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Sustainable Management of Sport Organizations
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Sustainable Management of Sport Organizations

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (1 July 2022) | Viewed by 18099

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Pamela Wicker

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Sports Science, Bielefeld University, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
Interests: sport organizations; environmental sustainability of sport; sport participation, well-being, and public health; societal relevance of sport
Dr. Shannon Kerwin

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Sport Management, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON L2S 3A1, Canada
Interests: organizational behavior and human resource management in sport; gender equity in sport leadership and governance; values alignment; conflict management; sustainable governance in volunteer boards of directors

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue focuses on the sustainable management of sport organizations. It is directed at sport organizations operating in all three sectors, including non-profit, private (market), and government (state) sectors. Across sectors, sport organizations face increasing pressures and expectations from various internal and external stakeholders (e.g., members, employees, consumers, society, other organizations) and are expected to meet at least some of these expectations in order to retain their place within society, the sport system, and the economy. Hence, sustainable organizational management will play a major role in sustaining the viability, performance, and effectiveness of sport organizations. The concept of sustainability explicitly considers all three dimensions of sustainability (i.e., the triple bottom line), including financial/economic, social, and ecological sustainability.

Submissions can speak to one or more of the following themes or address other topics related to at least one dimension of sustainability :

  • Economic/financial sustainability: Revenue diversification and management of income portfolios; securing sustainable sport funding; generating sustainable economic impact; protection against organizational fraud; etc.
  • Social sustainability: Integration and inclusion of minorities and under-represented population groups; implementation of gender diversity and/or national/ethnic diversity; organizational management ensuring the delivery of the desired social, health, and well-being outcomes of sport; etc.
  • Ecological sustainability: Promotion of environmentally friendly behavior within organizations; reduction of organizations’ environmental impact; etc.
  • Understanding and successfully managing trade-offs between two or three sustainability dimensions.

Prof. Dr. Pamela Wicker
Dr. Shannon Kerwin
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • sport management
  • financial sustainability
  • social sustainability
  • ecological sustainability
  • triple bottom line

