The second most important decision the organization executive and Lead Assessor must make is who will act as the assessment sponsor.
The assessment sponsor is a senior manager who not only oversees the assessment but also is responsible afterward for initiating process improvement activities and making resources available to carry them out. It is extremely important for any process improvement effort that the assessment sponsor is of sufficient rank to lend real authority to the effort and its implementation. Ideally, the assessment sponsor should be the president or a managing director at the top of the division that is being assessed.
When the senior executive has chosen a Lead Assessor and has helped select the scope of the assessment and the assessment sponsor, he or she should turn the assessment over to the assessment sponsor, who will guide the assessment from that point on.
The Responsibilities of the Assessment Sponsor
The assessment sponsor will strongly influence the attitude of the organization in its quest for improvement. The assessment sponsor’s duties include:
- Meeting with the Lead Assessor about the scope and aims of the assessment.
- Supporting the Lead Assessor in handling any organization tensions that might arise.
- Assigning an organization site coordinator for logistical planning and execution.
- Informing executives and staff that the assessment takes precedence over most activities.
- Formally opening the assessment and announcing management’s commitment to the assessment process and to the process improvement effort.
- Participating in an interview with the assessment team, if asked.
- Participating in the final findings briefing as the recipient of the assessment results.