What aspect should the business sponsor avoid directly managing during the implementation phase?

In the context of managing change within a business, it is essential for a business sponsor to maintain a strategic focus rather than getting involved in the minutiae of specific technical implementations. While it is crucial that the technology solution adheres to the established specifications, the business sponsor should ideally not be directly managing this aspect during the implementation phase.

By avoiding direct management of how the technology operates according to specifications, the business sponsor allows the technical team or the project manager to handle the complexities and details of the implementation. This enables the sponsor to concentrate on higher-level activities such as stakeholder engagement, change management, and ensuring that the overall project aligns with business objectives. Such a separation of responsibilities helps in maintaining the clarity of roles and prevents potential conflicts or confusion that may arise from overlapping duties.

Effectively, the sponsor's role is to ensure that the change aligns with the strategic goals and to advocate for the necessary resources and support. In doing so, they can address other critical factors, such as managing the impact on those affected by the change and ensuring that the anticipated benefits are realized, which are more aligned with their responsibilities as leaders.