Do non-profit sport organisations innovate? Types and preferences of service innovation within regional sport federations

Research question: Little is known about innovation in the non-profit sport sector. The present research addresses this gap by questioning whether and to what extent sport federations innovate. It aims to identify types of innovation implemented by sport federations and their attitude and preferences towards innovation.  Research methods: An online questionnaire was administered to a sample of key representatives (i.e. Chair, Secretary General or Directors) of regional sport federations in Belgium (n=101; 70% response rate).  Results and Findings: Directed content analysis of the service innovations described by respondents reveals ten different types of sport and non-sport service innovations. Results suggest that membership size and categories of sport influence preferences in knowledge creation/appropriation, and ultimately the type of innovation developed. This paper also suggests that sport federations are driven by demands by members in meeting their expectations of new services and are not risk averse. On average, the sport federations surveyed have a positive attitude towards newness which favours innovativeness.  Implications: The present study would help researchers to advance further into the knowledge of service innovation in non-profit organisations. It should act as a foundation for research and practice on specific types of service innovation in sport. Managers should realise the importance of attitude for innovation and use the suggested typology to provide new services in different categories and meet members’ expectations

Determinants of Service Innovation: a Typology of Sports Federations

The increasing commercialisation of the sports sector and changing consumer demands are some of the issues that create challenges for non-profit sports in contemporary society. It is important for managers and marketers of these organisations to innovate because innovation is a way to grow within a competitive environment and to meet customers expectations. The present study aims to develop an explorative typology of sports federations based on their attitudes and perceptions of determinants of innovation and their innovation capacity. A cluster analysis suggested three clusters with different responses towards service innovation: traditional sports federations, financially secure sports federations and competitive sports federations. Sports federations perceiving competition in terms of financial and human resources, favouring change and paid staff involvement in decision-making processes, and with negative economic perceptions are significantly more innovative. These findings have implications for the management and marketing of non-profit sports organisations

A Unified Model of Non-Profit Sport Organizations Performance: Perspectives from the Literature

Little consensus has emerged about how organizational performance should be defined and measured. Most studies have used traditional approaches to give their own perspective about organizational performance and effectiveness, but none have recently tried to encompass these different views into one unified model. In the present paper, Chelladurai's systems view of organizations is used to integrate the dimensions of organizational performance highlighted by previous studies on non-profit sport organizations. These organizational performance dimensions are highlighted and categorized into macro-dimensions (e.g., financial resources acquisition, size, internal atmosphere, organizational operating, financial independence, achieving elite sport success and mass sport participation). Relationships between these macro-dimensions are analyzed. A multidimensional framework is developed which gives an overview of which dimensions constitute organizational performance in non-profit sport organizations and of how to measure them. Further research directions and management implications are discussed

A longitudinal analysis of organisational capacity determinants of the perceived need for change, adoption of ‘light’ sports initiatives and organisational growth in voluntary sports clubs

Considering wider societal developments that reflect a demand for personalised services, this study aims to uncover the relationship between the perceived need for change by voluntary sports clubs (VSCs), their adoption of innovative services to promote flexibility of sports participation (also referred to as ‘light’ sports initiatives) and their organisational growth (in terms of membership evolution). Simultaneously, the impact of key organisational capacity (OC) determinants on each of the aforementioned variables is taken into account. In this study, VSCs in Flanders (Belgium) are examined utilising three (generalised) linear mixed model analyses on longitudinal panel data from 2012, 2015 and 2018. The results show a positive relationship between the need for change on the one hand and the adoption of ‘light’ sports initiatives and organisational growth on the other hand, whilst adopting ‘light’ sports initiatives as types of service innovations do not necessarily lead to organisational growth. The results of this study offer implications for the management and policy of VSCs to cater to shifting member demands. This study serves as a stepping-stone for further research to investigate other types of innovation on organisational change and growth.</p

