PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to focus on possible combinations of the key determinants of high performance in sport governing bodies (SGBs) which go well beyond the net effects of independent variables.Design/methodology/approachThe research focused on 18 sport governing bodies from the French‐speaking community of Belgium (CSGBs). Their strategic goals are emphasized and their potential determinants of performance are measured and assessed. Due to the small n‐sample and the causal complexity inherent in this research, a crisp‐set qualitative comparative analysis (csQCA) was performed.FindingsThree generic combinations of the key determinants linked with high performance were highlighted. The first was high‐performing CSGBs that provide innovative activities for their membership and are proactive in elite sport services. The second was other high‐performing CSGBs of large size that involve paid staff in decision‐making processes and also develop innovative activities. The third was small‐sized governing bodies which, although they do not have extensive resources, could perform highly when they relied on volunteer leaders and delegates activities they were not able to deliver.Research limitations/implicationsDue to country and sport specificities, these results may not be generalized to all SGBs. Nevertheless, it is possible to argue that when trying to understand the performance of such complex nonprofit sport organizations, researchers and practitioners need to take into account combinations of factors, rather than independent performance variables.Originality/valueUsing an innovative mixed method design dealing with causal complexity – qualitative comparative analysis – the paper highlights combinations of factors observed in high performing SGBs.
Remerciements : Les auteurs souhaitent remercier Jos Feys pour son aide précieuse lors de la collecte des données. 2 RésuméSoumis à une concurrence accrue de la part d'autres prestataires de services sportifs, par exemple commerciaux, les organisations sportives à but non lucratif sont amenées à mieux satisfaire leurs adhérents. Pour ce faire, elles peuvent adopter de nouvelles initiatives pour les fidéliser et en attirer de nouveaux. Ces initiatives, mises en place pour la première fois, sont considérées comme étant des innovations. Malgré les enjeux que l'innovation suscite dans le contexte concurrentiel actuel, aucune étude transversale n'a été réalisée qui permettrait de mieux comprendre la perception d'acteurs AbstractDue 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 nonsport) 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 t...
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