Understanding Sport Organizations provides a strong foundation in organizational theory and organizational behavior and addresses how that theory is applied in a real-world context. It engages readers by providing opportunities to discover the theory in practice.

Part I. Introducing Sport ManagementChapter 1. The Management of Sport OrganizationsTrevor Slack, PhD, and Alex Thurston, PhD Why Sport Managers Need to Understand the Complexity of the Sport Industry Some Definitions Ways to Look at Sport Organizations Future Directions for Sport Management and Improving Our Understanding of Sport OrganizationsChapter 2. Doing Research in Sport ManagementTrevor Slack, PhD, and Terri Byers, PhD The Research Process Theoretical Framework The So-Called Debate on Qualitative-Quantitative or Mixed-Methods Research Research Design Data Collection Methods and Issues Data Analysis Methods Issues of Quality The Write-UpPart II. Fundamentals of Managing Sport OrganizationsChapter 3. Organizational Goals and EffectivenessTrevor Slack, PhD, and Terri Byers, PhD Importance of Understanding Organizational Goals and Effectiveness Organizational Goals Effectiveness or Efficiency Approaches to Studying Organizational EffectivenessChapter 4. Sport Organizations and Their Environments Trevor Slack, PhD, and Terri Byers, PhD The Nature of the Organizational Environment Research on Organizational Environments Controlling Environmental Uncertainty Other Perspectives on the Organization–Environment Relationship The Relationship Between an Organization’s Environment and Its StructureChapter 5. Dimensions of Organizational StructureTrevor Slack, PhD, and Alex Thurston, PhD Complexity Formalization CentralizationChapter 6. Design Options in Sport OrganizationsTrevor Slack, PhD, and Alex Thurston, PhD Typologies and Taxonomies Mintzberg’s Configurations The Simple Structure The Machine Bureaucracy The Divisionalized Form The Professional Bureaucracy Adhocracy Organizational Designs as Ideal Types Notes on Organizational Size Contemporary Perspectives on Organizational DesignChapter 7. Sport Organizations and Their Responses to Policy Spencer Harris, PhD Defining Policy Studying Organizational Responses to Sport PolicyChapter 8. Strategy in Sport OrganizationsTrevor Slack, PhD, James Andrew Kenyon, PhD, and Argyro Elisavet Manoli, PhD What Is Organizational Strategy? Levels of Strategy Strategy Formulation and Implementation Strategy and Structure Strategy in Voluntary Sport OrganizationsChapter 9. Sport MarketingFrank Pons, PhD, Marilyn Giroux, PhD, and Lionel Maltese, PhD Marketing of Sport: Spectator Sports, Branding, and Merchandising Marketing Through Sport: Sponsorship, Activation, and Venue NamingPart III. Dynamics and Complexity of Managing SportChapter 10. Control in Sport OrganizationsTerri Byers, PhD, Alex Thurston, PhD, and Phillip Lunga, MBA Evolution of Control Elements, or Components, of Control Sport Management Research on ControlChapter 11. Gender and Sport OrganizationsBerit Skirstad, MS Concepts of Sex and Gender in Sport Historical Development of Women in Sport and Sport Organizations Barriers for Women to Overcome in Sport Theoretical Approaches Explaining Underrepresentation of Women in Sport Gender Equity Policies in SportChapter 12. Volunteers in Sport OrganizationsGraham Cuskelly, PhD Sport Volunteerism Defined Size, Nature, and Scope of Volunteering in Sport Volunteer Life Cycle Organizational Commitment Psychological Contract and Volunteers Volunteer Management Volunteers and Paid StaffChapter 13. Governance of Sport OrganizationsBorja GarcÌa, PhD Theoretical Frameworks The Autonomy of Sport and the Role of the State in Sport Governance The Assessment of GovernanceChapter 14. Decision Making in Sport OrganizationsTrevor Slack, PhD, and Alex Thurston, PhD Defining Decision Making Conditions Under Which Decisions Are Made Approaches to Understanding Decision MakingChapter 15. Power and Politics in Sport OrganizationsTrevor Slack, PhD, and Alex Thurston, PhD Strategic Choice Power and Authority Sources of Power Other Notable Interpretations of Power Power in Sport Management Research Organizational Politics Politics in Sport Management ResearchChapter 16. Managing Conflict in Sport OrganizationsTrevor Slack, PhD, and Terri Byers, PhD What Is Conflict? Horizontal and Vertical Conflict Is Conflict Dysfunctional to the Operation of a Sport Organization? The Conflict Process Sources of Conflict in Sport Organizations Conflict Management Strategies Stimulating Conflict Current Research About Conflict in Sport OrganizationsChapter 17. Managing Culture in Sport OrganizationsTrevor Slack, PhD, and Terri Byers, PhD Organizational Culture Compared to Climate Manifestations of a Sport Organization’s Culture Thick and Thin Cultures One or More Cultures Organizational Culture and Effectiveness Creating, Managing, and Changing a Sport Organization’s CultureChapter 18. Organizational Change in SportTrevor Slack, PhD, and Alex Thurston, PhD The Concept of Change Change as Paradox Perspectives on Organizational Change What Causes Organizational Change? Resistance to Change Dealing With Resistance and Implementing Change Stages of the Change Process Innovation in Sport OrganizationsChapter 19. Leadership and Sport OrganizationsTrevor Slack, PhD, and Terri Byers, PhD Traditional Approaches to Leadership Charismatic and Transformational Leadership Modern Approaches to Leadership: Beyond Idealistic Views of LeadersPart IV. Contemporary Issues in Sport OrganizationsChapter 20. Mental Health and Sport OrganizationsMeghan Thurston, DClin Psy, PhD, Jon Arcelus, LMS, GP(T), FRCPsych, PhD, and Alex Thurston, PhD An Introduction to Mental Health Classification Systems Factors That Contribute to Mental Health Difficulties in Sport Mental Health Difficulties Management of Mental Health Difficulties in Sport Role of Mental Health Professionals in SportChapter 21. Technology in Sport OrganizationsTrevor Slack, PhD, and Andy Miah, PhD Research on Technology and Organizations Critiques of the Technology Imperative Microelectronic Technologies Relationship Between Technology and Organizational StructureChapter 22. Sports AnalyticsBill Gerrard, DPhil The Nature of Sports Analytics Moneyball: The Game Changer Analytics in Invasion Team Sports Other Applications of Analytics in Sports OrganizationsChapter 23. Corporate Social Responsibility and Sport OrganizationsChristos Anagnostopoulos, PhD, and Jonathan Robertson, PhD Corporate Social Responsibility Theoretical Perspectives of CSR Multilevel Approach for CSR and Sport OrganizationsChapter 24. Procurement and Sport OrganizationsSue Arrowsmith, QC (hon), DJur A Multidisciplinary Perspective Introduction to Procurement and Its Significance for Sport Organizations Objectives of the Procurement Process Transparency and Competitive Bidding Procurement for Sporting Events Procurement by Sport Federations