Promoting Digital Innovation and Transformation : Innovation Champions in the Digital Age

The digital age, characterized by the proliferation of digital technologies and the intertwined phenomena of digital innovation and digital transformation, challenges previous knowledge about innovation champions, individuals who vigorously drive innovation projects inside organizations. This dissertation studies the individual and organizational determinants of successful innovation champions in the digital age by relying on a multi-method approach. The results of this dissertation show that in the digital age champions increasingly promote innovation as part of a diverse group of actors or as executive champions. Studying the link between chief digital officers (CDOs), as executive champions, and stock market performance, the dissertation identifies the substantial role of managerial power in investors' perception of CDO appointments. Additionally, this dissertation shows that the success of employees championing innovation in groups can be significantly enhanced by using a work model, which combines a digital platform with innovation time. This dissertation also deepens our understanding of the context in which innovation champions operate in the digital age by extending our knowledge of the nature of digital innovation and transformation. Finally, the dissertation unravels myths about innovation champions based on empirical and theoretical findings and moves toward a novel conceptualization of innovation champions.