1.8Getting Sign-Off Without Wasting Time

The purpose of sign-off is not bureaucracy -- it is alignment. When the product manager, tech lead, and QA lead all sign the test plan, they are agreeing on what "tested" means for this release.

Who signs off:

• QA Lead: owns the plan
• Tech Lead / Engineering Manager: confirms feasibility and completeness
• Product Manager: confirms scope and priorities align with business needs

How to get sign-off efficiently:

1. Share a draft early (not a finished document)
2. Review it in a short meeting (15-30 minutes) rather than asking people to review asynchronously
3. Focus the discussion on scope, risks, and exit criteria -- the decisions that matter
4. Document agreements and disagreements. If the PM wants to skip regression on Module X, note it explicitly.