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 293 KiB  
Article
Is Sport Coaching a Social Sustainable Profession for Women? Analysing the Experiences of Women Coaches in Spain
by Judith Solanas, Ingrid Hinojosa-Alcalde, Anna Vilanova and Susanna Soler
Sustainability 2022, 14(13), 7846; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14137846 - 27 Jun 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2418
Abstract
While there are several studies showing the importance of social sustainability in different settings (e.g., Democracy and Governance: the Role of Sport Governing Bodies, urban planning, architecture) there is a lack of studies investigating social sustainability in the sports coaching profession, and even [...] Read more.
While there are several studies showing the importance of social sustainability in different settings (e.g., Democracy and Governance: the Role of Sport Governing Bodies, urban planning, architecture) there is a lack of studies investigating social sustainability in the sports coaching profession, and even less research has specifically addressed women coaches. Using Barron and Gauntlett’s model of social sustainability (2002), the purpose of this study was to analyze the women coaches’ experiences of their profession and the extent to which it is a sustainable livelihood for women coaches. Semi-structured interviews with 20 women coaches were conducted from a variety of sports and performance levels. From a social sustainability perspective, the women coaches’ experiences were analyzed using Barron and Gauntlett’s principles of equity, diversity, interconnectedness, and democracy and governance to ascertain their quality of life. Our findings reveal that women coaches face multiple barriers and difficult working conditions in their profession, yet they continue to be committed to coaching largely because of the strong positive interpersonal relationships and social interactions they have with their sporting community. This study shines a light on the extent to which coaching is a livable and sustainable profession for women coaches today and highlights the importance of considering social sustainability principles to improve the experiences of women in the sports coaching profession. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Management of Sport Organizations)
20 pages, 302 KiB  
Article
The Circular Economy Concept in the Outdoor Sporting Goods Industry: Challenges and Enablers of Current Practices among Brands and Retailers
by Michael Fuchs and Gregor Hovemann
Sustainability 2022, 14(13), 7771; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14137771 - 25 Jun 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4055
Abstract
Based on an analysis of challenges and enablers of circular economy (CE) practices for outdoor brands and retailers, we aim to identify which of these CE practices are best suited for the outdoor sporting goods industry. To develop the study, we used a [...] Read more.
Based on an analysis of challenges and enablers of circular economy (CE) practices for outdoor brands and retailers, we aim to identify which of these CE practices are best suited for the outdoor sporting goods industry. To develop the study, we used a qualitative methodology through a content analysis of 21 expert interviews. From these interviews, we derived challenges and enablers for different CE elements in the categories reduce, circulate products, circulate materials, and shift towards renewable resources. Our findings indicate trade-offs related to the high complexity and functionality of many products, the juxtaposition of extremely technical and less technical products, and the low product return rate as challenges, while design for durability, design for repairability, and linking the degree of circularity to product types were identified as enablers. Based on our data, we argue that among circular practices reduce should form a basis upon which other aspects can build, with durability and repairability best suited for technical outdoor gear. As our study adds an industry-specific perspective, it contributes new knowledge to the CE literature. It also helps managers with the practical implications, as we argue they should be aware of potential downsides of CE elements and thus consider carefully which of those elements can help support their overall business and sustainability strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Management of Sport Organizations)
19 pages, 418 KiB  
Article
Homogeneity or Heterogeneity: An Institutional Theory View on Circular Economy Practices in the Outdoor Sporting Goods Industry
by Michael Fuchs and Gregor Hovemann
Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 6279; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14106279 - 21 May 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2466
Abstract
The concept of a circular economy (CE) has recently gained attention within the field of corporate sustainability, including the textile sector. Although CE-related literature often mentions actors from the outdoor sporting goods industry (OSGI) as forerunners, an analysis of their CE implementation is [...] Read more.
The concept of a circular economy (CE) has recently gained attention within the field of corporate sustainability, including the textile sector. Although CE-related literature often mentions actors from the outdoor sporting goods industry (OSGI) as forerunners, an analysis of their CE implementation is missing. Thus, in this paper, we attempt to identify the structure of the current state of CE activities in this field. To develop the study, we used a qualitative methodology through content analysis of documents as well as expert interviews, taking an institutional theory (IT) view to support that analysis. Our findings indicate that many outdoor brands and retailers are engaged in practices related to the CE and that homogeneity among these practices varies between moderate to high. Thus, we assume that processes of institutional isomorphism are in place and that there will be increasingly uniform CE practices in the OSGI in the future. Our study not only contributes to a more organised understanding of the diverse CE playing field, as it adds an industry-specific perspective to the literature, but it also helps managers to draw practical implications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Management of Sport Organizations)
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15 pages, 279 KiB  
Article
Sustainable Management of High School Athletics: A Comparative Study of the U.S. and South Korea
by Youngjik Lee, Mary Hums and Minuk Kang
Sustainability 2022, 14(7), 4150; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14074150 - 31 Mar 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1751
Abstract
Positive and strong relationships among various stakeholders are essential for the sustainable management of an organization. Despite growing interest in how various sport organizations manage stakeholders to promote social sustainability, there remains a gap in stakeholder and sustainability research in high school athletics. [...] Read more.
Positive and strong relationships among various stakeholders are essential for the sustainable management of an organization. Despite growing interest in how various sport organizations manage stakeholders to promote social sustainability, there remains a gap in stakeholder and sustainability research in high school athletics. The purpose of this study was to examine how the social sustainability of sport organizations (i.e., high school athletics) were maintained during decision-making processes. Specifically, this study used a qualitative case study framed by stakeholder theory to investigate how the relevant decision-makers in high school athletics (i.e., principals and athletic directors) manage other stakeholders in their departmental decision-making processes to promote the sustainability of their athletic department. Two high schools from the US and South Korea, one from each country, were selected as the cases for the current study. Semi-structured interviews regarding stakeholder management in departmental decision-making processes were conducted with four individual interviewees, including the principals and athletic directors of each high school. The results of this study illustrated that both the US and the South Korean high school athletic departments utilized stakeholder engagement strategy in their departmental decision-making processes. The principals and athletic directors recognized the importance of communicating with other stakeholders and engaging them in athletic department decisions. Specifically, the organizational decisions of both high school athletic departments were made in consultation with the main internal stakeholders of the athletic department (i.e., the principal and athletic director) as well as other various stakeholders (e.g., parents, coaches, alumni association). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Management of Sport Organizations)
17 pages, 2521 KiB  
Article
Sustainability and Social Responsibility of Romanian Sport Organizations
by Mihai Constantin Răzvan Barbu, Marius Cătălin Popescu, George Bogdan Burcea, Dan-Eugen Costin, Marian Gabriel Popa, Leonardo-Daniel Păsărin and Ioan Turcu
Sustainability 2022, 14(2), 643; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14020643 - 7 Jan 2022
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 5402
Abstract
Sports organizations worldwide are discovering their power of influence over the fans and communities in which they operate, making more and more specialists and practitioners question these organizations’ social responsibility and sustainable development. In sports organizations, although research is increasing, social responsibility and [...] Read more.
Sports organizations worldwide are discovering their power of influence over the fans and communities in which they operate, making more and more specialists and practitioners question these organizations’ social responsibility and sustainable development. In sports organizations, although research is increasing, social responsibility and sustainability are topics that require special attention because sports organizations can instill values in a large number of people in different fields. In our paper, we propose a conceptual framework that allows for integrated research into corporate social responsibility (CSR) and the sustainability of sports organizations for sustainable management and identifies their influences on the overall performance. Based on the conceptual framework, we developed a scale for measuring sports organizations’ social responsibility and sustainability, which we applied within sports organizations in Romania. The empirical study involved 280 respondents selected from the first two leagues of four sports areas (football, handball, volleyball, basketball). To support the conceptual framework, we used quantitative research methods in a transversal analysis: structural equation modeling and artificial neural network analysis. The conclusions of the empirical study in Romania show that social responsibility and sustainability are essential for the sustainable management of sports organizations and significantly influence the organization’s overall performance. Among the pillars of sustainability, the social and human impact performance, given the specifics of sports organizations (involving large masses of people). Furthermore, legal and philanthropic responsibilities significantly influence CSR and organizational performance among CSR responsibilities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Management of Sport Organizations)
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