Relevant Sport Management Knowledge, Competencies, and Skills: An Umbrella Review

Abstract

The present umbrella review aimed to: (i) analyze review manuscripts on sport management knowledge/competencies/skills; (ii) propose a harmonized, evidence-based, competency framework for a comprehensive understanding of the intertwined relationships between knowledge, competencies, and skills in determining sport managers’ expected working performance and need for training; and (iii) provide insights for a sound implementation of educational curricula. Based on the PRIO guidelines, inclusion criteria encompassed systematic and narrative literature peer-reviewed review manuscripts relevant to sport management knowledge/competencies/skills, published between 2012 and 2022 in English. The search was performed on three databases, resulting in twenty-two retained review manuscripts representing different research topics. From 277 recorded elements, 72 knowledge/competencies/skills items were extracted. Leadership skills, Finance and administration, Marketing, and Effective communication accounted for the highest representation. Based on the identified evidence, a sport management comprehensive framework was developed including: (1) Life-long learning; (2) Necessary knowledge; (3) What is needed to be done; (4) How things get done; (5) Modulating factors; (6) Transversality within the industry; and (7) Dynamic interaction and intertwined relations. In considering the research propositions and relative recommendations for curricula implementation and future research, the present findings could foster the debate for the sustainable growth of this research area.

Sports Management Knowledge, Competencies, and Skills: Focus Groups and Women Sports Managers’ Perceptions

“…As an academic discipline, over the past decades, several studies have focused on SM's legitimation and recognition [1,2,[4][5][6], highlighting dominant field-related trends to adjust academic and vocational training. In particular, the definition of the SM foundational, relevant knowledge, necessary competencies, and skills (K/C/S), main features of roles and responsibilities in managing and leading sports organizations, and teaching/learning methodologies represented a priority to enhance the whole sector professionalization, SM graduates' preparedness, and employees' performance [7,8]. Note, the kaleidoscopic nature of the sports phenomenon and its impact on several dimensions of society (e.g., educational, health, recreational, cultural, economic, and policy) requires equipping sports managers with a variety of competencies and skills [7,8].…”

“…In particular, the definition of the SM foundational, relevant knowledge, necessary competencies, and skills (K/C/S), main features of roles and responsibilities in managing and leading sports organizations, and teaching/learning methodologies represented a priority to enhance the whole sector professionalization, SM graduates' preparedness, and employees' performance [7,8]. Note, the kaleidoscopic nature of the sports phenomenon and its impact on several dimensions of society (e.g., educational, health, recreational, cultural, economic, and policy) requires equipping sports managers with a variety of competencies and skills [7,8]. Furthermore, updated and evidence-based educational and vocational programs are crucial to increase SM employees' efficiency in relation to the organizational missions, goals, strategies, structures, stakeholders, and internal and external environments.…”

“…First, sound evidence-based knowledge of essential and complementary SM K/C/S in relation to both higher education and labor market perspectives was established [7,8].…”

“…During this phase, a rigorous literature search and quality assessment of manuscripts published during the past decade (e.g., 2012-2022) and retrieved on three main databases (e.g., EBSCOhost, Scopus, and Google Scholar) was performed, whose outcomes are presented in a systematic literature review on primary research articles [7] and an umbrella review of systematic and narrative review studies [8];…”

“…Second, the collected information has been harmonized to develop a novel comprehensive SM K/C/S framework, including 70 items extracted and harmonized from the included manuscripts in the systematic [7] and umbrella [8] literature reviews and from the ESCO platform (Figure 1 and Appendix A); • Third, a participatory approach collecting the views of senior sports managers and potential end-users was deemed relevant to test the soundness of the proposed SM K/C/S framework; and • Fourth, an exploratory analysis of end-users' perceived relevance, possess, and need for training in relation to the identified K/C/S was envisioned.…”