Germany has become sedate and partially missed digital opportunities generating value. Since 1995, the term innovation leadership is getting increasing attention. Still, there exists no clear definition. The effective innovation leadership (EIL) model resulted from a Ph.D. thesis and is grounded in the iteration of six data sets. It has been used in industry since 2014. This chapter examines the application of the EIL model in one German middle-class enterprise in 2018/2019. Core challenges in the systemic context, which hinder the effectiveness of innovation leadership in the organizational context, are the support of people across functions and hierarchies as well as inflexible structures and digital access. Especially negative pressure coming from an overvaluation of the shareholder, egos fighting for power, extensive drama triangular, fixed mindsets, and freeloaders hinder the effectiveness of innovation leadership. A comparison of the EIL model with rival theory shows that innovation leadership is close to entrepreneurial approaches and an integral part of innovation management.
In this chapter, the EIL (Effective Innovation Leadership) framework is tested empirically. First, peer-reviewed journals in the innovation management, leadership, and transformation discipline are analyzed. Second, a pre-test with 58 executives takes place. The response behavior of the participants varies depending on the company's degree of digital maturity. Third, 20 innovation leaders employed in mature digital companies answer the survey. The participants perceive their company as innovative and state that up to 89% of created innovations are digital. Values relevant to digital innovation leaders are innovation, responsibility, positivity, and transparency. Relevant strengths are creativity and learning. Both strongly correlate with a few efficacy items. Decisiveness correlates with innovation strategy. Entrepreneurship, self-regulation, and culture correlate with each other. Creativity connects the value of innovation and the practice of communication. The insights from this chapter contribute to building a reliable and valid factor-based effective digital innovation leadership questionnaire in the future.
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