The formal approval or authorization given by a person in authority, typically documented in writing or electronically, indicating that they accept responsibility for a decision, project phase, or deliverable. It represents the final step in an approval process.
Originally from radio broadcasting in the 1930s, meaning to end a transmission. The business meaning emerged in the 1950s as bureaucratic processes formalized, referring to literally signing one's name to indicate approval or completion.
Sign-offs create accountability, but they can also create a 'cover-your-back' culture where people are more focused on getting signatures than making good decisions. The most effective sign-offs include not just approval, but specific criteria for what success looks like.
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