Champions of Product Innovations : Defining, Developing, and Validating a Measure of Champion Behavior

The purpose of this study was to develop a scale formeasuring the behaviors of champions (individuals who actively andenthusiastically promote innovations through the crucial organizationalstages).Data from a survey of 94 middle managers and executives and asurvey of 149 business school alumni were used to generate a list of 29champion behaviors.The psychometric properties of this champion behaviormeasure were then evaluated. This evaluation involved a study of 47 product innovations in 13 firms fromthe electronics, automotive, and aerospace industries.Data frominterviews with 47 nominated champions, as well as data from 47 top divisionmanagers' and 216 innovation team members' ratings of project performance andchampion behavior and leadership style, were used to test the factorstructures, reliability, and convergent, discriminant, and criterion-relatedvalidity of the champion measure. Analysis of the data indicate that 14 of the 29 champion behaviors wereretainable.The 14-item champion behavior measure was composed of threefactors: expressing enthusiasm and confidence about the success of theinnovation, persisting under adversity, and getting the right peopleinvolved. (SAA)