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A framework for nurturing champions of digital innovation

Author: Horstmann, Svea,Drechsler, Katharina,Chandra Kruse, Leona
Publisher: Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer,Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer
Year: 2025
DOI: 10.1007/s10257-024-00697-9
Source: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/330711/1/10257_2025_Article_697.pdf
Ho s mann, S ea; D echsle , Ka ha ina; Chand a K use, Leona
A icle — Published Ve sion
A amewo k o nu u ing champions o digi al inno a ion
In o ma ion Sys ems and e-Business Managemen
P o ided in Coope a ion wi h:
Sp inge Na u e
Sugges ed Ci a ion: Ho s mann, S ea; D echsle , Ka ha ina; Chand a K use, Leona (2025) : A
amewo k o nu u ing champions o digi al inno a ion, In o ma ion Sys ems and e-Business
Managemen , ISSN 1617-9854, Sp inge , Be lin, Heidelbe g, Vol. 23, Iss. 2, pp. 623-669,
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ORIGINAL ARTICLE
A amewo k o nu u ing champions o digi al inno a ion
S eaHo s mann1· Ka ha inaD echsle 2 · LeonaChand aK use3
Recei ed: 27 Feb ua y 2024 / Re ised: 28 June 2024 / Accep ed: 20 No embe 2024 /
Published online: 26 Janua y 2025
© The Au ho (s) 2025
Abs ac
In o ma ion Sys ems (IS) champions en husias ically p omo e a digi al inno a ion
p ojec h oughou i s de elopmen by ob aining he necessa y esou ces. These
indi iduals shape he inno a i eness o an o ganiza ion, as hey ini ia e digi al
inno a ion p ojec s and lead hem owa d success ul comple ion. We s ill know
li le abou how hese champions can be iden i ied and nu u ed in o ganiza ions.
We ollow he Design Science Resea ch app oach in de eloping a amewo k o
nu u ing IS champions ha can guide human esou ce p ac i ione s. Ou amewo k
o e s a s a egic iew o he champion jou ney and p esc ibes ecommenda ions o
ac ion. The design decisions we e de i ed om li e a u e on digi al inno a ion and
inno a ion champions, and he amewo k was subsequen ly e ined and e alua ed
me iculously. The design unde wen wo s ages based on expe in e iews om
he IT indus y ( o ma i e e alua ion) and was subsequen ly e alua ed by expe s
in digi al inno a ion p ojec managemen and human esou ce de elopmen in
he IT indus y (summa i e e alua ion). The esul s demons a e he easibili y o
he amewo k and o e u he insigh s in o he p oblem and solu ion space o
nu u ing IS champions.
Keywo ds IS champion· Digi al inno a ion· Champion nu u ing amewo k·
Design science esea ch
* Ka ha ina D echsle
[email p o ec ed]oeln.de
S ea Ho s mann
s [email p o ec ed]
Leona Chand a K use
[email p o ec ed]
1 Helsing GmbH, Mühldo s . 8, 81671Munich, Ge many
2 Uni e si y o Cologne, Albe us-Magnus-Pla z, 50923Cologne, Ge many
3 Depa men o In o ma ion Sys ems, Uni e si y o Agde , Uni e si e s eien 25,
4630K is iansand, No way
624
S.Ho s mann e al.
1 In oduc ion
The ise o digi al echnologies in ecen yea s has signi ican ly inc eased he
impo ance o p omo ing digi al inno a ion in o ganiza ions (e.g., Fichman e  al.
2014; Mülle e  al. 2019; on B iel e  al. 2021). In digi al inno a ion, “digi al
echnologies and associa ed digi izing p ocesses o m an inna e pa o he new idea
and/o i s de elopmen , di usion, o assimila ion” (Nambisan 2017, p. 224). The
mos no able cha ac e is ic o digi al inno a ion is he democ a iza ion o agency
(Fichman e  al. 2014; Opland e  al. 2020), as e iden in employee-d i en digi al
inno a ion p ojec s. When ini ia ed by employees, a digi al inno a ion ini ia i e is
mo e likely o lead o a pe sis en compe i i e ad an age (Thompson e  al. 2020;
Yan e al. 2018).
The ini ia o s o such employee-d i en inno a ion a e known as in o ma ion sys-
ems (IS) champions, indi idual ac o s who en husias ically acqui e he equi ed
esou ces o p omo e a digi al inno a ion p ojec and shape he inno a ion’s design
(Renken and Heeks 2019). Since champions o en wo k behind closed doo s, high-
p o ile examples a e ha d o ind. Howe e , one amous example in ol es se e al
champions who pe sis en ly wo ked on he de elopmen and p omo ion o lap ops
a Toshiba in an unde - he- able p ojec ha was opposed by headqua e s bu ul i-
ma ely led o a wo ldwide success o Toshiba (Abe i 1997). Mo e ecen documen ed
examples include he de elopmen o an in o ma ion sys em in he heal hca e sec o
h ough collec i e social in e ac ions o ec ui eam membe s, de elop a pa icipa o y
s uc u e, and gain and main ain suppo om decisionmake s ( an Lae e and Agges-
am 2015). IS champions a e highly in luen ial no only a he beginning o a p ojec
(Howell e al. 2005; Maidique 1980; Renken and Heeks 2019; D echsle e al. 2021),
bu also in de e mining he p ojec ’s success (Dong e al. 2007; Howell and Shea 2001;
Ma kham and G i in 1998). Gi en hese bene i s, we expec o ganiza ions o be pa -
icula ly in e es ed in iden i ying po en ial IS champions among all employees and
p omo ing hei de elopmen wi h sui able measu es. IT wo k o ce and o ganiza ional
ision alignmen ha e indeed a long adi ion in IS esea ch (Gélinas e al. 2022; John-
son e al. 2016; Niede man e al. 1991; Roepke e al. 2000).
Despi e inno a ion champions’ impo ance, li e a u e on how o nu u e he
eme gence o IS champions is sca ce (Renken and Heeks 2019). Mos p io wo ks
assume ha indi iduals p edisposed wi h ce ain indi idual cha ac e is ics spon-
aneously eme ge as champions, i he igh condi ions p e ail in an o ganiza ion
(Howell and Higgins 1990; Ma kham 2000). On he o he hand, some o he wo ks
ollow he nu u e iew and ecommend manage s o ac i ely nu u e champions
(Howell e al. 2005). Howe e , e alua ed guidelines on how IS champions can be
nu u ed a e a e. This pape esponds o calls o p o ide p ac ice wi h guidance on
how o nu u e IS champions (Renken and Heeks 2019) by ex ending he cu en
knowledge base on de elopmen al measu es (e.g., Be els e al. 2020; Howell and
Higgins 1990). Thus, he pape examines he ollowing esea ch ques ion:How can
IS champions be nu u ed wi hin an o ganiza ion?
In answe ing his esea ch ques ion, his pape concep ualizes and e alua es a
amewo k o nu u ing IS champions by ollowing a Design Science Resea ch (DSR)
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A amewo k o nu u ing champions o digi al inno a ion
app oach. The DSR p ocess p oposed by Pe e s e al. (2007) guides his esea ch. The
esul s o a li e a u e e iew p o ide he heo e ical ounda ion. Following he p oo -
o -concep esea ch s age (Nunamake e al. 2015) and he F amewo k o E alua ion
in Design Science (FEDS) (Venable e al. 2016), expe s, p edominan ly om he IT
indus y, e alua ed he designed a i ac h ough in e iews. In doing so, his pape
add esses “design and ac ion” as an unde ep esen ed ype o heo y (G ego 2006) in
his esea ch a ea (Renken and Heeks 2019).
This pape con ibu es o IS esea ch in ou ways. Fi s , we ex end he knowledge
base on IS champions’ eme gence h ough a amewo k as he design a i ac . Second,
we p o ide insigh s in o he p oblem and solu ion space o nu u ing IS champions, as
designe s o digi al echnology, and he easibili y o such an app oach o p o iding
design knowledge. Thi d, we ex end he esea ch s eam on IT wo k o ce alignmen
(Roepke e al. 2000) o conside he possibili y o nu u ing he po en ial o he IT
wo k o ce o championing digi al inno a ion. Finally, we p esen po en ial ins an ia-
ions o ou amewo k in es ablished human esou ce managemen sys ems (A hu
1994; DeSanc is 1986; Saks 2022) as well as s andalone IS applica ions.
The ollowing sec ion p o ides he heo e ical backg ound. The ea e , he
esea ch me hod is desc ibed in de ail. This is ollowed by an in oduc ion o he
designed amewo k and a desc ip ion o he amewo k’s h ee e alua ion episodes.
The pape closes wi h a discussion o he indings and a conclusion.
2 Theo e ical backg ound
2.1 De ining ISchampions
Inno a ing in ol es oppo uni y ecogni ion (Hay on and Kelley 2006), a ising om
in o ma ion asymme y in socie y (Shane 2000). Howe e , “[no] o dina y in ol emen
wi h a new idea p o ides he ene gy equi ed o cope wi h he … esis ance … [ o]
change” (Schon 1963, p. 84) ha inno a ion b ings. Schon (1963) iden i ied inno a-
ion champions as essen ial o ha oppo uni y. The impo ance o inno a ion has also
been acknowledged in IS esea ch, coining he no ion o “IS champion” as a nod o he
ole o hese champions in IS inno a ion o digi al inno a ion. The IS champion is an
indi idual o g oup o indi iduals “who [make] a decisi e con ibu ion o he socio-
echnical inno a ion by ac i ely and en husias ically p omo ing i s p og ess h ough
c i ical inno a ion and di usion s ages o ob ain esou ces and ac i e suppo om all
s akeholde s” (Renken and Heeks 2019, p. 835).