Innovative sport federations : attitude, perceptions and innovation champions

Due to the increasing competition non-profit sport organizations face from other sport providers (both for-profit and non-profit), they are encouraged to better satisfy their members' expectations. New initiatives or innovations may need to be adopted by these organizations to attract and retain members. Despite the importance of innovation in this increasing competitive context, no cross-sectional study has been achieved which would allow an understanding of internal stakeholders' perception in innovative sport organizations. Although, attitude and perceptions towards newness and change might influence innovation adoption. This exploratory research analyzes the concept of innovation within sport federations. The activities and services implemented by these non-profit sport organizations and the perception of key internal stakeholders are investigated. Further, this research focuses on innovation champions in sport federations. The purpose of this paper is to identify the relationships between internal stakeholders' attitude towards newness, their perceptions of innovation and change, the service innovations implemented by sport federations and potential innovation champion(s). An online survey was sent to the 144 sport federations recognized by the Flemish or French speaking Communities in Belgium in order to assess their attitude towards the development of new services, perception of change and of innovation. Moreover, the average number of innovations (sport and non-sport) was measured and the stakeholders who frequently support the implementation of new initiatives were profiled. In total, 101 sport federations participated to the survey (response rate: 70%). On average, sport federations in Belgium have an attitude favouring newness which supports the adoption of innovations. The majority of service innovations adopted by sport federations was not directly sport related. An explanation might be that they have greater freedom in the development of secondary services (i.e., not related to their core activities) which would provide added value to membership fee. Staff members of innovative sport federations perceive that their federation innovates and changes. This paper supports the idea that innovation leads to organizational change which is perceived by internal stakeholders. The sport or technical employees of sport federations are highlighted as they seem to favor innovation. These individuals might support an organizational climate favouring the development of new services and hence might be considered as innovation champions in sport federations. The results of this paper have managerial implications and suggest further research on the management of innovation in non-profit (sport) organizations

A longitudinal analysis of organisational capacity determinants of the perceived need for change, adoption of ‘light’ sports initiatives and organisational growth in voluntary sports clubs

Considering wider societal developments that reflect a demand for personalised services, this study aims to uncover the relationship between the perceived need for change by voluntary sports clubs (VSCs), their adoption of innovative services to promote flexibility of sports participation (also referred to as ‘light’ sports initiatives) and their organisational growth (in terms of membership evolution). Simultaneously, the impact of key organisational capacity (OC) determinants on each of the aforementioned variables is taken into account. In this study, VSCs in Flanders (Belgium) are examined utilising three (generalised) linear mixed model analyses on longitudinal panel data from 2012, 2015 and 2018. The results show a positive relationship between the need for change on the one hand and the adoption of ‘light’ sports initiatives and organisational growth on the other hand, whilst adopting ‘light’ sports initiatives as types of service innovations do not necessarily lead to organisational growth. The results of this study offer implications for the management and policy of VSCs to cater to shifting member demands. This study serves as a stepping-stone for further research to investigate other types of innovation on organisational change and growth

Do non-profit sport organisations innovate? Types and preferences of service innovation within regional sport federations

© 2016 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. Little is known about innovation in the non-profit sport sector. The current research addresses this gap by questioning whether and to what extent sport federations innovate. It aims to identify types of innovation implemented by sport federations and their attitude and preferences towards innovation. An online questionnaire was administered to a sample of key representatives (i.e. Chair, Secretary General or Directors) of regional sport federations in Belgium (n = 101; 70% response rate). Directed content analysis of the service innovations described by respondents reveals ten different types of sport and non-sport service innovations. Results suggest that membership size and categories of sport influence preferences in knowledge creation/appropriation, and ultimately the type of innovation developed. This paper also suggests that sport federations are driven by demands by members in meeting their expectations of new services and are not risk averse. On average, the sport federations surveyed have a positive attitude towards newness that favours innovativeness. The current study would help researchers to advance further into the knowledge of service innovation in non-profit organisations. It should act as a foundation for research and practice on specific types of service innovation in sport. Managers should realise the importance of attitude for innovation and use the suggested typology to provide new services in different categories and meet members’ expectations.peerreview_statement: The publishing and review policy for this title is described in its Aims & Scope. aims_and_scope_url: http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?show=aimsScope&journalCode=rimp20status: publishe

