The Management of a Sports Organization - Example

Australian Football League (Author’s name) (Institutional Affiliation) (Date) 1.0 Executive Summary The management of a sports organization can be compared to the management of any organization. This involves the proper observation of the laws and principles put forward by the board of directors. A sports organization however has some special requirements that affect the way it is managed. There are several sporting organizations across the globe that dedicates their activities to the development of the sport in question. A looks into the sporting organizations in Australia showcase the level of development of the countries sporting activities (Jupp, 2001). The Australia Football League is one of the associations that dedicate their time to the support of the game in the country. Football is arguably the most watched and followed sport across the globe. Most of the games played generate a large amount of income making it a viable investment. Managing sports requires the display of a certain amount of knowledge in different areas of concern. The report provides an analysis of the main issues that determining the proper management of a sporting organization. The main factors in this case are the structural organization, design type, strategy and strategic alliances, power and politics, conflict and change, environment and culture (Pedersen, 2011). Managing a sporting organization requires a considerable amount of knowledge of all the above factors. This along with the observation of the current events in the industry ensures the proper control of the projected events. The Australia Football League looks at the issues that both professional and aspiring players face on a daily basis. The organization manages to perform their activities to their best of their knowledge as they face their own issues. A report on the key factors the organization faces reduces the challenges experienced as a result (Li, MacIntosh & Bravo, 2012). Table of Contents 1.0 Executive Summary 2 2.0 Introduction 4 3.0 Structure 5 4.0 Design type 7 5.0 Strategy and strategic alliances 7 6.0 Power and politics 8 7.0 Environment 10 8.0 Conflict and change 11 9.0 Culture 13 11.0 Conclusion 14 12.0 Recommendations 14 13.0 References 15 2.0 Introduction The Australia football league is one of the most recognized football associations presently in the country. The organization focuses on the development of football as one of the national sports in the country as a whole. Sports organizations are essential for the proper management of sports activities in the country. Their main objectives are to improve the performance of the selected sport by providing objectives that fall in line with the requirements that enhance the future growth of the company. Football is arguably one of the most viewed sports in the country to date. The sport is also the world’s best performing sport due to its attraction of all the countries across the globe. There are several tournaments that recognize the development of the sport making it a significant investment. The world cup is one of the events that define the power of football as a sport. Australia has managed to gain recognition and influence in the world cup making the national football team a national treasure (Coakley & Dunning, 2002). One of the reasons for its success is the availability of sports organizations. These organizations assist in the improvement of the quality of the output of the players. This in turn, enhances the change of better performance of the sport in the future. The Australia Football League is one of the associations dedicated to the proper functioning of the football teams. The organization identifies with the issues that people in the industry experience on a daily basis. This makes the organization a vital aspect in the growth and sustainability of football in the country (Crotty & Roberts, 2009). The focus of this research paper is to provide an analysis of the structure of a sporting organization design and management process. The paper displays my point of view as a student from the Curtin University showcasing my understanding of the discipline in question. The report seeks to describe the problem at hand by analyzing the presented issue. This is done through the use of various sources both (primary and secondary) that speak on the matter. The paper tackles some key issues that the sports organization affects as a result of its activities. These issues range from the structure, design type, strategy and alliances, power and politics, environment, conflict and change and culture. The paper later provides recommendations of the company for the way forward. This aims to solve some of the issues that have been stated in the report. The analysis is finalized with a concluding paragraph that summarizes all the contents of the paper. 3.0 Structure The structure of the organization is an ideal element in the management of the activities and performance of the sport. Having proper structure increases the likelihood of maturity of the players, managers and the sport. There are several structures used when addressing the organization of any football association. Different organizations require different structural arrangements in order to be fully successful. One structure may work for a company and fail to bear fruit for another company. It is thus essential to recognize the needs and requirements of the particular organization so as to select the right structure. The organizational structure of a company is significant for the proper division of tasks amongst involved parties (Pedersen, 2011). Organizational structures can be classified into physical and social structures depending on the element of focus. Social structure is defined as the various tasks allocated to employees in the organizations. Social structure looks at the different types of job descriptions available in the company and