SPORTS MANAGEMENT A GUIDE TO PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE

SPORT OPERATES IN AN INCREASINGLY PROFESSIONAL ENVIRONMENT, IN WHICH HUNDREDS OF LEISURE PURSUITS ARE COMPETING FOR THE TIME AND MONEY OF PARTICIPANTS AND SPONSORS. BUT IS SPORT A BUSINESS JUST LIKE ANY OTHER? OR IS IT A SOCIAL AND CULTURAL ACTIVITY WITH ITS VERY OWN BUSINESS PRINCIPLES? WHAT ARE THE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES THAT WORK IN THIS UNIQUE INDUSTRY, DEALING AS IT DOES WITH VOLUNTEERS, ENTHUSIASTIC AMATEURS AND DEDICATED PROFESSIONALS? SPORTS MANAGEMENT A GUIDE TO PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE OFFERS A MODEL OF SPORTS MANAGEMENT THAT CASTS THE PRINCIPLES OF PROFESSIONALISM UPON THE EVER-EXPANDING SHORES OF SPORT AND LEISURE ADMINISTRATION, CREATING EFFICIENT YET ENJOYABLE ORGANISATIONS, ABLE TO RESPOND TO THE DEMANDS OF CONTEMPORARY SPORT. FOUR MANAGEMENT THEMES PROVIDE THE CORE OF THE BOOK'S APPROACH THE SPORTING LANDSCAPE ITSELF, STRATEGIES FOR OPERATING IN IT, THE IMPERATIVE OF QUALITY AND, FINALLY, AN APPRECIATION OF ORGANISATIONAL CULTURE AND CHANGE. EACH OF THESE THEMES IS THEN AP