration, even in the most troubled groups. Each team member acknowledges and accepts their responsibilities, and the potential of conflicts automatically fades. The DACI framework functions as a stepwise scenario that includes

1. Entire projects are initially assigned to a driver but do not have the final approval.
2. The project is segregated into smaller components; an approver and contributor are assigned to each component.

Note: Based on the size and structure of the project, the number of drivers and approvers may vary.

1. Groups understand and agree on the tasks and start working on sub-tasks of their assigned roles. 
2. Team members ensure to keep the drivers informed about their progress throughout the whole process.
3. Once the target is reached and the task completed, a final decision has to be made. Therefore, the details get submitted to the approver to make the necessary final call. 
4. The informed gets updated with the entire information, and the cycle continues the same again.

DACI Model Example

Suppose a research paper has to be published by a team of researchers.

1. Driver: Here, the principal investigator (PI) plays the driver role, leading the research team for the entire research project. From planning to contacting the journal for publication, the PI will be responsible for coordinating the efforts of its research group.
2. Approver: When the final draft is completed, it will be handed over to the approver, who could be the research committee, department head or academic advisor. They review the article thoroughly and decide whether it meets the expectations and the desired standard.
3. Contributor: As per the suggestions and reviews, the contributors will make efforts to improve the quality of the research work to meet the standard. Contributors could be members of the research team who contributed to the study and delivered their expertise in the work.
4. Informed: The director and other members of the institution must be informed about the submission of the research article to the journal. The members may not be involved directly in the creation of the article, but they need to be informed about the progress in the department.

Benefits of Using the DACI Framework 

There are potential benefits of using the DACI model for effective project management, such as

• DACI avoids misunderstanding in task distribution and understanding
• DACI model helps to promote team collaboration
• The model ad n meeting the project requirements
• It helps the team members complete the project within the deadlines
• There is no class n tas division among the team members through the DACI framework

Choose the Right Program

Are you looking to take your project management skills to the next level? Look no further than Simplilearn's comprehensive project management courses!

Our courses are designed to help professionals at every level of experience to develop and enhance their project management skills, whether you're just starting out in the field or looking to advance your career. With our courses, you'll gain practical, hands-on experience in managing projects from start to finish, and learn best practices and industry standards that will set you apart from the competition.

Program Name	PMP® Certification Training Course	PMP Plus	Post Graduate Program In Project Management
Geo	All Geos	All Geos	All Geos
University	PMI	Simplilearn	University of Massachusetts Amherst
Course Duration	90 Days of Flexible Access to Online Classes	36 Months	6 Months
Coding experience reqd	No	No	No
Skills you wll learn	8+ PM skills including Work Breakdown Structure, Gantt Charts, Resource Allocation, Leadership and more.	6 courses including Project Management, Agile Scrum Master, Implementing a PMO, and More	9+ skills including Project Management, Quality Management, Agile Management, Design Thinking and More.
Additional Benefits	-Experiential learning through case studies -Global Teaching Assistance -35PDUs	-Learn by working on real-world problems -24x7 Learning support from mentors	-Earn 60+ PDU’s -3 year course access
Cost	$$	$$$$	$$$$
	Explore Program	Explore Program	Explore Program

Conclusion 

By applying the DACI model, the tasks and responsibilities can be assigned equally with no trouble for the team members. Here, driver approver contributors and informed perform their roles associated with the project to make them well structured and progressive. 

Project management requires expertise. It is important to be well-versed in knowledge and skills. Enroll in Simplilearn’s PMP and master the skills valued in the sector. Take the first step towards becoming an efficient project leader!

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is the difference between DACI and RACI?

Driver, Approver, Contributor, and Informed (DACI) contributes to the decision-based framework in project management. In contrast, Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, and Informed (RACI) focuses on the responsibility of an individual.

Q2. What is DACI used for?

DACI is used to provide a structured and well-organized approach to project management, defining the roles of every team member along with the establishment of authorities in certain areas.

Q3. What is the DACI format?

DACI format is based on its abbreviation, i.e., 

1. Driver: Who takes the decision and drives the teamwork.
2. Approver: Who has the right to make an unbiased decision on approving or rejecting the work based on the company’s standards.
3. Contributors: Individuals or teams who have prior knowledge to improve the project.
4. Informed: Individuals whose work gets affected by the above three categories and need to get notified to track the progress.

Q4. What is the DACI decision-making process?

DACI decision-making process refers to the model in which team performance is made versatile and efficient. It also increases the speed of the project’s progress.