Which set comprises the four roles of innovation?

• A. Innovator, Champion, Sponsor, Critic
• B. Designer, Tester, Builder, Maintainer
• C. Inventor, Leader, Investor, Auditor
• D. Idea Generator, Gatekeeper, Investor, Reviewer

Answer: (A)

The four roles that drive innovation effectively cover idea generation, broad support, resources, and critical review. An Innovator brings new ideas and creative approaches to the table, turning possibilities into tangible concepts to explore. A Champion builds momentum by rallying stakeholders, communicating the value, and keeping the effort aligned with what people care about, helping others see why the idea matters. A Sponsor provides the necessary resources and formal backing, removing obstacles, securing funding or approvals, and ensuring the initiative remains funded and connected to strategic goals. A Critic adds healthy rigor by challenging assumptions, surfacing risks, and asking tough questions to strengthen the plan and prevent untested optimism from driving decisions.

This combination is ideal because it moves an idea from conception to viable implementation: creative generation, persuasive support, available resources, and rigorous evaluation. Other groupings either pull in roles from different domains (like design or maintenance) or mix terms in a way that doesn’t consistently provide the necessary balance of advocacy, funding, and critical assessment.