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Organizational effectiveness in professional sport : a case from minor league baseball

Author

David C. Scott, University of the Pacific

Date of Award

1993

Document Type

Thesis - Pacific Access Restricted

Degree Name

Master of Arts (M.A.)

Department

Sport Sciences

First Advisor

Linda Koehler

First Committee Member

Margaret E. Ciccolella

Second Committee Member

Joel G. Boelter

Abstract

This case study was conducted to examine organizational effectiveness in a professional minor league baseball franchise. The premise of the study was to explore the relationship between organizational effectiveness and four organizational behavior constructs. The four constructs focused upon were organizational identity, shared values, vision, and continuity. Data collection was based upon personal interviews with the entire staff, observation of general activities, and archival materials such as promotional videos and in-house publications. The organization under study, which was deemed effective because of its on-field success, was found to have a well-defined and distinctive identity, shared values in the realm of philosophical, business concerns, and a clear and acutely projected image. Continuity within the organization was not concretely established for either time frames of reference. The premise of this study was not only to examine the relationships between the four constructs and organizational effectiveness in professional sports franchises but to generate hypotheses for future research. Ten hypotheses were postulated based on the findings of this study. These ten hypotheses were: 1) An effective organization will possess an identity which is well-defined and unique to that particular organization and its members; 2) The organizational identity will be based on characteristics which are both distinctive and essential to the nature of the organization; 3) An effective organization will have developed an organizational value system based upon the shared values expressed by the members of that organization; 4) The shared values ·held will be influenced by the environment in which the organization exists; 5) An. effective organization will project a clear and meaningful image embodied by all its members; 6) An effective organization will possess an internalized guiding philosophy that will dictate a mode of behavior; 7) An effective organization will exhibit a vision which consists of both a guiding philosophy and tangible image which establish.a set of ambitions motivating its members to work towards a specific direction; 8) An effective organization will demonstrate continuity in organizational philosophy, vision, and purpose over a·pertinent and definable time frame of reference; 9) Stability in the key position within the organization will have a positive influence on organizational effectiveness; 10) An effective organization will possess an identity, value system, and vision which are in concert with each other and exemplified by all its members.

Pages

79

Recommended Citation

Scott, David C.. (1993). Organizational effectiveness in professional sport : a case from minor league baseball. University of the Pacific, Thesis - Pacific Access Restricted. https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/uop_etds/2244