Which role removes major organizational barriers to acceptance after the idea has been approved?

• A. Sponsor
• B. Champion
• C. Inventor
• D. Critic

Answer: (A)

The key thing being tested is who has the formal authority and mandate to remove big obstacles once an idea has cleared initial approval. That role is the sponsor. A sponsor is a senior leader who backs the change at the highest level, commits the necessary resources, and cuts through organizational resistance to move implementation forward. With their authority, they can reallocate budgets, align cross-department priorities, and address political or structural barriers that blocks momentum. This makes them the best fit for clearing major obstacles that stand in the way of moving from idea to action.

A champion can rally support and sustain momentum within parts of the organization, but they typically don’t have the authority to clear widespread barriers that span multiple units. The inventor creates the idea, while the critic tests it by raising concerns; both roles are important for shaping and validating the change, but they don’t inherently carry the organizational clout to remove major barriers across the enterprise.