Eric MacIntosh

Leader Intentions and Employee Perceptions of Organizational Culture in a Private Fitness Corporation

Abstract Understanding “how things are done around here” is an integral part of managing any organization. Organizational culture may impact the attitudes and behaviour of members, and the performance of the organization as a whole. Thus, the indoctrination of positive values, that become widely understood, is the likely intention of the organizations leaders. This study examined leader intentions and employee perceptions of organizational culture, as well as the existence of distinct subcultures, and the further influence of subculture on staff behaviour (intent to leave) and organizational performance (profit margin, client retention). Qualitative and quantitative methods were used to describe the specific culture of the focal organization. The study revealed a significant culture gap between the leaders’ intentions and employee perceptions, and the existence of subcultures by organizational level (head office versus club). The strength of the respective subcultures was inversely associated with employee intentions to leave the organization, however club subculture had little association with performance in terms of profit margin or client retention rates. The findings suggest that culture has a more direct influence on employees and a less direct influence, if any, on organizational performance. The results extend our understanding of the nature and influence of organizational culture and subcultures, and have implications for their management within the focal organization.

Conceptualizing a Meaningful Definition of Hazing in Sport

Abstract Administrators, coaches, athletes and parents struggle to understand the definition of hazing. Athletes at all levels of competition continue to subject themselves and their team-mates to harmful behaviors. In particular, college athletes seem willing to do anything that veteran players demand in order to be part of the teams “inner circle”. The behaviors related to hazing exploit a persons basic desire to be part of athletic teams, and continue to persist at high rates within various levels of sport. This paper critically examines how sport hazing has been conceptualized by student-athletes, coaches and sport administrators. Through a review of literature and focus group research, multiple issues related to the understanding of hazing and its subsequent definition arose. The confusion surrounding the various acts of hazing and the definition of hazing versus team initiation may be precipitating the problem in collegiate sport. The authors will elaborate on this issue and the paper will culminate in a proposed new definition of sport hazing intended to help develop a better understanding among stakeholders.

Exploring the community and external-agency partnership in sport-for-development programming

ABSTRACT Research question: Sport-for-development programs often rely on a community and external-agency partnership. This study explored how the community–external-agency partnership attempted to use a high cost sport of ice-hockey to create sustainable community development outcomes. Research methods: The evolution of the partnership between the external-agency Right To Play and the community of Moose Cree First Nation in the Province of Ontario, Canada is examined. Data included 35 semi-structured interviews from community (n = 26) and external-agency (n = 9) partnership stakeholders, combined with non-participant observations of ice-hockey clinics and organizational document reviews. Results and findings: Findings provide several insights regarding resource acquisition and flow. The study found that the choice of sport is critical to initiate desired community change. Findings also indicated several challenges in program funding, human resource management, and communication highlighting the importance of sustainable resource planning. Implications: The sport of ice-hockey acted as an initial hook to mobilize community members’ interest and gain outside organizations’ resources. The findings denote differences in partner objectives which can complicate the delivery of programming. Sustaining the sport of ice-hockey within the community took on a more traditional sport development outcome. Ultimately, resource availability and acquisition (tangible and intangible) within a sport-for-development partnership must be considered before embarking on a program. Articulating a sustainable strategy where the external agency has a planned withdraw date and the community can independently continue programming if deemed desirable is important. Partnerships mutually benefit when there are clearly stated and communicated objectives.

Should I stay or should I go? Exploring the decision to join, maintain, or cancel a fitness membership

This study examined reasons why people join, maintain, and cancel a fitness membership by following 26 new members to a Canadian fitness centre over a one-year period. Participants were interviewed at three different time points (i.e. new membership purchase, six-month follow-up, and one-year renewal decision). Notable reasons to join included being a role model for children, improving health, and organisation reputation. Reasons to maintain membership included health-related goals, service quality, and organisational culture values. The study found that only 50% renewed their membership after the year. Notable reasons to cancel the membership included the cost, lack of time, interest in other physical activity classes like yoga, outdoor exercise and, most prominently, changes to the family dynamic. The paper discusses the controllable and uncontrollable factors associated with membership maintenance, including service quality, organisational culture, and psychological aspects of the theory of planned behaviour to better understand a persons decision to join, maintain, or cancel membership.

Environmental responsibility: internal motives and customer expectations of a winter sport provider

Mountain resorts that offer winter sporting opportunities are facing sustainability issues ranging from public criticisms to the deterioration of the natural environment. To gain perspective on the issue of environmental responsibility (ER) in this particular context, a mixed-method study regarding a single mountain resort was undertaken. The first research phase utilized qualitative methods to examine message framing and motivations for communicating ER to consumers. Findings demonstrate that framing ER was strategically motivated albeit marginally performed. The second research phase employed a scale development approach to investigate the revealed ER effects on consumer attitudes and expectations. Results demonstrated that consumers held moderate levels of environmental awareness and that their behavioral intentions were mildly impacted by the organizations ER initiatives. Overall, the study demonstrated that for organizational employees, framing environmental messages caused dissonance but consumers were influenced by the ER activities.

