The correct answer is that 'Responsible' indicates the person who performs the work, while 'Accountable' denotes the person who ultimately answers for the task's completion. This distinction is central to a RACI chart because the Responsible party does the hands-on work, whereas the Accountable party has final authority and approval, even if others execute the tasks. On the Project Management Professional PMP exam, this concept tests your understanding of responsibility assignment matrices, often appearing in questions about delegation and role clarity. A common trap is confusing 'Accountable' with 'Responsible'—remember that only one person can be Accountable, but multiple can be Responsible. For a quick memory tip, think of the 'A' in Accountable as 'Answerable'—the single person who signs off, while the 'R' in Responsible is for 'Runs' the work.
PMP Process — Managing Technical Aspects Practice Question
This PMP practice question tests your understanding of process — managing technical aspects. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A project manager is using a RACI chart to assign responsibilities for key deliverables. Which TWO statements about a RACI chart are true? (Choose two.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
'Accountable' means the person who ultimately answers for the completion of the task.
Option C is correct because in a RACI chart, 'Accountable' (the 'A') denotes the person who ultimately answers for the completion of the task or deliverable. This person has final authority and is responsible for ensuring the work is done correctly, even if others perform the work. This aligns with the PMBOK Guide definition of accountability in responsibility assignment matrices.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
'Consulted' indicates the person who must approve the work.
Why it's wrong here
'Consulted' are those who provide input; 'Accountable' approves.
✗
A RACI chart is used to prioritize stakeholder engagement.
Why it's wrong here
RACI is for role assignment, not prioritization.
✓
'Accountable' means the person who ultimately answers for the completion of the task.
Why this is correct
The Accountable person is the one who signs off or approves.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
There can be multiple people Accountable for a single task.
Why it's wrong here
Only one person should be Accountable to avoid confusion.
✓
'Responsible' indicates the person who performs the work.
Why this is correct
The Responsible person does the work.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
PMI often tests the distinction between 'Responsible' and 'Accountable', and the trap here is that candidates mistakenly think multiple people can be Accountable for a single task, confusing it with the 'Responsible' role which can have multiple assignees.
Trap categories for this question
Similar concept trap
Only one person should be Accountable to avoid confusion.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The RACI (Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, Informed) matrix is a responsibility assignment matrix defined in project management frameworks like PMBOK. The 'Accountable' role is often the project manager or a work package owner who signs off on the deliverable, while 'Responsible' individuals are the actual doers. A common real-world scenario is in software development: a developer (Responsible) writes code, but the tech lead (Accountable) approves the pull request and is answerable for its quality. Misassigning multiple Accountable persons can lead to governance confusion and project delays.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the PMP exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this PMP question in full detail.
Process — Managing Technical Aspects — This question tests Process — Managing Technical Aspects — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: 'Accountable' means the person who ultimately answers for the completion of the task. — Option C is correct because in a RACI chart, 'Accountable' (the 'A') denotes the person who ultimately answers for the completion of the task or deliverable. This person has final authority and is responsible for ensuring the work is done correctly, even if others perform the work. This aligns with the PMBOK Guide definition of accountability in responsibility assignment matrices.
What should I do if I get this PMP question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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