Business leaders like a lot of influence. It’s important to be seen to be in total control. But they rarely become so exertive (an exercutive, perhaps being the over-enthusiastic c-suite equivalent of the film director?) that they, or seem to be seen as the inventor, the author or the originator of the whole of the business’ schema. 

And I guess there’s a good reason for being thankful for the rarity, seeing how this particular strain tends to behave towards employees and the rest of the world. Looking at you, Tesla Boy.

Outside of film, I wondered if the auteur is a rather rarer creature in design? The only instance where I can think of it being a thing is music packaging, specifically sleeve design, where almost the designer’s synonymity (is that a real word?) with the band or album crosses that territory. But that’s really more a case of a really good designer exactly (or luckily) catching a zeitgeist that becomes the image-memory of the music for band-fans. Which makes it a positive form of auteurism for me.

Actually, I can think of another. I’ve seen senior people, the ones who get to speak to the board and the clients, literally take ownership of other’s work (at least as for as long as it suits them.) 

And while the questionable individual might regard themselves as owner-author (in so far as the personality type is capable of that kind of introspection, mind you) it’s really more ego than auteur. The latter has to actually have the skills to be capable of driving the project, as opposed to simply claiming authorship; which is why it’s always - Always - important that you present your own work (or press to do so.) 

Of course, in the online world, the auteur ego is everywhere - or rather appears to be. The problem with internetTime is by the time you’ve had time to verify authorship and (to update Twain’s observation) before you’ve got truth’s boots on, the lie has travelled a thousand times around the earth and at the speed of light.

All that affirmation (clicks, likes, subscribes) makes it hard to dislodge ‘who invented what’ - or rather harder than is usually worth the bother. 

So hang on to what you’re creating, however bent-out-of-shape it becomes under the influence of the wannabe auteurs. You don’t need to be the auteur to get a buzz out of making things, just being the author of your own thinking can be heartening enough. Small wins are still wins. I’ll take them every time.