Champions p omo e an inno a ion p ojec in se e al ways. Besides esou ce
acquisi ion (Jenssen and Jø gensen 2004), hei ac i i ies include idea selec ion and
p omo ion (Schon 1963), mo i a ion o he eam (Howell and Shea 2006), isioning
and inspi a ion o o he s (Howell and Higgins 1990), knowledge ans e (D echsle
e  al. 2021), as well as ne wo king and he in ol emen o o he  people (Howell
and Shea 2006). Champions a e c ea i e in ans o ming an idea in o a p o o ype,
en husias ic abou new echnology, and con iden (Howell e al. 2005; Hay on and
Kelly 2006). They app oach he p ojec s in a isk- aking, pe sis en , p oac i e, and
op imis ic manne (Reibenspiess e al. 2018; Howell and Shea 2001; Rou e 2001).
626
S.Ho s mann e al.
Skills include suppo i eness, inno a i eness, ne wo king, social skills, and ans-
o ma ional leade ship (Reibenspiess e al. 2018; Howell e al. 2005;Jenssen and
Jø gensen 2004). In addi ion, champions need echnical, business, indus y-speci ic,
and o ganiza ional knowledge (Howell and Shea 2001; Hay on and Kelly 2006;
Rou e 2001) and di e se ca ee expe ience (Renken and Heeks 2019). S udies indi-
ca e ha indi iduals aking up he ole o inno a ion champion all wi hin a spec-
um by ul illing he cha ac e is ics and ac i i ies o champions o a deg ee (Howell
and Shea 2001; Wal e e al. 2011).
Ex an li e a u e is cha ac e ized by an ongoing discussion on champions’
p edisposi ion, appoin men , and de elopmen (Renken and Heeks 2019). Se e al
s udies ound champions eme ging om speci ic oles o posi ions (Dong e al. 2007;
Es e es and Pas o 2002), while o he s a gue ha an appoin men o he ole migh
unde mine champions’ mo i a ion (Howell and Higgins 1990). Addi ionally, se e al
s udies ha e desc ibed inno a ion champions’ ai s (e.g., Hay on and Kelley 2006;
Rou e 2001). Thus, Howell and Higgins (1990) desc ibe how pa icula pe sonali y
ai s p edispose champions’ eme gence, bu also sugges ha ans o ma ional
leade ship aining can nu u e champions. O he esea che s sugges ha inno a ion
champions can be nu u ed by o e ing incuba o se ices combined wi h eely
a ailable esou ces (Bea h 1991), o h ough engagemen on a pla o m p omo ing
employee-d i en inno a ion (Reibenspiess e al., 2022). Addi ionally, an Lae e and
Agges am (2015) ound ha champions lea n om p io expe iences and adap hei
beha io . In his way, champions may nu u e hemsel es h ough u u e p ojec s.
Ye , how o ganiza ions can se up aining p og ams o champions emains an
unanswe ed ques ion (Renken and Heeks 2019).
2.2 IS champion asIT wo k o ce o digi al inno a ion
We conside IS champions as membe s o he la ge IT wo k o ce. IS esea ch on
he IT wo k o ce has a long his o y which can be di ided in o h ee wa es (Wiesche
e al. 2020): IT as a new p o ession, IT as a s a egic esou ce, and new o ms o
IT o ganiza ions. This pape is pa icula ly conce ned wi h he new o ms o IT
o ganiza ions. Aligning he IT wo k o ce and o ganiza ional ision has long been
a ocus o IS esea ch (Roepke e al. 2000). On he one hand, digi al echnologies
ha e become enable s o new ways o wo king, and hese we e ecen ly p omp ed
o pandemic con ainmen (Zamani and Spanaki 2023). On he o he hand, hese
new o ms o o ganiza ions end o dis ibu e leade ship o e en become leade less
(Zhang and Fae man 2007). This has implica ions o he ole o IS champions in
d i ing inno a ion ini ia i es. Championing inno a ion ini ia i es is no longe a de
ac o ole o leade s. Ins ead, any employee can become an IS champion.
In he las decades, he de elopmen o new echnologies has been closely
in e wined wi h he ans o ma ion o he IT wo k o ce, which has also been
e e ed o as co-e olu ion (Niede man e  al. 2016). Following his de elopmen ,
he la es echnological changes, such as he inc easing p ominence o digi al
echnologies, ha e b ough abou signi ican changes o he IT wo k o ce. The
eme gence o digi al echnology has had a p o ound impac on he na u e o digi al

627
A amewo k o nu u ing champions o digi al inno a ion
inno a ion and he inno a ion p ocess (e.g., Buck e al. 2022; Fichman e al. 2014;
Yoo e  al. 2010), which in u n a ec s inno a ion agency and champions. In he
ealm o digi al inno a ion, new ideas, and app oaches eme ge om he in eg a ion
o p e iously disconnec ed knowledge elemen s o igina ing om di e se indus ies
(Ba e e  al. 2012; Yoo e  al. 2012), and a e b ough o ui ion h ough he
collabo a ion o equen ly changing associa ions o a ious ac o s (Nambisan
e al. 2017). This is acili a ed by he new laye ed modula a chi ec u e o digi al
inno a ion, which o e s almos unlimi ed oppo uni ies o ecombining exis ing
physical and digi al componen s o p oduce no el p oduc s and se ices (Yoo e al.
2010). Fu he mo e, digi al echnologies a e subjec o cons an and spon aneous
change, a phenomenon desc ibed as he gene a i i y o digi al inno a ion (Yoo e al.
2012; Zi ain 2006). These de elopmen s unde sco e he c i ical ole o inno a ion
champions in di ec ing and managing he apidly e ol ing de elopmen p ocesses o
digi al inno a ion. Dis ibu ed eams o IS champions can play a signi ican ole in
o ches a ing and p omo ing hese spon aneously changing de elopmen p ocesses
( an Lae e and Agges am 2015; Negoi a e al. 2022), highligh ing he impo ance
o champions in p omo ing digi al inno a ion p ojec s h oughou hei de elopmen
s ages.
As membe s o he IT wo k o ce, IS champions can bene i om a ge ed human
esou ce managemen (HRM) p ac ices. Issues ela ed o ca ee de elopmen ,
go e nance, and o ganiza ional policy (including HRM policy) a e pa s o he
epe oi e in IT wo k o ce esea ch (Wiesche, e al. 2020). O ganiza ional cul u e and
s uc u e in luence he IT wo k o ce (Jenkin e al. 2019; Kaa s -B own e al. 2019;
Ma uping e al. 2019), and we expec hem o p omo e he jou ney o becoming IS
champions. The challenge is how o iden i y he po en ial o IS champion beha io
in employees and hen nu u e and ac ualize his po en ial (Renken and Heeks 2019).
We add ess his challenge by iewing i as a socio echnical endea o .
2.3 Nu u ing ISchampions asasocio echnical endea o
IS champions ac wi hin he o ganiza ional con ex and in e ac wi h o he
champions, employees, and s akeholde s. This demands a conside a ion o he
champion’s en i onmen (e.g., o ganiza ional cul u e, s uc u e, and policy)
in s udying he IS champion’s jou ney. The socio- echnical sys ems (STS)
heo y p o ides a heo e ical lens o iew he IS champion as pa o a g ea e
whole (Lyy inen and Newman 2008; Seidel e  al. 2013). Mo e impo an ly, he
socio echnical pe spec i e is one o he mos impo an “axis o cohesion” in IS
esea ch as he communi y g ows and expands i s bounda ies (Sa ke , e al. 2019).
The STS heo y desc ibes an o ganiza ion as he composi ion o ou in e ac -
ing componen s: echnology, s uc u e, ask, and ac o (Lea i 1964). These com-
ponen s a e a ibu ed o wo independen bu in e ela ed subsys ems: he social
subsys em – encompassing s uc u e and ac o – and he echnical one – con ain-
ing echnology and ask. The sys em’s ou pu esul s om he in e ac ions o bo h
subsys ems (Bos om and Heinen 1977) ha mus be ha monized o o m an ideal
sys em (Bos om and Heinen 1977; Lyy inen and Newman 2008).
628
S.Ho s mann e al.
The socio- echnical model can e e o di e en le els o an o ganiza ion
(Lyy inen and Newman 2008). In his pape , i was adap ed o he nu u ing o
IS champions. Figu e1 shows he nu u ing o IS champions h ough he lens o
STS heo y.
The s uc u e componen encompasses he o ganiza ional s uc u e, including
igh s, con ol, o mali y, geog aphical dispe sion, cul u e, p ojec managemen
amewo ks, and communica ion channels (Lyy inen and Newman 2008).
The eby, i encompasses he o ganiza ional en i onmen cha ac e is ics ha
enable nu u ing. The ac o componen includes he indi idual’s cha ac e is ics
(Lyy inen and Newman 2008). I con ains he IS champion’s skills, knowledge,
and ai s.
The echnology componen e e s o all elemen s o he o ganiza ion’s
echnological co e (Lyy inen and Newman 2008). Conside ing IS champions
and hei nu u ing, his componen e e s o echnological ools suppo ing he
o ganiza ion in iden i ying, de eloping, and ein o cing he IS champion. The
ask componen desc ibes he aison d’ê e (Lea i 1964) and he mee ing o
s akeholde s’ equi emen s (Lyy inen and Newman 2008). In his pape , his is
unde s ood o illus a e he in e ac ions o and wi h he IS champion as well as
he measu es ha igge hese in e ac ions.
Social Sys em
S uc u e
O ganiza ional en i onmen
cha ac e is ics ele an ega ding
he IS champion
Ac o
Skills, knowledge, and ai s o he
IS champion
Technical Sys em
Task
In e ac ions o and wi h he IS
champion and igge s o hese
in e ac ions
Technology
Tools suppo ing he
iden i ica ion, de elopmen , and
ein o cemen o he IS champion
Fig. 1 The Socio-Technical Model o Nu u ing IS Champions (adap ed om Lyy inen & Newman
(2008) and Bos om & Heinen (1977))
629
A amewo k o nu u ing champions o digi al inno a ion
3 Resea ch me hod
3.1 Design science esea ch p ocedu e
We ollow he DSR pa adigm o design he amewo k o nu u ing IS champions.
