ABSTRACT

Research question

Non-profit sport clubs are operating in an increasingly competitive market due to the growth of the for-profit sport sector and changes in sport participation patterns. To counteract competition, clubs are expected to take strategic action by investing in their organizational capacities. The aim of the present study is to explore if and how perceived competition from other organizations acts as an external capacity building stimulus for non-profit sport clubs.

Research methods

Longitudinal data were drawn from a nationwide online survey of non-profit sport clubs in Germany between the years 2011 and 2020 (ranging between n = 1366 and n = 5315 observations).

Results and findings

The results highlight that clubs faced with competition from commercial providers are driven to invest in paid staff, whereas the number of volunteers’ decreases and clubs are less likely to break even. Clubs faced with competition from other clubs are less likely to report having a strategic concept. The possession of club-owned facilities and gyms remains unaffected.

Implications

The findings reveal the limited effects of competition on the development of organizational capacities, with significant effects occurring only in the human resource capacity as a driver of professionalization. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.

中文翻译：

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非营利体育俱乐部的组织能力建设：探索竞争作为能力建设刺激的作用

摘要

研究问题

由于营利性体育部门的增长和体育参与模式的变化，非营利性体育俱乐部在竞争日益激烈的市场中运作。为了抵消竞争，俱乐部应该通过投资于他们的组织能力来采取战略行动。本研究的目的是探讨来自其他组织的感知竞争是否以及如何作为非营利性体育俱乐部的外部能力建设刺激。

研究方法

纵向数据来自于 2011 年至 2020 年间德国非营利性体育俱乐部的全国在线调查（范围在n  = 1366 和n  = 5315 之间）。

结果和发现

结果强调，面临商业供应商竞争的俱乐部被迫投资于有偿员工，而志愿者人数减少，俱乐部不太可能实现收支平衡。面临来自其他俱乐部的竞争的俱乐部不太可能报告拥有战略概念。俱乐部拥有的设施和体育馆的所有权不受影响。

启示

研究结果揭示了竞争对组织能力发展的有限影响，仅在作为专业化驱动力的人力资源能力方面产生了显着影响。讨论了对理论和实践的影响。