A high-ranking patron who supports a knowledge-sharing and collaboration initiative provides a level of authority that can help secure funding, convince other senior leaders to support the project, and enhance the probability of its success.

Usage

Occasionally a senior figure in an organization initiates a wiki project. More often, the initiative comes from below, but the support of a senior figure is sought. By letting it be known that they support the project, a Sponsor gives permission for others to be involved and for resources to be allocated to the project.

A Sponsor is particularly important in a corporate environment, where control of IT resources and competition between organizational units may otherwise discourage participation.

Example

An employee meets with a senior executive to explains the benefits of a wiki, and perhaps demonstrates a working system within the organization. The senior executive agrees with the idea and encourages the employee to continue. The executive becomes a Sponsor by “giving the nod” to the initiative, making it known that they support the use of a wiki, and providing financial support for the project to work toward a series of measurable milestones.