The owner is the executive that will foot the bill, the true buyer if external resources are used.
Footing the bill in any business situation should be an indicator of responsibility.
Owner means possession, acceptance of maintenance, pride, a signal of the value.
Using the word in Change Management sends a message of importance.
What does the word owner replace?
The burned out overused and misused term “Sponsor” or worse “ Executive Sponsor”.
Sponsors pay money to support something and then typically do not show up. Worse is sending a representative. Sound like some change initiatives you have seen?
This is not just a semantic discussion.
The words that are used for change management send messages to stakeholders about understanding, value and the worth of acknowledging the change process individuals and organizational cultures go through.
As an executive for change, participate be the owner, avoid pass the buck sponsorship.
