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Promotors or Champions? Pros and Cons of role Specialisation for Economic Process

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  • Katja Rost
  • Katharina Hölzle
  • Hans-Georg Gemünden

Abstract

According to the Great-Man Theory, the creation of something new used to be accredited solely to one outstanding individual: the champion. This prevailing notion in Angloamerican research was first challenged by Witte (1973), who concluded that an innovation cannot be a one-man decision, since the creation of something new usually involves highly complex and multi-person decision processes. Witte’s model credits the success not to one all-around individual, but to the cooperation of several different specialized persons (so called promotors). Even though the Great-Man Theory is still leading the discussion, the idea of specialized promotors should not be underestimated. In this article we discuss the circumstances under which specialized promotors or generalized champions are better suited for economic progress. We find extensive empirical proof for both roles.

Suggested Citation

  • Katja Rost & Katharina Hölzle & Hans-Georg Gemünden, 2007. "Promotors or Champions? Pros and Cons of role Specialisation for Economic Process," Schmalenbach Business Review (sbr), LMU Munich School of Management, vol. 59(4), pages 340-363, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:sbr:abstra:v:59:y:2007:i:4:p:340-363
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Maximilian A. Maier & Alexander Brem, 2018. "What innovation managers really do: a multiple-case investigation into the informal role profiles of innovation managers," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 12(4), pages 1055-1080, October.
    2. Rohrbeck, Rene & Arnold, Heinrich M. & Heuer, Jörg, 2007. "Strategic Foresight in multinational enterprises – a case study on the Deutsche Telekom Laboratories," MPRA Paper 5700, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    3. Thomas Hamadi & Jens Leker & Klaus Meerholz, 2018. "Emergence Of Innovation Champions: Differences In The R&D Collaboration Process Between Science And Industry," International Journal of Innovation Management (ijim), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 22(08), pages 1-17, December.
    4. Maximilian A. Maier & Peter Rück & Alexander Brem, 2017. "How to Integrate Suppliers into the Innovation Process? An Explorative Case of Champion Formalization in the Purchasing Department in Times of Open Innovation," International Journal of Innovation and Technology Management (IJITM), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 14(06), pages 1-17, December.
    5. Rashid, Lubna & Alzafari, Khaled & Kratzer, Jan, 2020. "Founder Personalities, Behaviors and New Venture Success in Sub-Saharan Africa," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    6. Schweisfurth, Tim G. & Raasch, Christina, 2015. "Embedded lead users—The benefits of employing users for corporate innovation," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 44(1), pages 168-180.
    7. Aisma Linda Kiesnere & Rupert J. Baumgartner, 2019. "Sustainability management emergence and integration on different management levels in smaller large‐sized companies in Austria," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 26(6), pages 1607-1626, November.
    8. Lena Kessel & Lorenz Graf-Vlachy, 2022. "Chief digital officers: the state of the art and the road ahead," Management Review Quarterly, Springer, vol. 72(4), pages 1249-1286, December.
    9. Rohrbeck, Rene, 2007. "Veille stratégique en entreprise multinationale - Une étude de cas auprès de la Deutsche Telekom AG," MPRA Paper 5701, University Library of Munich, Germany.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Champions; Promotors;

    JEL classification:

    • M12 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - Personnel Management; Executives; Executive Compensation
    • O32 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Management of Technological Innovation and R&D

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