Don’t Underestimate the Importance of an Executive Sponsor

A digital strategy focuses on using technology to improve business performance — whether that means creating new products or reimagining current processes. Like any corporate strategy, it needs strong leadership to succeed.

Before embarking on any digital initiative, the company should ensure it has an executive sponsor in place. This person is responsible for securing buy-in from senior management and ensuring that proposed changes align with the broader business strategy. Management must be confident that the executive sponsor will make sound decisions and involve them in key matters.

If leaders can’t see how the strategy helps them meet their goals or makes their work easier, they’re unlikely to support or fund it. On the other hand, the executive sponsor must also be able to clearly communicate the strategy to technology vendors in order to achieve the desired outcomes.

The ideal executive sponsor:

• Has authority over the affected processes
• Understands how those processes impact the business
• Can remove internal political obstacles
• Secures funding and resources
• Is personally invested in the business need behind the strategy
• Will actively promote the project’s success once it’s complete

In addition to an executive sponsor, process owners are also vital to the success of any digital project. They are responsible for the current ways of working and will ultimately manage the improved methods.

The ideal process owner:

• Has hands-on experience with the existing processes
• Understands industry best practices and can share relevant insights
• Feels the impact of inefficiencies and stands to benefit from the improvements
• Is willing to challenge outdated policies and practices
• Has an aptitude for process thinking and improvement
• Is accountable for the outcomes of the process
• Advocates for continuous improvement

Identify these key people early, and your digital strategy is far more likely to run smoothly.

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Planning a digital project? Make sure you’ve got the right people in the right roles. Talk to FlowCentric about aligning your strategy with executive sponsorship that drives real results.