Processes and consequences of professionalisation in sports clubs
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Project description
This research project aims to (1) comprehensively understand professionalisation as a transformative process including the underlying decision making and relevant actors, and (2) analyse corresponding consequences of professionalisation in terms of solving organisational problems, improving performance, changing organisational logics and contributing to socio-political functions. In order to address these research aims, we use a multilevel analytical framework
(Nagel, Schlesinger, Wicker et al., 2015) combined with a processual approach that focuses on decision making in sports clubs (Schlesinger, Klenk, & Nagel, 2015). To get in-depth insights into organisational decision-making processes, we apply a multiple case study design and investigate 10 sports clubs each in Switzerland and in Germany that have just carried out a professionalisation process. We follow a multi-dimensional approach of professionalisation (Ruoranen et al., 2016) and aim to consider different forms of professionalisation when selecting the cases, for example establishment of a club office, employment of paid staff, introduction of specific programmes. We foresee the use of multiple sources of data collection to reconstruct the complexity of professionalisation processes within sports clubs: documentary analyses, interviews with decision makers in the club, focus groups with selected club members. The interviews and written documents will be analysed using qualitative content analysis and all collected data will be combined to develop a comprehensive visual map of the process of professionalisation in each club.
The study intends to create detailed knowledge on promotion and hindering factors of successful implementation of certain forms of professionalisation. Furthermore, it aims to provide insight into the extent transformation of sports clubs to more business-like organisations leads to problem solving and performance improvement, and proceeds with unintended consequences.
(Nagel, Schlesinger, Wicker et al., 2015) combined with a processual approach that focuses on decision making in sports clubs (Schlesinger, Klenk, & Nagel, 2015). To get in-depth insights into organisational decision-making processes, we apply a multiple case study design and investigate 10 sports clubs each in Switzerland and in Germany that have just carried out a professionalisation process. We follow a multi-dimensional approach of professionalisation (Ruoranen et al., 2016) and aim to consider different forms of professionalisation when selecting the cases, for example establishment of a club office, employment of paid staff, introduction of specific programmes. We foresee the use of multiple sources of data collection to reconstruct the complexity of professionalisation processes within sports clubs: documentary analyses, interviews with decision makers in the club, focus groups with selected club members. The interviews and written documents will be analysed using qualitative content analysis and all collected data will be combined to develop a comprehensive visual map of the process of professionalisation in each club.
The study intends to create detailed knowledge on promotion and hindering factors of successful implementation of certain forms of professionalisation. Furthermore, it aims to provide insight into the extent transformation of sports clubs to more business-like organisations leads to problem solving and performance improvement, and proceeds with unintended consequences.
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Start Date
2021-10-01
Expected Completion Date
2025-09-30
Institutional Partner
Keyword(s)
sport club
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professionalisation
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multi-level analysis
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processual analysis
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decision-making process
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case study design
Languages
de
en