I can understand withholding approval until adjustments are made.
The approver wants to see certain changes introduced before they are ready to give their blessing.
If you are on the project team, you hope and pray the changes are miniscule.
Let’s say they are, the team goes away, makes the changes and resubmits the draft for sign off.
Now if the corrections and additions have been implemented correctly then I think the project has earned its approval.
If the project team doesn’t receive an “Approved” instantly then I think fear and doubt have crept into the approver’s mind.
‘What if I’m missing something?’
‘What if there’s a horrendous mistake I’m not seeing?!?’
‘I’ll just read it over again!’
This fear is understandable, after all, should the worst happen, the buck will stop with the approver.
But it also means waiting.
Waiting for someone to overcome their fear of making and being blamed for mistakes.
Thomas Duggan 