DSR is embedded be ween he en i onmen and he knowledge base (He ne e al.
2004; Simon 1996). The en i onmen con ibu es o he ele ance o an exis ing
p oblem (He ne e al. 2004; Simon 1996), and he knowledge base suppo s igo
(He ne e al. 2004). This esea ch is s uc u ed acco ding o he p ocess p oposed
by Pe e s e al. (2007), consis ing o ou phases and wo design s ages. The p o-
cess begins wi h unde s anding he p oblem and solu ion objec i e o guide, deline-
a e, and jus i y he a i ac c ea ion. Th ough he design and de elopmen phase, he
exis ing knowledge en iched by c ea i i y is ansla ed in o an a i ac . The demon-
s a ion and e alua ion phase show he easibili y and con ibu ion o he solu ion
objec i e. Figu e2 shows he applica ion o he p ocess in his esea ch. We u he
depic a possible hi d design s age, whe e a ield s udy could p o ide a eal-wo ld
applica ion and e alua ion o he a i ac and enable u he e inemen o he ame-
wo k in he u u e.
3.2 P oblem de ini ion andsolu ion objec i es
The p oblem de ini ion o his s udy a ose h ough obse a ions in ea lie esea ch
p ojec s in la ge incumben i ms. These o ganiza ions aim o p omo e digi al
inno a ion o s ay compe i i e in an inc easingly digi al wo ld. Howe e , iden i ying
po en ial champions o inno a ion wi hin he wo k o ce can be challenging, as
hese indi iduals may no hold adi ional oles associa ed wi h inno a ion. Ou
obse a ions e ealed ha in some se ings, IS champions may be easily iden i iable,
while in o he s, hey a e inconspicuous o unde es ima ed employees whose
b illian inno a i e ideas and e o s may only become e iden when he p oblem
hey s i e o add ess becomes oo u gen o igno e. Addi ionally, o ganiza ions
may lack he necessa y measu es o suppo and acili a e he skill de elopmen o
hese employees, e en when hey a e iden i ied. While inno a ion champions a e
gene ally alued by o ganiza ions, o ganiza ions may no possess he knowledge,
p ocesses, and ools o suppo and ain hem adequa ely. Thus, we obse e he need
o a hands-on amewo k o suppo human esou ce p o essionals in nu u ing IS
champions, iden i ying and suppo ing he achie emen o hei ull po en ial.
Figu e 3 po ays ou design heo izing wi h ega d o p oblem de ini ion and
solu ion objec i es (see Sec . 1 and Sec . 2.2 o elabo a ion). The igu e di e -
en ia es be ween abs ac p oblem–solu ion and ins ance p oblem–solu ion. In
he abs ac domain, o ganiza ions can seize oppo uni ies by adop ing new ways
o wo king, such as leade less eams, and no el inno a ion app oaches, such as
employee-d i en inno a ion.
Howe e , hese oppo uni ies p esen challenges, pa icula ly in ha nessing such
inno a ion app oaches o p omo e g ow h and compe i i eness. To add ess hese
630
S.Ho s mann e al.
challenges, new heo ies, me hods, and ools a e needed. In he ins ance domain, one
speci ic oppo uni y o o ganiza ions is he iden i ica ion and nu u ing o po en ial
IS champions as impo an membe s o he IT wo k o ce. Howe e , p ac ical
guidance is necessa y o o ganiza ions o implemen he nu u ing and ha nessing
o champions e ec i ely, such as he de elopmen o a amewo k o nu u ing IS
champions.
The anecdo al desc ip ions p esen ed abo e, in conjunc ion wi h Fig. 3,
demons a e ha he p oblem add essed in his s udy is one ha companies s i ing
o de elop digi al echnologies and p omo e inno a ion ace in a ious o ms. As
Sec . 2.2 highligh s, de eloping champion beha io is no limi ed o excep ional
Communica ionDemons a ion &
E alua ion
Design & De elopmen P oblem De ini ion &
Solu ion Objec i e
Design S age I
Design S age II
Ini ial li e a u e iewingLi e a u e e iew &
c ea ing he a i ac
Fo ma i e e alua ion
h ough expe
in e iews ( o m1)
De eloping d a s o a
g aphically enhanced
amewo k
Fo ma i e e alua ion
h ough expe
in e iews ( o m2)
P oo -o -concep
Summa i e e alua ion
h ough expe
in e iews (summ)
Re ining he a i ac
Re ining he a i ac
Possible Fu u e Design S age III
Ins an ia ion in IS
Applica ion
Field s udy
Re ining he a i ac
Fig. 2 Ou DSR P ocess (adap ed om Pe e s e al. (2007))
637
A amewo k o nu u ing champions o digi al inno a ion
Fig. 4 The F amewo k Ve sion o Fo m1. No e: Fo be e eadabili y, he e e ences we e no included
in he Figu e bu a e desc ibed in Sec .4.2. and in mo e de ail in Appendix A.1

638
S.Ho s mann e al.
1991; Chan e al. 2019) and p o iding aining on ha d and so skills (e.g., Howell
and Higgins 1990).
Rein o cemen Phase: The ein o cemen is necessa y o u he mo i a e he IS
champion o p omo e inno a ions, in addi ion o sel -mo i a ion and sel -a i ma ion.
The IS champion can be ein o ced bo h du ing and a e hei de elopmen .
Li e a u e s ays ela i ely silen on wha mo i a es he champion (Renken and
Heeks 2019). Fo his phase, he e o e, he exis ing li e a u e can only be consul ed
indi ec ly. Recommenda ions o ac ion migh encompass ewa ding bo h he
success and ailu e o he inno a ion p ojec and i s champion (Reibenspiess e al.
2018), o ins ance h ough announcemen s (Reibenspiess e al. 2022), o expanding
he champion’s ne wo k by gi ing hem access o o ganiza ional o managemen
ne wo ks (Reibenspiess e al. 2018), and encou aging champions o lea n om hei
expe iences and imp o e hei championing skills ( an Lae e and Agges am 2015).
4.3 Design s age II—F amewo k e sion o  o ma i e e alua ion
The i s o ma i e e alua ion ( o m1) in o med he i e a ion o he amewo k o
Design S age II. The e alua ion phase o he i s cycle, desc ibed in de ail in Appen-
dix A.2., showed ha he chosen app oach add essed he p oblem bu aced con-
s ain s. The expe s especially alued he champion jou ney and he sepa a ion o
social and echnical aspec s (Expe s 1, 3, 4 and 6, o m1). The e o e, he h ee ypes
o building blocks did no change h oughou he i e a i e de elopmen o he ame-
wo k. The bigges oom o imp o emen a ose om eedback on he g aphical p es-
en a ion o in o ma ion and he amoun o ex included in he amewo k (Expe s 2,
3 and 6, o m1). In his i e a ion, se en di e en g aphical ep esen a ions wi h di -
e en le els o in o ma ion de ail we e de eloped o be assessed in o m2. These di -
e en g aphical ep esen a ions a e depic ed in Fig.5. The g aphical ep esen a ions
we e mainly inspi ed by one expe ’s sugges ion ha de elopmen and ein o cemen
a e less sequen ial and mo e cyclic (Expe 6, o m1). Fu he inspi a ion was de i ed
om he eedback ha he champion jou ney phase has d i e s, ha some expe s
pe cei ed he champion concep as elusi e, ha he champion’s sense o pu pose is
essen ial, and ha he delinea ion o ecommenda ions o ac ion pe champion jou -
ney phase is no always clea (see Appendix A.3 o de ails).
4.4 Design s age II—F amewo k e sion o summa i e e alua ion
Building on he second o ma i e e alua ion, he al e na i es we e me ged in o one
ep esen a ion, mainly based on d a 5 (see Fig.5).
The amoun o ex was u he educed (Expe s 1 2, o m2). The colo s we e
changed o shades o g een, limi ing he ange o alse in e p e a ions (Expe 2,
o m2). Puzzle pieces p o ide eadabili y and cla i ica ion o he con ex ual connec-
ion o he ecommenda ions o ac ion (Expe 1, o m2). The p e ix “ e-” was added
o he iden i ica ion phase (Expe 1, o m2); he champion jou ney, howe e , was no
u he de ailed pe se, as i seemed su icien ly ealis ic o he model-like na u e o
he amewo k. The pu pose i was omi ed (Expe s 1 and 2, o m2). Fu he , he
639
A amewo k o nu u ing champions o digi al inno a ion
wo ding o he ecommenda ions o ac ion was adap ed based on he expe s’ in e -
p e a ions. Finally, examples we e added o he a i ac as a sepa a e cycle wi h he
same a angemen o puzzle pieces. This made i easie o connec he amewo k o
he examples o e e ence. The e ised e sion o he amewo k is depic ed in Fig.6.
4.5 Design s age II—Final e sion
The eedback om he second e alua ion was conside ed in he de elopmen o he
inal e sion, shown in Fig.7. The STS componen “s uc u e”, ini ially ep esen ed
as a d i e on he le sideo he ci cle, was changed o a la ge ci cle ha encom-
passes ecommenda ions o ac ion a ound he champion jou ney o ep esen he
Fig. 5 The F amewo k’s E olu ion du ing Fo m2. No e: D a 2 and d a 3 we e adap ed om (Dough-
nu Economics Ac ion Lab (DEAL), 2021), d a 4 and d a 5 we e adap ed om (pslides nd In eg a ed
alen managemen model o Powe Poin . Pslides. h ps:// pslid es. com/ empl a es/ in eg a ed- alen mana
gemen - model- o - powe poin /, d a 6 was adap ed om (EnableChange 2021), and d a 7 was adap ed
om (Mu he 2002; Os e walde 2004). The igu e is used o show how he isual appea ance e ol ed
640
S.Ho s mann e al.
p e equisi es (Expe s 3, 4 and 6, summ). The champion jou ney phases we e changed
o equal leng h o ep esen he equal impo ance o each phase (Expe 7, summ). The
champion jou ney ci cle symbolizes he i e a i e p ocess o de eloping an IS cham-
pion as he subjec o he p ocess. Howe e , Expe 6 (summ) assumed one i e a ion
pe indi idual and in e p e ed he ci cle as a way o iden i y new champions h ough
he de eloped champion and hei ac ions, he eby igge ing a subsequen i e a ion.
