Sponsorship
Who is standing behind you when the first hard call has to be made?
1. I have a named executive sponsor — a specific person, not "leadership."
2. My sponsor and I have a recurring one-on-one on the calendar, and it happens.
3. My sponsor has publicly connected my role to a stated organizational priority.
Success Definition
If you delivered brilliantly, would anyone agree on what that looked like?
4. Success for my first 12 months is defined in writing, with numbers where possible.
5. My sponsor, my peers, and I would give the same answer if asked what my function exists to do.
6. There is agreement on what my function will NOT do — the boundary is as clear as the mission.
Resourcing
A mandate without means is a wish.
7. I have (or have a committed path to) the people needed for the first year's plan.
8. Business units are expected to give my projects real time — participation isn't treated as a favor.
9. I have budget authority, or a defined route to funding, for tools, training, and support.
Authority
When you and the status quo disagree, who wins?
10. I can select or veto which improvement projects get pursued.
11. When a process owner resists a change, there's an agreed escalation path — and it works.
12. Recommendations from my function turn into implemented changes, not shelfware reports.