Mohammad ReZR Shahraki - PhD Candidate in Industrial Engineering & Systems, Engineering Paculty , University Putra Malaysia(upM)
Megat Mohamd Hamdan b Megat Ahmad - Professor in Manufacturing Systems, Engineering Faculty, University Pertahanan National Malaysia(upNM)

Research in construction innovation highlights construction industry as having many barriers and resistance to innovations and suggests that it needs champions, A hierarchical structural model is presented, to assess the impact of the role of the project manager (PM) on the levels of innovation and project performance. The model adopts the structural equation modeling teclmique and uses the survey data collected from PMs and project team members working for general contractors in Malaysia. The model fits well to the observed data., accounting for 24%, 37% and 49% of the variance in championing behaviour, the level of innovation and project performance, respectively. The results of this study show the inlportance of the championing role of PM;; in construction innovation. However, in order to increase their effectiveness, such a role should be complemented by their competency and professionalism, tactical use of influence tactics, and decision authority. MOfe{)ver, senior management should provide adequate resources and a sustained support to innovation and create a conductive environment or organizational culture that nurtures and facilitates the PM's role in the construction project as a champion of innovation.

Champions, innovation, organizational climate, project manager