The e o e, he champion was pu in he cen e o he ci cles. Addi ionally, he wo ding
o he amewo k was changed, based on he expe s’ eedback.
5 The inal amewo k o nu u ing ISchampions
In he ollowing, we p esen he inal amewo k o nu u ing IS champions. We i s
p esen he amewo k’s di e en elemen s and gi e ecommenda ions o ac ions in
Sec .5.1. In Sec .5.2. we hen o e wo conc e e use cases o he amewo k in
o de o make he use o he amewo k mo e angible o p ac i ione s. Mo eo e ,
in Sec .5.3. we o e ac ions and pa hs s akeholde s can ake o nu u e champions.
5.1 The elemen s
The p oposed amewo k concep ualizes he nu u ing o IS champions
wi hin h ee de elopmen phases: ( e-)iden i y, de elop, and ein o ce. Those
champion jou ney phases, he componen s o STS heo y, and he IS champion’s
cha ac e is ics o m he amewo k’s building blocks. The amewo k o e s
Fig. 6 The F amewo k Ve sion o Summ. No e: The isual appea ance is inspi ed by (pslides
nd.In eg a ed alen managemen model o Powe Poin . Pslides. h ps:// pslid es. com/ empl a es/ in eg
a ed- alen mana gemen - model- o - powe poin /)
641
A amewo k o nu u ing champions o digi al inno a ion
p ac ice s uc u e and inspi a ion o hough o elabo a e an o ganiza ion-
speci ic ins an ia ion o he champion jou ney on a s a egic le el. I enables a
mo e encompassing iew o he de elopmen o he champion ole and p o ides
ce ain y in pu suing i s implemen a ion.
The phases a e po ayed in he second ou e laye o he ci cle (e.g., de elop)
along wi h he IS champion’s ai s, skills, knowledge, and mo i a ion o be
add essed in each phase. Each phase can mani es in h ee elemen s(e.g., sup-
ply inspi a ion and knowledge). Conc e e ac ions and echniques a e p o ided
o e e y elemen (see Tables2–5) so ha p ac i ione s can apply he amewo k
seamlessly in hei daily p ac ice. In Sec .5.3. we u he p o ide ecommenda-
ions abou who could implemen he ecommenda ions o ac ion, espec i ely.
Nu u ing
he
Champion
o Digi al
Inno a ion
3 Rein o ce
Supply inspi a ion
and knowledge
P o ide
lea ning
possibili ies
Expose o
ne wo king
Assess uni o mly
wi hou
p eselec ion
Re eal
abili ies
Seek
p edisposing
cha ac e is ics
P o ide isibili y and
app ecia ion
Fos e in insic
mo i a ion
Lowe
es ic ions
en husiasm
c ea i i y
con idence
ex insic
mo i a ion
pe sis ence
op imism
p oac i i y
p o essional
expe ience
isk- aking
in insic
mo i a ion
lea ning
o ien a ion
ans o ma-
ional
leade ship
commu-
nica ion
knowledge
connec ion
in eg a ion
in e cul u al
compe ence
suppo i eness
1(Re-)Iden i y
2De elop
O ganiza ional En i onmen
Nu u e a isk
emb acing
cul u e
Minimize
obs acles
Ensu e
communi y
in eg a ion
Fig. 7 The F amewo k o Nu u ing IS Champions. No e: The amewo k encompasses h ee de elop-
men phases: ( e-)iden i y, de elop, and ein o ce, he IS champion’s cha ac e is ics (associa ed wi h a
champion jou ney phase) and ecommenda ions o ac ion pe phase – espec i ely one associa ed wi h
he componen “ ask”, “ac o ”, and “ echnology” – as he amewo k’s inne ci cles. The STS componen
“s uc u e”, depic ed in he ou e ci cle, ep esen s he cul u al and o ganiza ional en i onmen in which
he champion in e ac s
642
S.Ho s mann e al.
While each champion jou ney phase encompasses h ee ecommenda ions o
ac ion— espec i ely one associa ed wi h he componen “ ask”, “ac o ”, and “ ech-
nology”— he STS componen “s uc u e”, ep esen s he cul u al and o ganiza ional
en i onmen in which he champion in e ac s and o ms he basis o he champion
jou ney ci cle. The eason is ha implemen ing he cul u al and o ganiza ional cha -
ac e is ics p oposed in he li e a u e and by he expe s demands a di e en imeline,
skillse , and especially a di e en amewo k (Expe s 3 and 4, summ). The ecom-
menda ions o ac ion and associa ed examples o he “s uc u e” componen a e
p esen ed in Table2.
The mos challenging aspec o ou amewo k is he necessi y o changing he
o ganiza ional en i onmen in which champions ac . O ganiza ional cul u e may
be designed o encou age employees o emb ace isk, wi h he unde s anding ha
mis akes a e an inhe en pa o he lea ning p ocess. The es ablishmen o weakly
hie a chical s uc u es wi h high deg ees o eedom can u he enable champions
o encoun e ew obs acles in hei wo k. Because champions equen ly ac in
eams, pa icula ly in he con ex o digi al inno a ion endea o s, he es ablishmen
o an open and suppo i e a mosphe e wi h nume ous collabo a ion oppo uni ies
may p o e conduci e o he nu u ing o champions.
The champion jou ney ci cle s a s wi h iden i ying he champion, which a e one
comple ion o he champion jou ney u ns in o eiden i ying. One majo issue in cu -
en li e a u e is iden i ying champions (Renken and Heeks 2019) which is associa ed
wi h he di icul y o de ining he champion (Reibenspiess e al. 2018). Howe e , iden-
i ying is i al o be able o assess he impac o he measu es. The amewo k a ge s
he ai s ound by Reibenspiess e al. (2018) and di e se ca ee expe ience (Renken
and Heeks 2019). The ecommenda ions o ac ion, he co esponding STS heo y
componen , and associa ed examples a e p esen ed in Table3.
Consequen ly, o ganiza ions may ely on measu es such as ques ionnai es, a -
ge ed in e iews, and sc eening cu icula i ae o new applican s o iden i y po en-
ial champions based on hei ai s. Addi ionally, c ea ing an in e nal inno a ion
pla o m whe e employees sha e and p omo e inno a i e ideas, o o ganizing inno-
a ion ime o e en s, such as hacka hons o pa icipa o y open inno a ion o ma s,
o e s aluable mechanisms o iden i y employees exhibi ing championing based on
hei ai s and beha io . By implemen ing such measu es du ing he hi ing p ocess
and as pa o an o ganiza ion’s e o s o p omo e inno a ion, o ganiza ions can
Table 2 Recommenda ions o ac ion o he champion’s cul u al and o ganiza ional en i onmen
Recommenda ions
o ac ion
Examples STS componen
Nu u e a isk
emb acing cul u e
En ep eneu ialand en y- eecul u e, encou aging employees
o make mis akes and lea n om ailu es
S uc u e
Minimize obs acles Few hie a chical le els, high deg ee o eedom, p oac i e and
change-o ien ed managemen
S uc u e
Ensu e communi y
in eg a ion
Inno a ion challenges, collabo a ion oppo uni ies, eam
building, open, app ecia i e and suppo ing cul u e
Task

643
A amewo k o nu u ing champions o digi al inno a ion
iden i y a pool o po en ial champions. These employees can hen be u he de el-
oped (see below). Mo eo e , o ganiza ions can en us hese indi iduals wi h impo -
an inno a ion p ojec s o add hem o inno a ion p ojec s ha ha e expe ienced
di icul ies in he pas . While some measu es a e designed o be implemen ed o e
an ex ended pe iod (e.g., es ablishing pla o ms), a ge ed hi ing measu es o inno-
a ion e en s can also be employed as sho - e m measu es o iden i y a champion
who could assis in o e coming di icul ies in an ongoing inno a ion p ojec .
Once iden i ied, he IS champion is subjec o o mal and in o mal de elopmen .
To be conside ed an IS champion, he pe son’s cha ac e is ics can a y in hei
s eng h o exp ession (Howell and Shea 2001; Wal e e al. 2011). Ne e heless, he
amewo k encompasses he comple e se o he IS champion’s skills and knowledge
(Reibenspiess e al. 2018) and digi al compe ences (de i ed om Yoo e al. (2012))
o enable he adap ion o he de elopmen phase o he eam’s and indi idual’s needs
and, i necessa y, cons ain s. The ecommenda ions o ac ion, he co esponding
STS heo y componen , and associa ed examples a e p esen ed in Table4.
The de elopmen o champions can be acili a ed h ough he es ablishmen o
knowledge ans e mechanisms in a ious o ma s, including wikis, lea ning pla -
o ms, and podcas s. These o ma s allow po en ial inno a ion champions o inde-
penden ly gain knowledge, he eby os e ing hei capaci y o inno a e. The con en
o he lea ning p og am may include in-dep h knowledge abou he cha ac e is ics o
digi al echnologies, he inno a ion p ocess, and he use o me hods such as inno a-
ion oppo uni y analysis (see Appendix A.1 o de ails). Gi en he ad an ages o
ex ensi e social ies and social skills o champions, companies can also acili a e
he nu u ing o champions du ing his s age by p o iding oppo uni ies o ne wo k-
ing h ough he o ganiza ion o e en s and by making conscious design choices o
hei o ice, such as he c ea ion o open spaces o oom o people o mee . Since
nume ous skills cha ac e izing champions can be in ensi ied (and some imes e en
lea ned) h ough aining, he p o ision o lea ning possibili ies o e s a hi d po en-
ial a enue o he nu u ing o champions. Oppo uni ies o he de elopmen o
champions he e include aining in leade ship skills o indi idual coaching and
men o ing.
