Skip to main content

Sports Organizations, Professionalization and Organizational Conflict: A Review of the Literature

  • Chapter

Abstract

One of the most common issues facing managers these days is the management of conflict. Managers can spend up to 25 percent of their time dealing with conflict (Burke and Collins, 2000) and whether it is conflict between people, conflict between processes or conflict between people and processes, conflict if ignored can seriously affect an organization’s performance. The sporting world and in particular sports organizations are not immune to conflict. Altercations involving high profile players and coaches are commonplace and while less newsworthy, conflict and power plays in local and community sports clubs are common. Sport is a highly emotive area, involving strong-willed, focused individuals with a passion for sport who are usually unwilling to compromise or tolerate alternate perspectives and therefore an inherently conflict-filled environment. The focus of this chapter is to provide an overview of the research examining conflict in sports organizations. The first section provides some background discussion on the changes currently occurring in sports organizations and how these changes have created an environment for conflict. The second section reviews the theoretical and empirical research on conflict in sports organizations.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Agarwal, S. (1999) ‘Impact of Job Formalization and Administrative Controls on Attitudes of Industrial Salespersons’, Industrial Marketing Management, 28(4): 359–368.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Amis, J., Slack, T. and Berrett, T. (1995) ‘The Structural Antecedents of Conflict in Voluntary Sport Organizations’, Leisure Studies, 14(1): 1–16.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Auld, C. (1994) ‘Changes in Professional and Volunteer Relationships: Implications for Managers in the Leisure Industry’, Australian Journal of Leisure and Recreation, 4(1): 14–21.

    Google Scholar 

  • Auld, C. (1997) ‘Professionalization of Australian Sport Administration: The Effects on Organizational Decision-making’, European Journal of Sport Management, 4(2): 17–39.

    Google Scholar 

  • Auld, C. and Godbey, G. (1998) ‘Influence in Canadian National Sport Organizations: Perceptions of Professionals and Volunteers’, Journal of Sport Management, 12(1): 20–38.

    Google Scholar 

  • Auld, C., Nichols, G. and Schulz, J. (2010) ‘Issues in the Management of Volunteers’, in B. Houlihan and M. Green (eds), Handbook of Sport Development (London: Routledge): 432–445.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bourke, A. (2011) ‘International and Professional Dimensions of National Governing Bodies: Insights from the Gaelic Athletic Association’, in H. Dolles and S. Söderman (eds), Sport as Business: International, Professional and Commercial Aspects (Houndsmills, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan): 153–169.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burke, V. and Collins, D. (2000) ‘Dealing with Work Conflict: Issues, Approaches, and Implications for Sport Managers’, European Journal for Sport Management, 7(1): 44–64.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cuskelly, G., Hoye, R. and Auld, C. (2006) Working with Volunteers in Sport: Theory and Practice (London: Routledge).

    Google Scholar 

  • De Dreu, C. (1997) ‘Productive Conflict: The Importance of Conflict Management and Conflict Issue’, in C. De Dreu and E. Van De Vliert (eds), Using Conflict in Organizations (London: Sage): 9–22.

    Google Scholar 

  • Falconer, H. (2004) IRS Managing Conflict in the Workplace (London: LexisNexis).

    Google Scholar 

  • Friedman, R., Tidd, S., Currall, S. and Tsai, J. (2000) ‘What Goes Around Comes Around: The Impact of Personal Conflict Style on Work Conflict and Stress’, International Journal of Conflict Management, 11(1): 32–55.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harvey, J., Lévesque, M., Donnelly, P., Safai, P., Rose, M. and Pitre, S. (2005) ‘Volunteerism: Researching the Capacity of Canadian Sport’ Soumis à Sport Canada, http://www.crssc.uottawa.ca/final_report_on_volunteerism.pdf, retrieved 16.05.2007.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoye, R. and Cuskelly, G. (2003) ‘Board-executive Relationships Within Voluntary Sport Organizations’, Sport Management Review, 6(1): 53–74.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hoye, R., Smith, A., Westerbeek, H., Stewart, B. and Nicholson, M. (2006) Sport Management: Principles and Applications (Oxford: Elsevier).

