Shannon Kerwin

Exploring sense of community among small-scale sport event volunteers

Research question: In response to claims that sport event research over emphasizes economic outcomes and mega-event contexts, this research sought to both assess a scale that measures sense of community among small-scale sport event volunteers, and empirically test if the event volunteer experience enhances sense of community. Research methods: The six-factor Sense of Community in Sport Scale (SCS) was utilized to collect pre- and post-event data from a population of 253 (N = 253) event volunteers in the Niagara region of Canada. Results and findings: Model testing indicated all but one SCS factor, Competition, showed statistical fit with the event volunteer data. Analysis of variance revealed three SCS factors, Common Interest, Equity in Administrative Decisions and Social Spaces, were statistically enhanced following the event. Implications: The findings provide theoretical support for Warner and Dixons Sport and Sense of Community theory and highlight the positive social impact of small-scale sport events within a community for volunteers.

Understanding sport event success: exploring perceptions of sport event consumers and event providers

The success of a sport event is an important outcome for both the organizing entity and the destination where the event is hosted to properly leverage its hosting. Utilizing the multiple constituency approach in assessing organizational effectiveness, the purpose of this study was to examine factors that contribute to the success of a sport event through the perspectives of the event providers and the spectators of small-scale sport events who experience the events. Employees from organizations from across the USA involved in the attraction and delivery of the event, namely local sports commissions and Convention and Visitor Bureaus of a destination, were asked to participate in the study to provide factors they perceived to make an event successful. In addition, spectators from two small-scale sport events were asked to describe the factors of successful small-scale sport events for them and their home community. The results revealed complementarity in the views from both sides and a differential weight placed on stated success factors for each group. Effective event management and delivery was the common denominator between the two entities. The supply side prioritized economic development while the demand side psychological and social events aspects. Implications are provided for event management, destination marketing and event leveraging.

The Mediating Influence of Management by Values in Nonprofit Sport Organizations

The theory of practicing values may provide valuable insight into the role of organizational values in sport organizations. This is particularly relevant in the nonprofit sport sector where managers operate with limited budgets and organizations may subscribe to specific ethical-social values related to organizational performance. The purpose of this study was to explore the influence of organizational values on the performance of nonprofit sport organizations and the possible mediating effect of employing a management-by-values approach. Online questionnaires were collected from 24 national sport organizations, with a total sample of 103 participants. Results indicate management by values fully mediates the influence of ethical-social organizational values on organizational performance. These results are explained using the theory of practicing values, which emphasizes the need to intentionally manage values within sport organizations. Implications for research and practice are presented.

Intentions to Be an Athletic Director Racial and Gender Perspectives

The aim of this study was to evaluate senior athletic administrators’ expectations and intentions of becoming National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I athletic directors (ADs) and explore women and racial minority senior athletic administrators’ athletic workplace experience. To serve the purpose, two studies using social cognitive career theory (SCCT) were employed. First, demographic (i.e., gender and race) differences by SCCT variables were assessed through survey collection and multivariate analysis of variance. Second, content analysis of interviews was used to assess the experiences of athletic administrators. Results revealed women and racial minority senior athletic administrators’ had similar self-efficacy compared to White men, but they encountered more barriers, unfavorable outcome expectations, and lower choice goals associated with becoming an NCAA Division I AD. Further, findings show women and racial minority senior athletic administrators felt occupational segregation limited their access and opportunities for career advancement to a Division I AD position.

Corporate philanthropy toward the community and organisational commitment in the fitness sector

This study examined the influence of corporate philanthropy (CP) toward the community (specifically organisation and employee giving and volunteering) on three dimensions of organisational commitment among a sample of head office staff (N = 91) of a large fitness organisation. Corporate involvement and corporate support for employee volunteering were found to be positively associated with affective commitment, and negatively associated with continuance commitment. Neither type of CP was associated with normative commitment. The findings extend our understanding of the nature and influence of CP, and have implications for its development as a strategic practice in the fitness sector.