Do non-profit sport organisations innovate?: Types and preferences of service innovation within regional sport federations

Little is known about innovation in the non-profit sport sector. The current research addresses this gap by questioning whether and to what extent sport federations innovate. It aims to identify types of innovation implemented by sport federations and their attitude and preferences towards innovation. An online questionnaire was administered to a sample of key representatives (i.e. Chair, Secretary General or Directors) of regional sport federations in Belgium (n = 101; 70% response rate). Directed content analysis of the service innovations described by respondents reveals ten different types of sport and non-sport service innovations. Results suggest that membership size and categories of sport influence preferences in knowledge creation/appropriation, and ultimately the type of innovation developed. This paper also suggests that sport federations are driven by demands by members in meeting their expectations of new services and are not risk averse. On average, the sport federations surveyed have a positive attitude towards newness that favours innovativeness. The current study would help researchers to advance further into the knowledge of service innovation in non-profit organisations. It should act as a foundation for research and practice on specific types of service innovation in sport. Managers should realise the importance of attitude for innovation and use the suggested typology to provide new services in different categories and meet members’ expectations

Fédérations sportives innovantes: attitude, perceptions et champions de l'innovation

Due to the increasing competition non-profit sport organizations face from other sport providers (both for-profit and non-profit), they are encouraged to better satisfy their members’ expectations. New initiativesor innovations may need to be adopted by these organizations to attract and retain members. Despite the importance of innovation in this increasing competitive context, no cross-sectional study has been achieved which would allow an understanding of internal stakeholders’ perception in innovative sport organizations. Although, attitude and perceptions towards newness and change might influence innovation adoption. This exploratory research analyzes the concept of innovation within sport federations. The activities and services implemented by these non-profit sport organizations and the perception of key internal stakeholders are investigated. Further, this research focuses on innovation champions in sport federations. The purpose of this paper is to identify the relationships between internal stakeholders’ attitude towards newness, their perceptions of innovation and change, the service innovations implemented by sport federations and potential innovation champion(s). An online survey was sent to the 144 sport federations recognized by the Flemish or French speaking Communities in Belgium in order to assess their attitude towards the development of new services, perception of change and of innovation. Moreover, the average number of innovations (sport and non-sport) was measured and the stakeholders who frequently support the implementation of new initiatives were profiled. In total, 101 sport federations participated to the survey (response rate : 70%). On average, sport federations in Belgium have an attitude favouring newness which supports the adoption of innovations. The majority of service innovations adopted by sport federations was not directly sport related. An explanation might be that they have greater freedom in the development of secondary services (i.e., not related to their core activities) which would provide added value to membership fee. Staff members of innovative sport federations perceive that their federation innovates and changes. This paper supports the idea that innovation leads to organizational change which is perceived by internal stakeholders. The sport or technical employees of sport federations are highlighted as they seem to favor innovation. These individuals might support an organizational climate favouring the development of new services and hence might be considered as innovation champions in sport federations. The results of this paper have managerial implications and suggest further research on the management of innovation in non-profit (sport) organizations

A unified model of non-profit sport organizations performance: Perspectives from the literature

Little consensus has emerged about how organizational performance should be defined and measured. Most studies have used traditional approaches to give their own perspective about organizational performance and effectiveness, but none have recently tried to encompass these different views into one unified model. In the present paper, Chelladurai's systems view of organizations is used to integrate the dimensions of organizational performance highlighted by previous studies on non-profit sport organizations. These organizational performance dimensions are highlighted and categorized into macro-dimensions (e.g., financial resources acquisition, size, internal atmosphere, organizational operating, financial independence, achieving elite sport success and mass sport participation). Relationships between these macro-dimensions are analyzed. A multidimensional framework is developed which gives an overview of which dimensions constitute organizational performance in non-profit sport organizations and of how to measure them. Further research directions and management implications are discussed