the impacts the duties relay. Organizational structure on the other hand looks at the flow of power in terms of centralization or division of labor. All the forms of organization apply to sports associations due their factors of management (Crotty & Roberts, 2009). The Australia Football League has a unique organizational structure dedicated to the different requirements and calendar of the sport. The management of the football league is centralized in nature. This means that the organization has in place individuals who come up with the overall objectives and rules that the company follows. The rules are in turn directed to different departments who have the responsibility of adhering to the principle objectives. One of the key issues that the organization faces to date is the mismanagement of funds. The association has in place a number of supporters who ensure that the proper financial requires are met. These requirements have a wide scope due to the immense sacrifices that come with the trade (Devaney, 2008). The company has recorded a number of discrepancies by key individuals. This is owed to the lack of accountability from the board of directors and other influential people in the organization. At the top of the chain is the board of directors who come up with most of the laws and principles of the sport. The principles should be in line with that of the international football laws. Under the board of directors is the chief executive officer who represents the principles and objectives put forward by the board. Under the CFO is the assistant who acts as a bridge between the CFO and the rest of the employees. The association has in place a number of managers who represent the various departments. These departments range from the sporting events to the marketing and accounting of the organizations activities. Below the upper management are the supervisors who ensure the proper implementation of the policies. The supervisors are in charge of a number of employees who work on the ground and ensure the proper application of the required activities (Griffin & Moorehead, 2012). 4.0 Design type The design type of the organization is reflective of the type of objectives set by the management. As stated earlier, the association has a centralized structural system that influences the decision making process. A centralized system of organization ensures that all the authority is centered in one place as opposed to different departments. Most of the decisions are reserved for the upper management employees. These decisions are transferred to the different departments making them social structural issues. Having an effective sports design is ideal for the proper management of the association. The design type of the organization is thus an essential aspect in that the organizational structure is highly dependent on the selected design. The management is vertical in that most of the decisions are passed on from the top level to the bottom. The sports design of the football league is geared towards the needs and routine of the players. This provides an adequate management system that focuses on the growth of the league and its members (Devaney, 2008). 5.0 Strategy and strategic alliances The strategy and strategic alliances of any organization is essential for its proper management. Strategic management involves planning and allocation of the organizations interests in relation to the outside environment. Having a strategic plan keeps the organization in line with the peers and competitors. The association has to ensure that it strategizes itself in the industry both internally and internationally. The success and reception of the sport in the country depends on the execution of the league. This is a considerably challenging task in that the whole country is dependent on the performance of the organization. One of the ways that the association can position itself as a key player in the management of football is formation of alliances. Having good alliances ensures that the organization does not face its challenges on its own (Slack & Parent, 2006). Football is a competitive sport in the country making the citizens invests an enormous time in the events of the players. The league as a result experiences a number of competitors who represent the same football players. Failure of the association to perform its duties reduces its chances of gaining more clients. One of the strategies of the association is therefore to surround itself with influential figures in the football industry so as to be in the know in the event that a major change is enforced by authorities. Having strategic alliances eliminates the multiplication of possible competitors. This in turn, enhances the performance of the association which has to be consistent with the provision of its services (Jupp, 2001). 6.0 Power and politics The Australia Football League has a significant role in the growth and sustainability of the countries football affairs. The organization was formed to enhance the improvement of the sport in and outside the country. Managing the activities of the company comes with a lot of responsibility and devotion due to the expectations of the entire country. The association is exposed to a number of political issues that affected its management. The success of the sport in the country ensures the recognition of the association by its competitors and supporters. It is a dream for any member of the association to gain an influential position. This gives an individual the power to enforce their desired objectives as opposed to that of another leader (Devaney, 2008). In order for a member to have the privilege of becoming a key player in the management of the organization they need to create a significant number of alliances in the association. This result in the politicizing of several issues in the company that may have been avoided .Politics involves looking for supporters in and outside