Explain the concept of decision rights and RASCI in governance.

• A. Decision rights define who has authority to make decisions.
• B. RASCI is a responsibility assignment matrix clarifying roles.
• C. Decision rights have no relation to RASCI.
• D. Decision rights define who has authority to make decisions; RASCI is a responsibility assignment matrix clarifying roles (Responsible, Accountable, Supportive, Consulted, Informed).

Answer: (D)

Decision rights establish who has the authority to make specific decisions and where decisions should be escalated or reviewed within the governance framework. They set the boundaries of who can decide, who approves, and who is held accountable, which helps prevent bottlenecks and unclear ownership.

RASCI is a responsibility assignment framework that clarifies roles around decisions and actions: Responsible who actually does the work, Accountable who owns the final sign-off, Supportive who helps with the effort, Consulted who provides input, and Informed who is kept updated. Together, decision rights tell you who has the authority to decide, and RASCI shows who is involved, who must be consulted, and who bears accountability for the outcome. For example, in approving a project budget, someone with decision-rights authority approves, the Accountable person signs off, the Responsible person handles the procurement work, and the Consulted and Informed groups provide input and receive updates. This pairing reduces ambiguity, accelerates decision-making, and strengthens governance.