Table 3 Recommenda ions o ac ion o he champion jou ney phase “ e-iden i y”
Recommenda ions o
ac ion
Examples STS componen
Assess uni o mly wi hou
p eselec ion
Psychological es s, algo i hms e alua ing cu icula
i ae, s uc u ed in e iews, pla o ms o sel -
p esen a ion, employee’s de elopmen sco es
e olu ion, skill pla o ms
Technology
Re eal abili ies Pa icipa o y obse a ion, in e iews wi h s ee ing
membe s, a ge ed ques ions o e eal how a pe son
ac s
Task
Seek p edisposing
cha ac e is ics
Ques ionnai e, in ol ing HR and echnical depa men
in he p ocess
Ac o
644
S.Ho s mann e al.
The ein o cemen a ge s he mo i a ion o he IS champion o p omo e inno a-
ions. This phase aims o s imula e and encou age champions’ ongoing e o s in
p omo ing u he inno a ions. By implemen ing ein o cemen mechanisms, such
as ewa ds, ecogni ion, and oppo uni ies o p o essional g ow h, o ganiza ions can
ap in o he champion’s inne d i e and ampli y hei mo i a ion o excel in hei ole
in he long e m. The ecommenda ions o ac ion, he co esponding STS heo y
componen , and associa ed examples a e p esen ed in Table5.
This phase o he IS champion jou ney speci ically a ge s he champions’ in in-
sic and ex insic mo i a ion. By p o iding isibili y and app ecia ion, o ins ance,
by ecognizing he champion h ough awa ds o public announcemens o bysha ing
he inancial bene i s o a success ul inno a ion p ojec wi h he champion, champi-
ons’ ex insic mo i a ion may be inc eased. Addi ionally, measu es, such as inno a-
ion ime, whe e champions can use pa o hei wo king week o p omo e digi al
Table 4 Recommenda ions o ac ion o he champion jou ney phase “de elop”
Recommenda ions
o ac ion
Examples STS componen
Supply inspi a ion
and knowledge
Fo um, wiki, collabo a ion ools, ision boa d, lea ning
pla o m, wo kshop anima ion, ideos, podcas s, gami ica ion
modules, cha en i onmen , webina s, people de elopmen
managemen ools
Technology
Expose o
ne wo king
Cha s, wo kshops, lexible and open spaces, i ual eam
building, e en s, open alks, idea challenges/hacka hons,
andom cha s, opic channels, social days, egula ’s able
Task
P o ide lea ning
possibili ies
T aining on ans o ma ional leade ship, Sc um Mas e , s a egic
hinking, solu ion making, and agili y, wo kshops on echnical,
me hodological, and o ganiza ional knowledge and alues,
leade ship ci cle, coaching, men o ing, lea ning by doing,
specialis li e a u e, exe cises, ole models, knowledge clubs,
e ospec i es
Ac o
Table 5 Recommenda ions o ac ion o he champion jou ney phase “ ein o ce”
Recommenda ions
o ac ion
Examples STS componen
P o ide isibili y and
app ecia ion
Awa d announcemen , bonus collec ion p og am, ca ds o
make g a i ude isible, blog pos s, g a i ude cha channel,
egula mee ings, app ecia ion acco ding o indi idual needs,
o ganig am en y
Technology
Lowe es ic ions Time a ee disposal, allowing o de  o be unde mined, access
o new ne wo ks, alking in on o a la ge audience, absence
o mic omanaging
Task
Fos e in insic
mo i a ion
Coaching lea ning o ien a ion, de eloping a pe sonal ision,
p omo ing he company’s ision and mission, ein o cing
pu pose i and iden i ica ion, o e ing igge s (e.g., isibili y,
knowledge sha ing, exchange, p es ige, esponsibili y),
communica ing ole’s impac
Ac o
645
A amewo k o nu u ing champions o digi al inno a ion
inno a ion p ojec s, o access o in luen ial ne wo ks on he managemen le el can
lowe es ic ions o con inue hei ole as champions. Finally, champions’ in insic
mo i a ion may be ein o ced h ough measu es ha enable champions o e lec on
hei ole’s impac and hei con ibu ion o he company’s ision, such as h ough
coaching.
5.2 The use cases
Th oughou he e alua ion episodes, he expe s ga e insigh s on how o apply he
amewo k in p ac ice. While hey gene a ed a lo o ideas, e.g., eam alignmen
(Expe 6, summ), use by IS champions o plan and assess hei nu u ing (Expe
3, summ), o examina ion and imp o emen o o ganiza ional oles (Expe
5, summ), all expe s saw possibili ies o he ollowing wo use cases: he
de elopmen o a ca ee pa h o IS champions and he communica ion o he IS
champion nu u ing.
When de eloping a ca ee pa h o IS champions, he s a egy should be “ ha
you jus ha e o p o ide people wi h he igh , nu i ious soil” (Expe 6, summ)
and le hem c ea e he ole o hemsel es (Expe 6, summ). The amewo k
suppo s he de elopmen in h ee ways. Fi s , he amewo k can help o elici
he a ge -ac ual compa ison. The use can iden i y measu es al eady in ope a ion
and hose ye o be implemen ed o nu u e he IS champion (Expe 6, summ).
Second, he amewo k guides he champion jou ney by cla i ying and isualizing
he p ocess (Expe s 3 and 6, summ). A compe ence model and ole p o ile can
be de eloped based on he IS champion’s cha ac e is ics. Then, he measu es
ha enable he IS champion can be de eloped (Expe 6, summ). The e o e,
he phases iden i ied by he amewo k (Expe 4, summ) mus be e ined in o a
conc e e implemen a ion plan (Expe 3, summ) wi h, e.g., sequences o aining
(Expe 5, summ). The amewo k o e s ecommenda ions o ac ion o guide
he e inemen (Expe 6, summ). Thi d, he amewo k suppo s he plan’s
implemen a ion by p o iding an audi ail o he IS champion’s cu en s a us
(Expe 3, summ). In addi ion, a ing scales can be de i ed om i , which can
ack he nu u ing (Expe s 3 and 7, summ) and assess i he champion jou ney
c ea es an IS champion as he ou come (Expe 5, summ).
The second use case is he communica ion o he IS champion’s nu u ing. The
communica ion is di ec ed o he employees’ manage s (Expe s 5 and 6, summ),
he sponso s o he amewo k’s implemen a ion, and op managemen (Expe 6,
summ). While Expe 3 (summ) ga e a con adic o y opinion on he use ulness o
communica ion di ec ly o he IS champion, Expe 6 (summ) saw an oppo uni y
o explain he de elopmen phases needed o nu u ing he IS champion o people
who ha e li le knowledge abou ha , like, e.g., he IS champion. Th ough he
amewo k, he s a egy o de elopmen , ins ead o he de ailed implemen a ion,
can be communica ed (Expe s 4 and 6, summ). Communica ion can de ine he
a ge ou come and cla i y how he ca ee pa h can be suppo ed. Fo ha , he
amewo k is explained phase by phase. I gi es isibili y o he p ojec (Expe
6, summ).
646
S.Ho s mann e al.
5.3 Pa hs o wa d o s akeholde s
To nu u e champions, s akeholde s ac oss an o ganiza ion can ake se e al
s eps o p omo e an en i onmen ha os e s inno a ion and encou ages he
iden i ica ion and de elopmen o alen ed indi iduals. Table 6 p o ides an
o e iew o how di e en s akeholde s can use he amewo k’s ecommenda ions
o ac ion o nu u e champions. De ailed examples o how each ecommended
ac ion can be implemen ed we e al eady summa ized in Sec .4.2.
Ac oss all phases, uppe managemen can nu u e a isk-emb acing cul u e ha
ewa ds expe imen a ion, an en ep eneu ial mindse and encou ages employees o
make and lea n om hei mis akes. They can also minimize obs acles by educing
hie a chical le els and p omo ing p oac i e and change-o ien ed managemen .
Ensu ing communi y in eg a ion o ms an addi ional building block o how uppe
managemen can os e a bene icial cul u al and o ganiza ional en i onmen o
champions by o e ing inno a ion challenges and suppo ing collabo a ion.
The iden i ying phase o he champion jou ney can especially be suppo ed
by HR manage s. They can assess po en ial champions uni o mly wi hou
p eselec ion, by, o ins ance, using psychological es s o ained algo i hms
o e alua e all employees based on hei abili ies and po en ial a he han
p econcei ed no ions o biases. Du ing he hi ing p ocess o new employees, hey
may u he seek candida es who possess p edisposing cha ac e is ics ha sugges
an ap i ude o d i ing inno a ion. Addi ionally, du ing his phase line manage s
can use pa icipa o y obse a ion o e eal abili ies o p o ide oppo uni ies o
employees o showcase hei skills.
Du ing he de elopmen phase, line manage s in pa icula a e asked o ake
ac ion. They can supply inspi a ion and knowledge by in oducing ools, such as
wikis o collabo a ion ools, in collabo a ion wi h he IT depa men . They can
also expose employees o ne wo king oppo uni ies, bo h wi hin he company
and beyond, o help hem de elop ela ionships and expand hei ho izons.
Addi ionally, HR manage s can p o ide lea ning possibili ies o help employees
de elop hei skills and knowledge, o ins ance h ough o mal aining p og ams
o men o ing p og ams.
Finally, du ing he ein o cemen phase, HR manage s and line manage s
can use complimen ing ac ions o suppo he champions’ nu u ing p ocess.
They can p o ide isibili y and app ecia ion o champions by ecognizing
and ewa ding inno a i e ideas and con ibu ions. Line manage s can lowe
es ic ions by assigning inno a ion champions’ ime a hei own disposal o
a oiding mic omanaging hem. Addi ionally, HR manage s can os e champions’
in insic mo i a ion by empowe ing hem o pu sue hei ideas and byp o iding
oppo uni ies o pe sonal g ow h and de elopmen .