the organization so as to gain a level of authority. Having a say in the running of the affairs enhances the level of responsibilities accorded to a member. This improves their chances of moving up in the corporate ladder thus making a difference in the field (Coakley & Dunning, 2002). At the top of the management is the board of directors whose have the responsibility of overseeing the overall performance of the association. This position holds a vast amount of power owing to the voting rights the members in these positions is accorded. Power and politics is therefore not a new issue in that it has always been present in the activities of a number of sports organizations. Politics may either act in favor or against the growth of the organization and the sport (Nauright, 2004). Some of the politicized issues lead to the improvement of services so as to gain the confidence of the clients. On some occasions, politics in the association may act as a barrier to the performance of the members. This leads to the failure of some of the implemented policies which in turn result in the loss of time and funds. The organization tries as much as they can to distance themselves from political issues so as to concentrate on the real players (Jupp, 2001). 7.0 Environment The environment is a significant aspect in the control and management of any organization. Environment simply refers to the internal and external surroundings of the organization in question. These surrounding can be either, political, social and economic depending on the social factors introduced to the environment. The environment of the organization should be comfortable to work in so as to improve the intended. The association is responsible for the running the football related events in the country. The environment of the organization should therefore display the interest in the sport so as to keep track with the current events. There are different types of environments present in this situation (Pedersen, 2011). The first type of environment is the internal environment which is a vital part of the proper growth of the league. This involves the internal management and the activities performed by the staff on a daily basis. The organization uses the future projected objectives to create a hard working and socially friendly environment. This reflects on the performance of the employees who gear all their output towards the principles set by the management. The second type of environment is the external environment. As stated earlier, the outside environment is influenced by the social forces that are most of the time unavoidable. The events experienced in the outside environment affect the events in the inside environment immensely. The outside environments consist of investors, competitors, authoritative bodies such as the government, football fans, football players and the international football associations (Coakley & Dunning, 2002). The association has to ensure that they please all these parties due to the fact that they have a vested interest in the success and performance of the sport in the country. This is a difficult task to achieve owing to the existence of different demands from the key parties. The association has on several occasions failed to meet the requirements expected by their supporters creating a bridge in the relationship between the concerned parties. Another issue that the organization faces on a routine basis is the unexpected change of the external factors. External factors may sometimes act as a disadvantage to the development of the sport in the country. The league has a responsibility of maintaining a consistent performance on the introduction of an outside force. This has proved to be a major challenge in that it affects significant aspects such as the finance and structural arrangements of the organization (Daft, 2010). 8.0 Conflict and change Conflict and change are some of the factors that an organization faces routinely. Change is inevitable due to the change in the culture of the outside environment. Change can be experienced from both the internal and external environment. Most of the changes arise from the social forces which control the events of the organization. Social external forces cause society to adapt to the change in the environment so as to maintain sustainability. Internal change arises from the change in the organizational structure. A large majority of individuals are resistant to change sue to the risk that it relays. Change can however not be avoided due to evolving factors which seek to define the way in which organizations and associations are run. Change in the organization affects the working conditions off all members whether top-level or low-level (Slack & Parent, 2006). The world of football is always experiencing a number of changes due its globalised nature. A major change in an economic, social, political and environmental aspect can influence the decisions that the organization undertakes. It is thus ideal for the members of the association to equip their employees with the culture of embracing change. Introducing the change in policies within the organization is also a recurring factor due to the change in management. Employees should ensure that they identify with the new structural changes so as to align their personal objectives with that of the company. The inability of an organization to accept change brings about the possibility of conflict. Conflict is not ideal for the development of any organization due to the lack of teamwork, trust and performance. Like any company, the Australia Football League experiences resistance to change in the newly introduced policies. Change in policies is mostly influenced by the change in financial aspects, performance of the football teams and the change in policies from the top football companies such as FIFA (Griffin, & Moorehead, 2012). Companies that embrace flexibility of policies have an easier