Business analysis glossary
Sign-Off
What it is
Sign-off is the formal confirmation, by an authorised person, that a deliverable such as a requirements document, a test result or a release is accepted. It is recorded with a name, a role and a date. Typical formats include an email approval, a signature on a document page or an approval recorded in a tool, depending on company practice.
Why it matters
It marks agreement and shifts responsibility to the right owner. Without it, stakeholders may later say they never approved what was built. Analysts check that the person signing is the right authority, as shown in the RACI, and that they have seen the final version.
Example
After UAT, the head of lending at Cedar Credit Union signs the UAT summary stating that all critical scenarios passed and two minor defects are accepted for a later release. The signed document is stored with the project records, so months later it is clear who accepted the result and on what basis.