653
A amewo k o nu u ing champions o digi al inno a ion
Thi d, he a i ac is no ully ea u ed and hus does no allow any conclusions
abou e iciency and applicabili y in eal si ua ions (Nunamake e al. 2015). This pape
sough o bes ansla e he indings om he li e a u e and expe in e iews in o an
a i ac . Howe e , he amewo k mus be supplemen ed wi h o he a i ac s in he
nex wo phases o he las esea ch mile o guide he implemen a ion in p ac ice. This
should be accompanied by measu ing he impac on an o ganiza ion’s inno a i eness.
While all expe s assumed a posi i e impac on he o e all inno a i eness, his needs
o be elabo a ed by applying he amewo k in p ac ice. Sec ion6.3 discusses possible
pa hways o ins an ia ing he amewo k in legacy o no el IS applica ions.
8 Conclusion
This esea ch is inspi ed by he impo ance o IS champions on he o ganiza ions’
inno a i eness. Wi h he ongoing “na u e s. nu u e” discussion in li e a u e, his
Design Science Resea ch app oach con ibu es o he “nu u e” pe spec i e o he
iden i ied esea ch gap ega ding IS champions. The designed amewo k ep esen s
he p oo -o -concep and p oposes phases and ecommenda ions o ac ion o nu u e
IS champions. I encompasses he cu en knowledge base ele an o nu u ing
en iched h ough in e iews wi h leade s in o ganiza ions conce ned wi h digi al
inno a ion, p edominan ly in he IT indus y. As he e alua ion showed, he esul ing
a i ac is close o eali y and easible o po en ial add essees. Fu he , he imp o ed
unde s anding o he p oblem and solu ion space o nu u ing IS champions in o ms
he knowledge base. Besides en iching ou ex an knowledge o IS champions and
ex ending design knowledge, he pape o e s p ac ical implica ions o he s uc u e,
ecommenda ions o ac ion, and examples. The a i ac enables he s a egic
nu u ing o IS champions, he communica ion, and he coo dina ion o he IS
champion nu u ing p ojec .
Appendix A: De ailed in o ma ion on hee olu ion o ou amewo k
In his appendix, we p o ide de ailed in o ma ion on he e olu ion o ou amewo k
du ing he wo design s ages. Consequen ly, his appendix p o ides de ailed
in o ma ion o complemen Sec .4.
A.1 Design s age I‑F amewo k e sion o  o ma i e
e alua ion:de ailed in o ma ion
In he ollowing, we p o ide de ailed in o ma ion on indings in he li e a u e
conce ning he h ee s ages o he inno a ion champion jou ney: iden i ica ion,
de elopmen , and ein o cemen .

654
S.Ho s mann e al.
A.1.1. The iden i ica ion
Technology. The echnology componen encompasses measu es o mo e om
highly subjec i ely in luenced iden i ica ion o objec i e decisions. Howell and
Higgins (1990) p opose psychological es s as a ool o iden i ica ion. Thei es
o pe sonali y cha ac e is ics and leade ship beha io esul ed in an accu acy o
84%. Thus, objec i e indica o s can assess IS champion po en ial. Addi ionally,
Reibenspiess e  al. (2022) epo ed he ecogni ion o p e iously un ema kable
people as champions h ough a digi al pla o m. Technology has made i possible
oinc ease he ange o he iden i ica ion p ocess. Fu he examples based on he
esea che s’ c ea i i y a e algo i hms e alua ing cu icula i ae, analyzing as well as
conduc ing ideo in e iews and simula ed games.
Task. The ask componen e e s o he in e pe sonal en i onmen . This
componen can suppo iden i ying he IS champion’s abili y o in e ac by
igge ing o obse ing in e ac ions. Van Lae e and Agges am (2015) iden i ied
champions’ in e ac ions wi hin hei esea ch h ough pa icipa o y obse a ions and
in e iews. Fo he obse a ions, one o he au ho s pa icipa ed in he p ojec o a
mo e ex ended pe iod. Fo he in e iew, one membe o he s ee ing g oup cap u ed
e en s wi hin he p ojec ( an Lae e and Agges am 2015). Thei app oach indica es
he ollowing p oposi ions: The da a is collec ed close o he IS champion in a
p ojec en i onmen . The collec o may only pa icipa e o he ex en ha hey can
obse e. The in e pe sonal en i onmen can especially e eal he subjec ’s abili ies
o ne wo k, p omo e, and wo k in eams.
S uc u e. The s uc u e encompasses he o ganiza ional en i onmen which
imp o es he iden i ica ion p ocess. Many s udies used pee nomina ions o
iden i ica ion (Renken and Heeks 2019); he iden i ica ion may also be based on
he opinions o indi iduals. Fu he mo e, a lexible and ole an cul u e owa ds
IS champions (Reibenspiess e  al. 2018) ensu es ha pee nomina o s pe cei e
he IS champion’s cha ac e is ics. Fu he examples esul ing om esea che s’
b ains o ming sessions a e an en y- ee and a speak-up cul u e o ensu e ha pee s
unco e he IS champion’s cha ac e is ics.
Ac o . The ac o in he iden i ica ion p ocess is he po en ial IS champion.
The e o e, one should sea ch o speci ic cha ac e is ics when a ge ing he subjec .
Un ainable cha ac e is ics can a o (Howell and Higgins 1990), suppo , o e en
be a p e equisi e o champions’ de elopmen (Reibenspiess e al. 2018). Especially
in eam composi ion, i is also ele an how hese complemen o he eam membe s’
cha ac e is ics ( an Lae e and Agges am 2015). The e o e, he iden i ie mus know
hese essen ial cha ac e is ics. As examples se e he ai s p oposed by Reiben-
spiess e al. (2018).
A.1.2. The de elopmen
Technology. Recognizing an oppo uni y (Maidique 1980) igge s he champion
p ocess. Technology enables he IS champion o ind and e alua e an idea by
exposing hem o ideas in he immedia e wo k en i onmen . The ideas should be
655
A amewo k o nu u ing champions o digi al inno a ion
engaging and no o e loaded wi h in o ma ion. The e o e, only app op ia e ideas o
he IS champion’s in e es s and expe ise should be sugges ed (Reibenspiess e al.
2022). Addi ionally, a echnological sys em should p o ide c i e ia (Reibenspiess
e al. 2022) o e alua e ideas. Such a sys em can be de eloped based on he insigh s
o Reibenspiess e al. (2022) and Yan e al. (2018), o example in he o m o a
digi al pla o m. The IS champion should possess in-dep h knowledge o digi al
inno a ion, he o ganiza ional s a egy, and he inno a ion’s con ex (Renken and
Heeks 2019). Technology o e s a way o p o ide knowledge. Po en ial echnological
ools a e, e.g., o ums, wikis, ision boa ds, and aining pla o ms (e.g., S ahn e al.
2017; Yan e al. 2018).
Task. IS champions p e e collabo a i e wo k o e wo king alone. They
ely on hei ne wo k while p omo ing inno a ion (Renken and Heeks 2019).
Digi al inno a ions a e c ea ed in he e ogeneous eams because o hei laye ed
a chi ec u e (Yoo e al. 2012). The inno a ion p ocess is inc easingly dis ibu ed
geog aphically and ac oss o ganiza ional bounda ies (Yoo e al. 2012). The e o e,
he IS champion’s ne wo k mus be ex ensi e in he digi al age. To enable he IS
champion o de elop such a ne wo k, hey should ha e he possibili y o mee as
many po en ial s akeholde s as possible. The mee ings mus be designed o build
us ing, long-las ing ela ionships (Reibenspiess e al. 2018). Such in e ac ions
a e c ea ed h ough in o mal communica ion channels ( an Lae e and Agges am
2015), wo kshops on solu ion op ions (S ahn e  al. 2017), lexible and open
wo kspaces, i ual eam building, and ne wo king e en s inside as well as
ou side he o ganiza ion.
S uc u e. The s uc u e componen encompasses he s uc u al acili a ion o
ga he ing expe ience, minimizing obs acles, and communi y in eg a ion. A di e se
and ex ensi e ca ee expe ience eases he p omo ion o inno a ion (Renken and
Heeks 2019). Thus, a policy encou aging changes in he job esponsibili ies can
suppo he acquisi ion o expe ience, e.g., implemen ed h ough job o a ions o
exchange p og ams wi hin he o ganiza ional ne wo k (Reibenspiess e al. 2018).
Ensu ing ha he o ganiza ional en i onmen enables IS champions o ope a e
bes minimizes obs acles o he IS champion’s ac i i ies. The li ecycle o digi al
inno a ions is d ama ically sho ened (Fichman e al. 2014), wi h acons an sea ch
o p oblem–solu ion design pai ingdu ing he de elopmen cycles (Nambisan e al.
2017). Agili y suppo s his pace o de elopmen , openness o ailu e, lexibili y, and
solu ion changes du ing he de elopmen (Bea h 1991; Yoo e al. 2010; Chan e al.
2019). A policy enabling a ce ain amoun o wo k ime a ee disposal suppo s he
balance o o mal and championing asks and champions can de elop and engage
wi h ideas (Reibenspiess e al. 2022). Addi ionally, a s uc u e wi h ew hie a chical
le els and decen alized decision-making enables champions (Reibenspiess e  al.
2018), since i ensu es ha IS champions a e in o mally in o med abou he la es
s a egic decisionsa an ea ly s age, and p o ides di ec in luence and au onomy in
decision-making. A la hie a chy also suppo s he IS champion in de eloping a
ne wo k eaching all ele an esou ce p o ide s (Renken and Heeks 2019).
Addi ionally, communi y in eg a ion enables he de elopmen o he IS
champion’s ne wo k and ains hei knowledge and communica ion skills h ough
cons an challenges. One measu e cons i u es o mal inno a ion challenges.
656
S.Ho s mann e al.
Inno a ion challenges we e success ully used by Reibenspiess e  al. (2020) and
S ahn (2017) o os e solu ion sea ches on de ined p oblems.