Management challenges in delivering an international sport and development program

Purpose – The primary purpose of this paper is to explore stakeholder perceptions of an international sport for development program so as to identify some of the management challenges within a strategic management framework. The secondary purpose is to provide recommendations for the focal organization’s leadership based on those stakeholder perceptions. Hence, participants in this study directly experienced the facilitation and implementation of the international sport for development program. Participant viewpoints are expressed in efforts to identify improvement opportunities in the delivery and operations of this sport for development program. Design/methodology/approach – In this qualitative research, a case study design was chosen to produce a detailed account of the Commonwealth Games Association of Canada’s (CGC) International Sport and Development (IDS) program. Interviews were conducted with 24 alumni of the IDS program, five CGC IDS administrators, and ten host IDS organization administrators f...

Cross-sectoral Variation in Organizational Culture in the Fitness Industry

Abstract This study compared the perception and impact of organizational culture on staff working in for-profit and non-profit organizations in the fitness industry. The purpose was to examine whether there was any variation in the emphasis on certain values within these organizations which may distinguish the sectors of this competitive industry. The study also considered whether there were differences in the impact of certain values on employee behavior. Survey research was employed during a major fitness conference and trade show that organizations from both sectors attend. Data were gathered from 416 fitness industry staff, of which 209 worked in the for-profit sector while 60 worked in the non-profit sector. The findings revealed that cross-sectoral variation in organizational culture was limited to the greater emphasis placed on sales in for-profit organizations. The findings suggest that shared values exist within an industry. Findings also showed that a focus on sales in both sectors increased staff intention to leave, while connectedness was inversely associated with intention to leave in the non-profit sector only. Directions for future research on the variation and impact of organizational culture are presented.

Young athlete major event experiences: brand co-creators and ambassadors

Abstract Youth sport events have become rather recent line extensions within some of the world’s largest sport event properties such as the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF). This paper draws on feedback from 184 young athletes regarding their experiences during the 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games (CYG) in the Isle of Man. The athlete perspective is considered in lieu of some of the stated brand promises of the CGF. Athlete feedback demonstrated that the CYG acts as a conduit to protect important aspects of the brand while adding further potential to enhance other brand assets. Consequently, for the property rights holders to raise the level of quality for youth athletes in particular, management must recognize the value in their feedback and opinion and consider them important co-creators of the brand.

The Youth Olympic Games: a facilitator or barrier of the high-performance sport development pathway?

ABSTRACT Research question: This paper examined the impact of participation in YOG on Norwegian team members with a particular emphasis on differences between those who continued in elite sport and those that dropped out. Research methods: We used a retrospective survey design to collect quantitative and qualitative data from former Norwegian YOG participants (from 2010, 2012, and 2014), with 58 of the 64 athletes responding to the survey in December 2015. Results and findings: Ericsson, Krampe, and Tesch-Roemer’s [(1993). The role of deliberate practice in the acquisition of expert performance. Psychological Review, 100(3), 363–406] typology of constraints and their concept of deliberative practice provided the framework for the data analysis. Key findings include: (a) the dropout rate was lower than that reported for similar groups; (b) the main reasons for dropout were school pressures and poor relations with the coach; (c) there was little difference in the perceived level of support from schools, parents and coaches between those who dropped out and those who did not; (d) participation in the YOG was a significant motivating factor for staying in elite-level sport for some athletes; (e) medal winners were as likely to dropout as non-medal winners; and (f) the national context for elite youth development may play a larger role in deeper engagement in sport than YOG participation. We derive hypotheses/propositions based on our results, which should be tested in future studies. Implications: Our findings suggest the entourage’s support is critical for continued engagement in sport, but is not sufficient for preventing dropout. The national context, in terms of the sport and education systems, must align to ensure young athletes do not need to choose between elite-level sport and school. The national context may play a larger role in deeper engagement in sport than YOG participation/success.

Enriching identity in the “fan nation”: the role of social media in the case of a professional sport team

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore how the National Hockey League (NHL) Ottawa Senators’ Twitter activity influences (if at all) their followers’ activity online, examine whether followers’ Twitter activity level consequently influences their perception of and perceived inclusion within the online central fan group that surrounds the Senators, assess whether membership can potentially influence followers’ enrichment of social identity, and investigate if fans’ identity – and thereby commitment to the team – is impacted by their level of Twitter activity. Design/methodology/approach The study adopted a case study method focusing on the NHL’s Ottawa Senators, and collected data through a two-phase approach. In the first phase, a focus group was conducted to obtain breadth and depth, as well as to inform and refine the development of questions to be used in the second phase: survey method. In the second phase, a survey was employed to enrich the explanations and attain deeper and broader understanding regarding the research questions. Findings The results showed that time spent in reading and engaging in tweets are predictive of commitment. This study also showed that it is not strictly an individual’s Twitter activity in relation to the Senators (i.e. replying and retweeting) which dictates their membership within the fan group. Rather, it is a person’s activity level with other Senators community members which determines their membership in the team’s fan nation. Findings also suggest that both the evaluative and emotional components of forming a group are lacking within the Twitter communication. This only furthers the argument as to why the Senators need to engage in dialogue with their followers. Research limitations/implications This was a study of one team over several months of only one season and, therefore, does not take into account a more long-term-oriented strategy to help formulate social identity and team commitment. Originality/value The findings of the study informed us that the only predictor that reflected a significant impact on the construction of a Senators fans’ social identity was the number of minutes an individual spent reading the team’s tweets per day. However, the study also showed that the expansion of the network with other fans is a critical feature of increasing the fan group identity; thus, sport organization’s should play a role in helping to foster further engagement with others.