OPS03-BP01 Executive Sponsorship - Operational Excellence Pillar
Implementation guidance

OPS03-BP01 Executive Sponsorship

Senior leadership clearly sets expectations for the organization and evaluates success. Senior leadership is the sponsor, advocate, and driver for the adoption of best practices and evolution of the organization

Benefits of establishing this best practice: Engaged leadership, clearly communicated expectations, and shared goals ensures that team members know what is expected of them. Evaluating success aids in identification of barriers to success so that they can be addressed through intervention by the sponsor advocate or their delegates.

Level of risk exposed if this best practice is not established: High

Implementation guidance

  • Executive Sponsorship: Senior leadership clearly sets expectations for the organization and evaluates success. Senior leadership is the sponsor, advocate, and driver for the adoption of best practices and evolution of the organization

    • Set expectations: Define and publish goals for your organizations including how they will be measured.

    • Track achievement of goals: Measure the incremental achievement of goals regularly and share the results so that appropriate action can be taken if outcomes are at risk.

    • Provide the resources necessary to achieve your goals: Regularly review if resources are still appropriate, of if additional resources are needed based on: new information, changes to goals, responsibilities, or your business environment.

    • Advocate for your teams: Remain engaged with your teams so that you understand how they are doing and if there are external factors affecting them. When your teams are impacted by external factors, reevaluate goals and adjust targets as appropriate. Identify obstacles that are impeding your teams progress. Act on behalf of your teams to help address obstacles and remove unnecessary burdens.

    • Be a driver for adoption of best practices: Acknowledge best practices that provide quantifiable benefits and recognize the creators and adopters. Encourage further adoption to magnify the benefits achieved.

    • Be a driver for evolution of for your teams: Create a culture of continual improvement. Encourage both personal and organizational growth and development. Provide long term targets to strive for that will require incremental achievement over time. Adjust this vision to compliment your needs, business goals, and business environment as they change.