Ac o . While he iden i ica ion p ocess p ima ily seeks un ainable cha ac e is ics
( ai s), he de elopmen ocuses on he ainable ones (skills and knowledge (Reiben-
spiess e al. 2018)). Renken and Heeks (2019) emphasize in his con ex a ans o ma-
ional leade ship s yle ha can be augh h ough ans o ma ional leade ship aining
(Howell and Higgins 1990). The ask o ansla ing be ween inno a ion and s a egy
(Renken and Heeks 2019) demands communica ion skills (Reibenspiess e al. 2018).
Addi ional mo e de ailed equi emen s can be ex ac ed om he cha ac e is ics o
digi al inno a ion and i s inno a ion p ocess. T ans o ming an idea in o inno a ion
equi es ans e ing exis ing knowledge om inside and ou side he o ganiza ion in o
he inno a ion p ocess (Kohli and Mel ille 2019). The digi al inno a ion p ocess and
ou come a e mo e geog aphically dis ibu ed ac oss o ganiza ions and knowledge
esou ces. The e o e, eams a e highly luid (Yoo e al. 2012). Thus, he IS champion
needs ne wo king skills, suppo i eness, and in e cul u al compe ence (Reibenspiess
e al. 2018). One possible measu e o ain hese cha ac e is ics migh be Sc um Mas-
e aining, since i p omo es hese skills and compe encies.
Ha ing pe cei ed an idea, he IS champion mus e alua e he idea’s oppo uni ies
(Fichman e al. 2014). The IS champion needs o calcula e he isk hey and hei
inno a ion eam a e aking (Howell and Shea 2006). Tha demands knowledge o
business analyses. Fu he mo e, champions challenge and inspi e he eam by dis-
playing inno a i e ac ions (Howell and Higgins 1990). Suppo ing digi al inno a ion
demands he knowledge o design pa e ns (Nambisan e al. 2017) and he abili y o
hink in laye ed modula a chi ec u es (S ahn e al. 2017; Yoo e al. 2010). Besides
echnical and o ganiza ional knowledge, he IS champion possesses mac oen i on-
men al knowledge (Renken and Heeks 2019). The eby, he IS champion’s lea ning
o ien a ion and inno a i eness (Reibenspiess e al. 2018) can be os e ed h ough a
solid knowledge base (e.g., Glynn 1996; Ha gadon 2002; Mum o d e al. 2002). This
knowledge can be gained h ough wo kshops (S ahn e al. 2017).
A.1.3. The ein o cemen
Technology. Technology can ex insically mo i a e he IS champion by
dissemina ing in o ma ion abou success ul champions. Fo example,
Reibenspiess e al. (2022) de eloped a sys em announcing awa ds o success ul
champions. These ein o ced he champion and a oused in e es in he champion
ole among o he employees (Reibenspiess e al. 2022). Ano he example is a
echnology-enabled bonus collec ion p og am (Benbya and Leidne 2018).
Task. The ask componen encompasses measu es o ein o ce he IS
champion h ough (possible) in e ac ions. One way is o gi e he champion
g ea e eedom o hei in e ac ions, such as gi ing hem mo e ee ime
o champion ac i i ies o unde - he- able p ojec s (Abe i 1997). Ano he
ein o cemen possibili y is expanding he champion’s ne wo k by gi ing hem
access o o ganiza ional o managemen ne wo ks (Reibenspiess e al. 2018).
657
A amewo k o nu u ing champions o digi al inno a ion
S uc u e. The o ganiza ional s uc u e acknowledges he champion’s
pe o mance by ewa ding bo h he success and ailu e o he inno a ion p ojec
(Reibenspiess e  al. 2018). The use o beha io -based pe o mance app aisals
posi i ely in luences he champion (Reibenspiess e  al. 2018) and, he e o e,
hei ein o cemen . Fu he measu es a e compensa ions, “Employee-o - he-
mon h” ewa ds, con e ing o mal oles, and beha io -based p omo ion sys ems
(Reibenspiess e al. 2018; 2022).
Ac o . The ac o componen e e s o he aspec s ha enable ac o s o
ein o ce hei IS champion beha io independen ly. Champions lea n om
hei expe ience and imp o e hei championing skills ( an Lae e and Agges am
2015). Lea ning-o ien ed indi iduals ocus on seeking new challenges (Dweck
and Legge 1988). Coaching lea ning o ien a ion migh mo i a e he IS
champion o imp o e hei skills wi h a new p ojec .
A.2 Fo ma i e e alua ion o design s age I
The a i ac ha esul ed om he i s design phase was o ma i ely e alua ed.
The e alua ion p o ided insigh s o he second design phase (Vaishna i and
Kuechle 2004). The esul s allow insigh s in o he p oblem space, he easibili y
o he chosen app oach in gene al, and he easibili y o speci ic cells o he
amewo k and he solu ion space, as desc ibed in he ollowing.
P oblem Space. The expe s saw employee inno a ion as an essen ial aspec
o hei business (Expe s 3, 4 and 6 o m1). Some p ojec s b eak o because
employees do no con inue o p omo e hem o becausep ojec s bypass o icial
channels (Expe 2, o m1). The e o e, se e al expe s acknowledged he
impo ance o champions o digi al inno a ions (Expe s 1, 2 and 6, o m1). Fo
example, Expe 2 ( o m1) emphasized he IS champion’s mo i a ional e ec on
o he employees inside and ou side he inno a ion p ojec s.
Feasibili y. Rega ding he easibili y, expe s men ioned he comp ehensibili y,
usabili y, p oximi y o economic eali y, and amewo k s uc u e. E en hough
he idea was posi i ely ecei ed, he expe s el ha he amewo k had oo much
ex (Expe s 2 and 6, o m1) and missed a g aphical ep esen a ion (Expe
3, o m1). Some dis inguished be ween academics and p ac i ione s as he
add essees o he amewo k (Expe s 2 and 6, o m1), especially ega ding he
ime needed o unde s and he amewo k (Expe 4, o m1).
The amewo k was close o business eali y o se e al expe s excep ega d-
ing some delinea ions (Expe s 3 and 6, o m1). “[I ] add esses many o he same
poin s ha we implemen ou sel es wi h ou cus ome s, so om ha poin o iew
… ha is a con i ma ion o ou wo k” (Expe 3, o m1). The expe s posi i ely
emb aced bo h he social and echnical dimensions and he champion jou ney
(Expe s 1, 3, 4 and 6, o m1). Howe e , ega ding he sequen ial o de , Expe 6
commen ed, “[ ega ding] de elopmen and ein o cemen , … ein o ce de elop-
men again and again” ( o m1). The di ision in o ecommenda ions o ac ion
(“Wha ”) and ecommenda ions o implemen a ion (“How”) wi hin he sec ions
was posi i ely assessed (Expe 1, o m1). Table 7. shows he opinions pe cell.
658
S.Ho s mann e al.
Solu ion Space. Fo he solu ion space, he expe s in o med abou unc ional and
ope a ional cons ain s and al e na i e o supplemen ing solu ions. The implemen a-
ion migh ace economic cons ain s. Besides inancial esou ces (Expe 1, o m1),
i s implemen a ion demands capaci ies and capabili ies in HR, leade ship, and o he
eams, e.g., hose esponsible o he echnical implemen a ion (Expe s 1 and 6,
o m1). Especially he equi ed HR expe ise is no a ailable in e e y o ganiza ion
(Expe s 3 and 4, o m1). F om Expe 2’s ( o m1) poin o iew, i also mus be con-
side ed whe he i is wo h aking he IS champions ou o he day- o-day business.
Expe 3 ( o m1) saw cons ain s in he du a ion i akes o see he successes o he
implemen a ion. While “I can each someone a echnology e y quickly, i akes 2 o
3weeks o hem o unde s and i … beha io and … habi s, you can change his in
pe sons only in 2, 3, 4, 5yea s” (Expe 3, o m1). Addi ionally, manage s’ o o he
employees’ willingness o change and suppo is needed (Expe s 1 and 2, o m1).
Expe 3 saw especially an issue wi h owne -managed o ganiza ions, whe e he own-
e s don’ wan o inno a e anymo e because he business is unning, and hey ecei e
a good p o i annually ( o m1).
To add ess he issues abo e, he expe s sugges ed al e na i e o complemen a y
solu ions. Se e al expe s asked o speci ic ecommenda ions o ac ion (Expe s 1,
2, 4 and 6, o m1). Two expe s sugges ed a sco ing sys em o e alua e he IS cham-
pion’s de elopmen (Expe s 3 and 6, o m1). Expe 1 ( o m1) imagined a cham-
pion jou ney wi h a pa h o skills, ai s, and knowledge. Expe 2 ( o m1) al e na-
i ely conside ed d i e s and se e al possible de elopmen pa hs leading o goals.
Expe 6 ( o m1) demanded in o ma ion on he amewo k’s possible applica ion
a eas and in luences, e.g., o ganiza ion size o indus y.
A.3 Design s age II‑F amewo k e sion o  o ma i e
e alua ion‑de ailed in o ma ion
The i s design cycle esul ed in a d a o a amewo k o de eloping IS
champions, he documen a ion o he a i ac , and addi ional insigh s in o he
p oblem and solu ion space. The e alua ion phase o he i s cycle showed ha he
chosen app oach add essed he p oblem bu aced cons ain s in he solu ion space,
especially ega ding he easibili y. A signi ican cons ain was he skill se o he
pe son implemen ing he amewo k in he o ganiza ion. F om he in e iews, i
eme ged ha he po en ial implemen e s o en wo k in he echnical depa men s.
Some o ganiza ions ha e HR expe s who can suppo hem, bu he echnical
depa men canno ely on his suppo in o he o ganiza ions. The a i ac mus be
usable wi h a low le el o knowledge and quickly unde s andable o pe suasion and
use. The e o e, he amewo k had o be simpli ied wi h g aphical ep esen a ions
and supplemen ed by o he a i ac s.
