Champion behaviour and product innovation performance in Korea

ABSTRACT

Adopting an uncertainty-reduction perspective, this study examines the impact of champion behaviour on the product development process and the performance of new product development projects. Champion behaviour is defined as: expressing confidence in the innovation; involving and motivating others to support the innovation; and persisting under adversity. Based on data from 79 product development projects across 34 Korean firms, this study finds that champion behaviour positively contributes to project performance in both direct and indirect ways by providing market information, material resources, and organisational support. The theoretical and practical implications and directions for future research are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Champion behaviour
• product development
• project management
• project performance
• Korea

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Duksup Shim is currently a professor at the College of Business Administration, Chonnam National University in Korea. He received his PhD in Management Engineering from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST). His research interests are in management of technology and organizational change. He has published articles in Journal of Cross-cultural Psychology, IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, and Asian Journal of Technology Innovation.

Youngbae Kim is a professor of management of organization from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) in Korea. His research focuses on organization design and leadership for innovation, as well as user innovation in both industrial and consumer sectors. He has published many articles in the international journals, including Management Science, Research Policy, and Asian Journal of Technology Innovation.

ORCID

Duksup Shim http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3978-9091

Youngbae Kim http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9345-2027