The organizational embeddedness of social capital: a comparative case study of two voluntary organisations

Social capital is a popular, but contested concept. It draws attention to the way in which social relations and constructed forms of social organization can produce outcomes on individual and collective levels. However, it is often founded on individualistic, rational-choice models of human behavior that neglect its embeddedness. I explore the embeddedness of social capital through a comparative case study of two voluntary sport organizations in the UK. Through close analysis of in-depth interviews and longitudinal observation, I look at the processes of social capital development and at how socio-organizational context and identity shape these processes

Board-Executive Relationships within Voluntary Sport Organisations

This paper explores the relationship between board performance and board-executive relationships within voluntary sport organisations. Qualitative data were collected through interviews with 21 executives, board chairs and board members from seven voluntary sport organisations. Results revealed that four elements of the board-executive relationship were perceived to be associated with effective board performance. These elements included board leadership, trust between the board and the executive, the control of information available to the board, and responsibility for board performance. The paper explores each of these elements, and the implications for governing boards of voluntary sport organisations.

Board power and performance within voluntary sport organisations

L'article analyse la relation entre la structure du pouvoir au sein des conseils d'administration d'organisations sportives à but non lucratif et la perception par leurs membres de leur fonctionnement efficace ou non. A partir des recherches de Murray et al. (1992), cinq schémas de pouvoir ont été examinés: conseil dominé par les cadres exécutifs, conseil dominé par le président, conseil fragmenté, divisé en factions, conseil reposant sur le partage du pouvoir, et conseil impuissant, sans leadership. Enquête menée sur les 45 organisations sportives de l'Etat de Victoria (Australie) qui emploient des cadres exécutifs rémunérés

Organizational Resilience of Community Sport Clubs Impacted by Natural Disasters

Wicker P, Filo K, Cuskelly G. Organizational Resilience of Community Sport Clubs Impacted by Natural Disasters. Journal of Sport Management. 2013;27(6):510-525.When community sport clubs are impacted by natural disasters, organizational resilience is critical to recovery. Within this study, organizational resilience is conceptualized as a function of robustness, redundancy, resourcefulness, and rapidity, and applied to community sport clubs. Using data from a survey of sport clubs (n = 200) in Queensland, Australia, the organizational resilience of affected clubs and their recovery from natural disasters (flooding, cyclone) was investigated. The findings show that clubs used human and financial resources predominantly in their recovery efforts. Organizational resilience, number of members, and the use of government grants had a significant positive effect on the extent of the club’s perceived overall recovery. Clubs providing equestrian, golf, and motor sports recovered to a significantly lower extent. Proactively pursuing government grants, suitable insurance coverage, and interorganizational relationships were identified as factors that assisted clubs in becoming more resilient. The measurement of resilience should be refined and expanded in future research

Resource utilisation and power relations of community sport clubs in the aftermath of natural disasters

Filo K, Cuskelly G, Wicker P. Resource utilisation and power relations of community sport clubs in the aftermath of natural disasters. Sport Management Review. 2015;18(4):555-569.Community sport clubs (CSCs) provide a number of benefits to local communities, while confronting challenges with finances and staffing. In Queensland, Australia, these challenges have been compounded by recent natural disasters including widespread flooding that have significantly impacted operations of CSCs. The current research explores the provision of resources to CSCs in the aftermath of flooding events in 2010 and 2011, as well as the influence on power relations between CSCs and resource providers. To address this research purpose, qualitative data were collected across nine site visits (focus groups, interviews) to affected CSCs. The data revealed three resource providers: volunteers and members, partner organisations and government. In addition, the results indicate that relations between CSCs and members and volunteers, partner organisations and government were impacted in different ways. Examples of resource providers wielding power over CSCs due to the provision of resources emerged, along with some evidence of mutual power and dependence and CSCs exerting power over resource providers. The results provide implications for CSC managers to be more proactive in relation to resourcing through developing strategies for network building and improved communication within networks