A wo-s ep app oach was chosen o imp o e he a i ac . Fi s , he abula ep-
esen a ion was adap ed using he e alua ion esul s o he i s design cycle. A
g aphical ep esen a ion was hen de i ed om he adap ed e sion o summa ize
he main elemen s o p ac i ione s. Fo his pu pose, only he essen ial in o ma ion
was e ained and simpli ied. The a i ac o e all hen consis ed o wo elemen s: he

659
A amewo k o nu u ing champions o digi al inno a ion
Table 7 Feedback on he amewo k cells
Champion jou ney phase Commen s Fu he men ioned examples
Technology
Iden i ica ion Impeded eading lowa, al e na i e:gi ing he IS champion a s age
o show ha hey ha e IS champion po en ial, es s a e no ha
p ac icalb
Pla o ms o sel -p esen a ion b, s uc u ed in e iews e
De elopmen Ma ching di e en in e es s and expe ise a eas, e ical and
ho izon al knowledge a, pe sonalize he low o in o ma ion o a oid
o e load e
People de elopmen managemen ool a, lea ning pla o m a,d,
cowo king ools, cha ing ool a, webina s d, wo kshop anima ion,
ideos, podcas s, gami ica ion modules e
Rein o cemen Announcemen and app ecia ion a e essen ial, gami ica ion migh
be e ec i e b, gami ica ion in he de ini ion excludes mo e se ious
o ganiza ionsd
Ca ds o make g a i ude isiblea, success s o ies b, blog pos sb,d,
g a i ude cha channel e
Task
Iden i ica ion In e ac ions in la ge g oups only applicable wi h a la ge numbe o
applican s c, elying on people skills when HR skills a e lacking c, d
Ta ge ed ques ions o e eal how a pe son ac s c
De elopmen Ne wo king ac oss depa men saRegula s’ able a, o ganiza ion wide e en s, open alks, idea challenges/
hacka hons, andom cha s, opic channels, social days e
Rein o cemen Implemen a ion mo e ealis ic du ing o e - ime, closeness o he
managemen and mo e eedom de elop au oma ically, oo much
ime de o ed o inno a ion can be coun e p oduc i e b
Talking in on o a la ge audience b,d
S uc u e
Iden i ica ion None Open and app ecia i e cul u e d
De elopmen Mo e de ails needed o applica ion c, he wo ding “ ee space” is no
sel -explana o y, “agile” lea es oom o in e p e a ion d
Feedback cul u e a, encou aging cul u e b, a cul u e whe e you a e
o ced o make mis akes c, change-o ien ed, adap able cul u e,
a ge -o ien ed cul u e d, en ep eneu ial cul u e, suppo ing cul u e,
esponsibili y, us , au onomy e, mu ual suppo a, e
Rein o cemen Compensa ion alone is no enough o long- e m mo i a ion b, c,
employee-o - he-mon h no implemen able when he e a e many IS
champions e
Ca ee pa hsa, celeb a ing success e
660
S.Ho s mann e al.
Table 7 (con inued)
Champion jou ney phase Commen s Fu he men ioned examples
Ac o
Iden i ica ion P o ide he in e iewe wi h a ques ionnai e, in ol e HR and
echnical depa men in he p ocessa
P o essional expe iencec,d
De elopmen Planning he a ge ole and he pa h o i , adap de elopmen
measu es o he le el o he indi idual, make he IS champion eel
ha hey a e no alone, no e e y hing as o mal aining, “social
skills” insu icien ly de ined a, no p ede ini ion o de elopmen ,
bu le hem ind hei own s yle b, depending on he age o he IS
champion, no all skills can be ained anymo e c, some skills need
o be mo e de ailed o ain hem (e.g. isk- aking in o g i and
boldness) e
Coaching, men o ing, leade ship ci cle, wo kshop, lea ning by doing,
communica e alues ( a ge ing ans o ma ional leade ship)a,
me hodologies like “Fi e Why” c, specialis li e a u e d, aining on
s a egic hinking, solu ion making, agili y, design me hods e
Rein o cemen In insic mo i a ion is he only way o keep up mo i a ion o e a
long pe iod o imec, enable indi idual in insic mo i a ion (e.g.,
isibili ye, knowledge sha ing, exchange)a
Iden i ica iona, pu posea,d, pe sonal isionsc, p omo e he o ganiza ion
ision and missione
a Expe 1, o m1. bExpe 2, o m1. cExpe 3, o m1. dExpe 4, o m1. eExpe 6, o m1
661
A amewo k o nu u ing champions o digi al inno a ion
de ailed abula ep esen a ion and he g aphical ep esen a ion. Figu e8 shows he
e olu ion and he inal e sion o he amewo k.
Re ision o he De ailed Tabula Rep esen a ion. The e we e no objec ions
in he in e iews ega ding he dimensions o STS heo y componen s and he
champion jou ney. The e o e, he e ision ocused on he cells. The expe s’
s a emen s ha could be di ec ly applied o he cells, such as addi ional examples,
we e inse ed in his de elopmen phase and a e no explained u he . Table 8
summa izes all changes made based on expe s’ sugges ions.
G aphical Rep esen a ion o he F amewo k: Insigh s om he i s design
cycle indica ed he need o an easy- o-g asp p esen a ion as a amewo k o de el-
oping IS champions. The e o e, a sho ex (Expe s 6 and 2, o m1) and a g aphi-
cal p esen a ion we e equi ed (Expe 3, o m1). Fo he e alua ion – and he eby
o ele ance o he de elopmen – Ma ch and Smi h (1995) p opose he ollowing
c i e ia: ideli y o eal-wo ld phenomena, comple eness, le el o de ail, obus ness,
and in e nal consis ency. The amewo k should be designed o co e he a ious
ci cums ances in o ganiza ions. The le el o de ail mus be consis en h oughou he
amewo k wi hou losing comple eness.
The de ailed abula ep esen a ion om he i s design cycle has i e building
blocks: he champion jou ney, he STS heo y componen s, he ecommenda ions
o ac ion (“Wha ”), he ecommenda ions o implemen a ion (“How”), and he
examples. The expe s especially alued he champion jou ney and he spli be ween
Fig. 8 E olu ion o he F amewo k o he De elopmen o IS Champions. No e D a 1 is an own p es-
en a ion, d a 2 and d a 3 we e adap ed om (Doughnu Economics Ac ion Lab (DEAL), 2021), d a
4 and d a 5 we e adap ed om (pslides ndIn eg a ed alen managemen model o Powe Poin . Pslides.
h ps:// pslid es. com/ empl a es/ in eg a ed- alen mana gemen - model- o - powe poin /), d a 6 was adap ed
om (EnableChange 2021), and d a 7 was adap ed om (Mu he 2002, p. 12; Os e walde 2004, p. 66).
The igu e is used o show he g aphical e olu ion
662
S.Ho s mann e al.
Table 8 Re ision o he de ailed abula ep esen a ion
Champion jou ney phase Commen s
Technology
Iden i ica ion “Algo i hms o analyzing (and conduc ing) ideo in e iews” and
“simula ed games” esul ed om he b ains o ming o he au ho s and
we e no empi ically p o en. As he expe s did no men ion hose, hese
we e omi ed. Especially he simula ed games may be a subca ego y o
psychological es s. Expe 2 ( o m1) did no conside psychological es s
p ac ical and he eby con adic ed Expe 6 ( o m1), who men ioned hem as
an example. Acco dingly, hey s ayed in he examples. The ecommenda ion
o ac ion we e ewo ded o be e eadabili y (Expe 1, o m1).
De elopmen “Ensu e ha he champion is cons an ly exposed o a ious ideas ma ching
his in e es and expe ise a eas” was con i med by Expe 6 ( o m1), who
o he wise saw an in o ma ion o e load. Expe 1 ( o m1), howe e , alued
ho izon al and e ical knowledge ans e and demanded ideas “ma ching
di e en in e es s and expe ise a eas” (Expe 1, o m1). The e o e, he wo
o mula ions we e me ged in o one.
Rein o cemen Gami ica ion was elimina ed om he ecommenda ion o ac ion o
emphasize mo e p ecisely wha ex insically mo i a es he IS champion.
Wi h he inclusion o “ isibili y and app ecia ion,” he o he examples a e
also encompassed.
Task
Iden i ica ion Th ee expe s s a ed ha hey do would no include g oup in e ac ion in he
iden i ica ion p ocess. Expe 2 ( o m1) did no conside i pu pose ul.
Expe 3 and Expe 4 ( o m1) lack he numbe o applican s and he
abili y o conduc such g oup in e ac ions. The e o e, he ecommenda ion
o ac ion and he ecommenda ions o implemen a ion we e o mula ed
somewha less speci ically in e ms o g oup in e ac ions.
De elopmen The wo ding “wo king om each laye in ol ed in digi al inno a ion” was
simpli ied o “ om di e en eams and depa men s”.
Rein o cemen None
S uc u e
Iden i ica ion The wo ding “Flexible and ole an cul u e owa ds he champion” was
changed o he wo ding used by Expe 4 ( o m1).
De elopmen Expe 3 ( o m1) s a ed ha he would de ail some examples. I can be deduced
om his ha head ca ego ies a e meaning ul enough o be in e p e ed by
he use i necessa y. The e o e, en ep eneu ial cul u e summa izes he
examples o policy suppo ing wo k ime a ee disposal, agile cul u e,
esponsibili y, us , and au onomy in he spi i o his e y holis ic
amewo k. Suppo ing cul u e summa izes eedback cul u e, encou aging
cul u e, suppo ing cul u e, and mu ual suppo . Change-o ien ed cul u e
summa izes adap able and policy encou aging changes in ac i i ies.
This summa y addi ionally add essed c i icism ega ding wo king ime
egula ions by Expe 2 ( o m1). Fu he mo e, he ph ases “agile” and “ ee
space” (Expe 4, o m1) we e eplaced wi h “au onomy”.
669
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