    Google Scholar 

  • Jackson, S. (1983) ‘Participation in Decision-making as a Strategy for Reducing Job-related Strain’, Journal of Applied Psychology, 68(1): 3–19.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jehn, K. (1995) ‘A Multimethod Examination of the Benefits and Detriments on Intragroup Conflict’, Administrative Science Quarterly, 40(2): 256–282.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jehn, K., Northcraft, G. and Neale, M. (1999) ‘Why Differences Make a Difference: A Field Study of Diversity, Conflict and Performance in Workgroups’, Administrative Science Quarterly, 44(4): 741–763.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kahn, R., Wolfe, D., Quinn, R., Snoek, J. and Rosenthal, R. (1964) Organizational Stress: Studies in Role Conflict and Role Ambiguity (New York: John Wiley).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kikulis, L., Slack, T. and Hinings, B. (1992) ‘Institutionally Specific Design Archetypes: A Framework for Understanding Changes in NSOs’, International Review for the Sociology of Sport, 27(4): 343–367.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • King, L. and King, D. (1990) ‘Role Conflict and Role Ambiguity: A Critical Assessment of Construct Validity’, Psychological Bulletin, 107(1): 48–64.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kirkman, B. and Shapiro, D. (2001) ‘The Impact of Cultural Values on Job Satisfaction and Organizational Commitment in Self-managing Work Teams: The Mediating Role of Employee Resistance’, Academy of Management Journal, 44(3): 557–569.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kramer, R. (1985) ‘Toward a Contingency Model of Board-executive Relations’, Administration in Social Work, 9(3): 15–33.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Medina, F., Munduate, L., Dorado, M., Martinez, I. and Ciseros, I. (2002) ‘Types of Conflict and Personal and Organizational Consequences’, Paper and Presentation (Salt Lake City, Park City, UT: Association for Conflict Management Conference), 9–12 June.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mills, H. and Schulz, J. (2009) ‘Exploring the Relationship Between Task Conflict, Relationship Conflict, Organizational Commitment, and Job Satisfaction in Voluntary Sport Organizations in the UK’, Choregia Sport Management International Journal, 5(1): 5–18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nichols, G. and Taylor, P. (2010) ‘The Balance of Benefit and Burden? The Impact of Child Protection Legislation on Volunteers in Scottish Sports Clubs’, European Sports Management Quarterly, 10(1): 31–47.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nichols, G., Taylor, P., James, M., Garrett, R., Holmes, K., King, L., Gratton, C. and Kokolakakis, T. (2005) ‘Pressures on the UK Voluntary Sport Sector’, Voluntas: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations, 16(1): 33–50.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robbins, S. (2003) Organizational Behavior: International Edition, 10th edn (Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall).

    Google Scholar 

  • Sakires, J., Doherty, A. and Misener, K. (2009) ‘Role Ambiguity in Voluntary Sport Organizations’, Journal of Sport Management, 23(3): 615–643.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schuler, R. (1979) ‘A Personal Perception Transactional Model for Organizational Communication-Outcome Relationships’, Organizational Behavior and Human Performance, 23(3): 268–291.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schulz, J. (1998) Perceptions of Role Conflict Amongst Chairpersons and Executive Officers in Queensland State Sporting Organizations, Paper and Presentation (Griffith University, Gold Coast: Annual Conference of the Sport Management Association of Australia and New Zealand), 26–29 November.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schulz, J. (2005) ‘Paid Staff in Voluntary Sporting Organizations. Do they Help or Hinder?’, in G. Nichols and M. Collins (eds), Volunteers in Sports Clubs (Eastbourne: Leisure Studies Association): 35–56.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schulz, J. and Auld, C. (2006) ‘Perceptions of Role Ambiguity by Chairpersons and Executive Directors in Queensland Sporting Organizations’, Sport Management Review, 9(2): 183–202.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Slack, T., Berrett, T. and Mistry, K. (1994) ‘Rational Planning Systems as a Source of Organizational Conflict’, International Review for Sociology of Sport, 29(3): 317–328.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sorrentino, R. and Short, J. (1986) ‘Uncertainty Orientation, Motivation, and Cognition’, in R. Sorrentino and E. Higgins (eds), Handbook of Motivation and Cognition (New York, NY: Guilford Press): 379–403.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thiabult, L., Slack, T. and Hinings, B. (1993) ‘A Framework for the Analysis of Strategy in Non-profit Sport Organizations’, Journal of Sport Management, 7(1): 25–43.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thiel, A. and Mayer, J. (2009) ‘Characteristics of Voluntary Sports Clubs Management: A Sociological Perspective’, European Sport Management Quarterly, 9(1): 81–98.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Sell, M., Brief, A. and Schuler, R. (1981) ‘Role Conflict and Role Ambiguity: Integration of the Literature and Directions for Future Research’, Human Relations, 34(1): 43–71.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Verhoeven, M., Laporte, W., De Knop, P., Bollaert, L., Taks, M. and Vincke, J. (1999) ‘In Search of Macro-, Meso-, and Micro Sociological Antecedents of Conflict in Voluntary Sports Federations and Clubs with the Flemish Situation as Case Study’, European Journal for Sport Management, 6(1): 62–77.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wall, V. and Nolan, L. (1986) ‘Perception of Inequality, Satisfaction, and Conflict in Task-oriented Groups’, Human Relations, 39(11): 1033–1052.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Whitson, D. and MacIntosh, D. (1988) ‘The Professionalization of Canadian Amateur Sport Questions of Power and Purpose’, Arena Review, 12(1): 81–96.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yoshioka, C. (1990) ‘Organizational Motives of Public, Non-profit, and Commercial Leisure Service Agencies’, Journal of Applied Recreation Research, 15(1): 59–70.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Copyright information

© 2011 John Schulz

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Schulz, J. (2011). Sports Organizations, Professionalization and Organizational Conflict: A Review of the Literature. In: Dolles, H., Söderman, S. (eds) Sport as a Business. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230306639_8

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics