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Based on a systematic literature analysis, this paper takes stock of the current landscape of research on innovation champions from an individual and organizational perspective: 149 journals and conference proceedings were examined on the topic of innovation champions. 85 articles were identified as relevant and systematically categorized according to two perspectives by synthesizing enablers of innovation champions on the individual (e.g. skills) and organizational level (e.g. knowledge management). While our analysis illuminates a high variety of enablers that influence innovation champions, the descriptive findings show a stronger focus of innovation champion studies on individual level enablers. Our literature review points out the lack of research on negative individual characteristics (e.g. narcissism), on the innovation champion in the IS context and on formalized groups of innovation champions (e.g. organizational units).

Innovation champions often play a pivotal role in facilitating new ideas and technology-based innovations within organisations. The rise of digital technology has led to radical changes in the nature of innovation and calls for an assessment of existing knowledge on innovation champions’ activities and their influence on organisations and networks. This paper provides a systematic, interdisciplinary literature review on innovation champions from an individual and organisational perspective. Based on a search of 149 high-quality journals and conference proceedings, we identified 92 articles as relevant and synthesised prior knowledge on innovation champions. We find that, whereas innovation champions’ activities have been explored in detail, research on innovation champions’ influence, especially on networks, has been limited. Furthermore, we identify research gaps with respect to differences in innovation champions’ activities at distinct stages of the innovation lifecycle and the formation of innovation champions’ networks.