time adopting to change as opposed to rigid organizations. The Australia Football League has a provision that enables its members to deal with new changes so as to maintain the smooth flow of the company’s objectives. The organization has however experienced some issues concerning the change in significant areas of management. This in turn has resulted in the reduced performance of the organization whose priorities are in most cases overlooked. The organization has put in place methods of ensuring participation from members when change is introduced. This involves the implementation of constant training so as to guarantee that all members move at the same pace. The organization also performs constant analysis of key issues that football associations face. This assists the management in terms of problem solving when exposed to external and internal challenges (Coakley & Dunning, 2002). 9.0 Culture Culture is a way of life in that it is part and parcel of day to day practices experienced by human beings. Different organizations have different cultures which reflect on the goals and objectives put forward by management. Most organizations form their culture based on the policies and practices put into effect. These cultures represent the all members of the organization who work hard to maintain the required objectives. The Australia Football League represents all the football teams and companies the country. This is a vital role in the performance of the countries national team in the global aspect. Football as a sport has formed a culture of its own owing to the connection it forms amongst the fans all over the world (Daft, 2010). The culture of the organization is reflective of that of the football teams and supporters. Most of these cultures are formed over the years making them have sentimental value. Some of the cultures however arise from the social change making them relatively new and difficult to identify with. The observation of culture is a pivotal issue in the sustainability of the association’s goals and objectives. Despite culture being significant to the success and performance of the association, culture is also responsible for the existing challenges faced by the management. One of the issues that are experienced as a result of conflicting cultural related issues is the ignorance of the exiting culture (Crotty & Roberts, 2009). The association has recorded resistance from some of its members due to the difference in opinions that are cause by conflicting cultures. One of the key issues that are experienced in regard to culture is the lack of proper understanding of the companies past present and future cultural expectations. Members of the association may on several occasions disregard the enforced culture due to lack of confidence in the respected polices (Clarke, 2005). This has led to the lack of unity which in turn affects the working environment. It is ideal for each member to share the same goals and objectives so as to align themselves with the changing culture experienced by the association (Barraket & University of Melbourne, 2008). 11.0 Conclusion The analysis of the organizations activities reveals the issues that are faced during management. The sporting organization is credited with the contribution to the success of football in the country. A look into the advantages and disadvantages of the organization increases the awareness of its responsibilities. This in turn ensures the steady growth of both the organization and the sporting activity it supports. The Australia Football League continues to grow giving it the chance to implement some of the desired laws. The league has come a long way from the time of its formation. It however has room for improvement giving the managers more agendas to tackle in the past. 12.0 Recommendations The report displays a number of challenges that the organization experiences in the provision of its services. In the case of the structure, the organization should ensure that all employees have a more active role in the introduction and implementing of policies. The organization should strategize itself in the right position so as to eliminate any possible issues that may present themselves. The football league should ensure that the employees are open to change in policies and culture. This will encourage all members to embrace change and be more acceptable to the different cultures presented in the future. 13.0 References Barraket, J., & University of Melbourne. (2008). Strategic issues for the not-for-profit sector. Sydney, N.S.W: UNSW Press. Clarke R. (2005). Home advantage in the Australian football league, Journal of Sports Sciences, 23, (4); 375-385. Coakley, J., & Dunning, E. (2002). Handbook of sports studies. London [u.a.: SAGE Publ. Crotty, M., & Roberts, D. A. (2009). Turning points in Australian history. Sydney: UNSW Press. Daft, R. L. (2010). Organization theory and design. Mason, Ohio: South-Western Cengage Learning. Devaney, J. (2008). Full points footy: Encyclopedia of Australian football clubs. Lincoln, England: Full Points Publications. Griffin, R. W., & Moorehead, G. (2012). Organizational behavior: Managing people and organizations. Mason, OH: South-Western/Cengage Learning. Home advantage in the Australian football league Jupp, J. (2001). The Australian people: An encyclopedia of the nation, its people and their origins. Cambridge: Cambridge Univ. Press. Li, M., MacIntosh, E. W., & Bravo, G. A. (2012). International sport management. Champaign, IL: Human Kinectics. Nauright, J. (2004). Global games: Culture, political economy and sport in the globalised world of the 21st century, Third World Quarterly, 27, (7): 1325-36. Pedersen, P. M. (2011). Contemporary sport management. Champaign, IL [etc.: Human Kinetics. Slack, T., & Parent, M. M. (2006). Understanding sport organizations: The application of organization theory. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics. Read More