Hallgeir Gammelsæter

Institutional Pluralism and Governance in “Commercialized” Sport Clubs

Abstract In the European context “commercialized” sport clubs (CSCs) typically operate in multiple social spheres where different institutional logics prevail and hence CSCs are faced with having to be many different things to many different people. In this article a tentative typology of seven institutional logics that combine to constitute the CSC is outlined and their interrelations and implications for governance are discussed. Drawing extensively on institutional organization theory, the article identifies the need for leadership to create organizations that become an end in their own right despite the multitude of logics that constitutes them.

The organization of professional football in Scandinavia

Against the backdrop that Scandinavia is still a fairly homogenous region which also characterizes its traditions in sport this essay is a first comparative exploration into the way(s) in which football is being organized in Denmark, Norway and Sweden. The essay shows that although the skeleton of the organization of football is very similar across the three countries, there are also remarkable differences, such as the implementation of licensing standards, the national differences in the way clubs are organized and in the relations between the football authorities, top clubs and organized players. Sweden, although first to lift the ban on professional football, proves to have followed a more prudent path to developing top football than have its Scandinavian counterparts. Despite this it is questionable whether Denmark and Norway have performed better than the Swedes on the international arena.

Leader succession and effectiveness in team sport. A critical review of the coach succession literature.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to critically review the part of the leader succession literature which is based on coach turnover in sport teams. The aim of this paper is to assess the state of the art and the relevance of this literature for sport management and further research. Design/methodology/approach – A comprehensive reading of the extant scientific literature and a critical assessment of its conceptual and methodological foundations. Findings – The assumptions guiding the coach succession are not based on insights about the idiosyncrasies of team sport and its management. These flaws render the research findings of the research dubious and leave us with little reliable information of what influence coaches have on their teams and what the impact is of the high turnover of head coaches in professional team sport. Research limitations/implications – Leader succession research in sport is heavily flawed because it has not been informed by qualitative studies exploring the contextual conditi...

Models of Organization in Norwegian Professional Soccer

Abstract The article departs from the observation that Norways mens top football clubs, in contrast to clubs in most other countries, are not permitted to organize as pure public limited companies (plcs). The clubs are organized as voluntary associations, but since 1992, top clubs have developed contractual relationships with plcs to attract investments from commercial actors. In this article we ask if this dual governance structure is just a schizoid state of affairs treading a pathway between voluntary and corporate organization, or if it is in fact viable, reflecting characteristics of the national system that restrict the dominance of business on sport organizations. The article shows that pressures on field level, national systems level and club level all impact on the organizing of mens soccer clubs.

The spatial embeddedness of professional football clubs in Norway

In tune with professional football in other European countries, Norwegian football has experienced increased commercialization and a growing international influence since the mid‐1990s. A conventional view is that such processes will result in a de‐coupling or dis‐embedding of the organization from its local context. By analysing the spatiality of the club–environment linkages, and the inter‐dependency between football clubs and its institutional contexts, our study puts this assumption to the test. The essay demonstrates that the practice of top football clubs is still influenced by their local context. In some aspects, the linkages between the club and its community have even been intensified. The organization of football clubs involves the recasting of social, economic and cultural processes both upwards and downwards in scale, rather than being reduced to the upscaling of processes from a local to a global scale. Clubs seem to intensify simultaneously their local anchoring and stretching their geographical scope. Thus, as the essay tries to show, it is important to identify the distinctiveness or the local flavour of this spatial rescaling in selected cases.

Combinational and dislocated knowledge and the norwegian client-consultant relationship

This article makes two contributions to the literature on producer services. First, the ‘knowledge combinational’ problem of small firms is identified and explored in relation to the interplay of forms of internal and external expertise and knowledge. Second, the role geographic distance plays in a companys decision to employ a particular consultant is explored. The importance, in specific situations, of forms of dislocated expertise or knowledge is identified. By this is meant external expertise that is removed from the clients local social milieu. The article is based on detailed case studies of two small Norwegian companies.

Managing reversed (global) outsourcing – the role of knowledge, technology and time

Purpose Against the recent trend toward reversed global outsourcing, the purpose of this paper is to provide insights on how the internal process can be handled once the decision on reverse outsourcing has been made. The authors focus in particular on in-house knowledge and technology requirements. Design/methodology/approach To explore the topic at hand, the researchers conducted in-depth semi-structured interviews with five companies operating in two different industry sectors. Findings Reversed outsourcing accentuates challenges relating to retained knowledge. When embarking on reversed outsourcing, companies need to acknowledge the effort to revive and renew capabilities in order to perform technical operations and advanced manufacturing production. Research limitations/implications The research is based on case studies in a Scandinavian context. Further empirical research from other high-cost locations is needed to validate the findings. Originality/value Explorative qualitative research is scarce in the emergent literature on reversed outsourcing. The paper provides practical and theoretical insights into how to handle diminishing knowledge in companies that are re-evaluating their sourcing strategies. It adds a knowledge dimension within the emergent literature. A framework for key success factors and propositions is also provided.

Money in - brains out? Institutional logics affecting athletes' preparation for alternative careers

Abstract Competitive sport encourages athletes to put all their effort into excelling in their sport despite the fact that sport careers are short and can be abruptly terminated. This study addresses the issue of dual career preparation among team sport athletes in a sample comprising Norwegian full-professional male soccer players and semi-professional soccer and handball players. Professional athletes hardly spend more time on their sport than do semi-professional top players, but while the latter group of athletes combine sports careers and higher education (or work), professional players tend to spend their leisure time more with family and friends. A competing institutional logics approach is utilised to analyse the data and reflect on social influences on athletes’ choice of career preparation.