Who should be listed as owner and as approver in an SOP header?

• A. Owner approves; approver maintains.
• B. Both are the same person.
• C. There is no owner.
• D. Owner maintains content; approver authorizes the document.

Answer: (D)

In an SOP header, it’s important to separate duties: one person keeps the content accurate and up-to-date, while another person with authority signs off to authorize the document. The owner is responsible for maintaining the content—ensuring procedures are current, clear, and reflect actual practice. The approver reviews the document for quality, accuracy, and compliance, and provides the official authorization to publish or distribute it. This separation creates accountability and a built-in check before the document goes live.

Having the owner handle approvals would double-load responsibilities on one person and remove the formal sign-off that confirms the document is ready for use. Having both roles assigned to the same individual eliminates the necessary checks and balances, increasing risk of unreviewed or biased content being approved. If there’s no designated owner at all, maintenance falls through, and the SOP can become outdated or inconsistent.

Therefore, the best approach is to assign someone to maintain the content and another person to authorize the document, ensuring clear ownership and proper authorization before release.